GLS introduces smartphone IT system into 5,000 parcel shops
Parcel carrier GLS has upgraded the IT in about 5,000 of its parcel shops within Germany, basing it on smartphone technology. The company owned by UK postal operator Royal Mail Group said the EUR 7m investment will help make its parcel services in Germany more convenient, reliable and with faster delivery.
GLS said the move will mean parcel shops can be operated more easily, with less requirement for specialised equipment — outlets need only a robust smartphone with a bluetooth-enabled printer, and the use of a parcel shop application.
It means that in future, information about shipments can be sent direct to recipients’ phones, cutting out the need for notification cards.
Parcel shop owners can now use smartphones to scan all GLS packages they receive, print out receipts for customers shipping items with GLS, and scan items that are collected by recipients.
Those collecting parcels can also sign for them through the smartphone, with all data uploaded to the central GLS database for confirmation through the company’s tracking system.
The company said it was the first carrier to equip its parcel shops with such technology.
“Easy-to-use”
GLS says it is first in the industry to bring this kind of smartphone system into its parcel shops
Christian Herrlich, the GLS IT services managing director, said thanks to the smartphone, his company was bringing in state-of-the-art technology to the processing of parcels.
He said: “Almost everyone today has a smartphone, which helps them to order items more often from the Internet, and also track shipments. It’s a no-brainer for us to make use of this easy-to-use technology in managing deliveries.”
GLS said its investment in smartphone technology for its parcel shops offered a good platform for future developments, including new electronic services for shippers and parcel receivers.
It should also help as the GLS parcel network is expanded “significantly” in the coming years.
GLS, which has 39 hubs and 662 depots across Europe, transports about 404m packages a year to turn over EUR 1.96bn a year.
