GLS launches FlexDeliveryService in France, expands delivery options in Germany
Royal Mail’s European parcels business GLS has expanded its FlexDeliveryService to France, and its Saturdays and evening deliveries in Germany. GLS first launched its FlexDeliveryService in Germany in September 2012, and since then has rolled it out domestically within the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovenia and Slovakia.
The service is provided cross-border between Germany, Austria and Belgium.
FlexDeliveryService provides parcel recipients with advance notification of when a delivery will be made via email or text messages, allowing them to change the delivery time to fit their lifestyle.
With the expansion in France, GLS said French consumers only have to provide their email address or phone number to access the service from participating retailers.
Initially the recipient will be provided with an estimated delivery day. Based on where they live, they will then receive an estimated time of delivery, which could be down to a three-hour window. If the delivery time doesn’t suit the recipient, they can then change it via a computer or smartphone.
Deliveries can be moved to another date, transferred to an alternative delivery address, sent to a GLS location for collection, or to a person of the recipient’s choice. Recipients can also authorise the delivery of their package to their home address without a signature.
“The FlexDeliveryService greatly simplifies the receipt of packages and maximises the convenience for recipients,” said Emeric Bastid, the GLS France chief executive. “It complements our offering for consumers. GLS is providing flexible shipping solutions for working people and those often away from home.”
“Keeping shippers and recipients happy is the major goal of the GLS FlexDeliveryService. It is important that goods ordered online reach their destination reliably and according to their wishes.”
Germany
In Germany, GLS has now expanded its Saturday and evening delivery options to a further two cities — Berlin and Munich.
The offering had been available in Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Cologne and Nuremberg since this summer, and the company says about 15% of packets on its FlexDeliveryService now come with this option.
Consumers living in those areas can have items delivered between 5pm and 8pm during evenings, and between 8am and 1pm on Saturdays.
“Package recipients are choosing evening hours particularly often,” said Klaus Conrad, the GLS Germany managing director. “This is evidence that a high degree of flexibility is very important for deliveries to working people.”
GLS said it will gradually roll out evening and Saturday deliveries to other cities in Germany, and additional delivery options are planned.
Amsterdam-based GLS has 14,000 employees and 18,000 vehicles operating across Europe, transporting 404m packages a year to achieve a EUR 1.96bn annual turnover.
