DPD Germany to notify parcel recipients of delivery delays
DPD Germany has said it will be sending parcel recipients text messages or emails if snow or ice cause delays to expected delivery times this festive season. The parcel carrier which claims to be able to forecast its delivery times down to a 30-minute window under it’s “Predict” system said that it will also send warnings about any delays caused by heavy traffic, road accidents or vehicle breakdowns.
DPD, majority-owned by La Poste’s international parcel group GeoPost, already provides email or text notifications to consumers stating when parcels should arrive.
During the morning of a delivery, consumers are given a one-hour window when a courier should arrive. Since July, the company has been able to refine this prior to delivery to a 30-minute window.
The company said its delivery estimates already take account of the day’s parcel volumes and any regular traffic jams or periods of heavy traffic.
But, with winter conditions raising the likelihood of delays, it said when problems hit it will now send update messages by text or email so that recipients do not wait in vain for their expected parcel.
DPD said the new feature would mean greater clarity for consumers over the Christmas period.
“Proactive”
Michael Knaupe, DPD’s director of domestic products and services, said: “With DPD consignees always know exactly when their parcel will arrive. However, wintry conditions often lead to traffic jams caused by accidents and traffic chaos. In these situations DPD makes sure that there is an efficient flow of information and proactively notifies consignees in the event of delays.”
Knaupe said DPD will be working to ensure any unforeseen disruptions are kept to a minimum, despite its new notification service.
But he said the new feature was developed in response to consumer demand.
“Since the launch of our Predict service we have listened carefully to our customers and consignees,” he said. “Suggestions for improvements are of course just as welcome to us as praise, because they enable us to develop the service further and expand our innovation leadership in the field of flexible deliveries.”
As well as investing in its tracking and delivery forecasting technology, DPD has been working to expand delivery convenience by making Saturdays a “normal” day for deliveries.
Saturday deliveries are now available for about 30% of recipients across Germany, with DPD working to roll out the feature nationwide by May 2015.
