DPD will soon be telling German consumers when to expect their parcel via the new Apple Watch in
its latest service innovation.
From August all German consignees expecting a DPD parcel can have the current status of
their parcel displayed on the Apple smartwatch, which goes on sale in Germany on 24 April.
All it takes is a glance at the wrist and the watch will then provide the consignee with
messages such as: “Your parcel will be delivered between 13:13 and 14:13 hrs today.”
Users will be able to configure freely what type of messages their Apple Watch is to
display. In addition to the precise delivery forecast, other options could be notification that the
parcel has been delivered to a neighbour or to a DPD ParcelShop. If they wish consignees can even
track the progress of their parcel from the point at which the consignor hands it to DPD for
shipping.
For the selected status reports the DPD iOS app transmits to the Apple Watch push messages
which are linked to a vibrating or sound signal. The linkage between the DPD app and the Apple
Watch will be available from August.
“DPD is exploiting digital possibilities to the full, offering delivery services which adapt
themselves flexibly to the everyday routine of consignees,” explained DPD Germany CEO Boris
Winkelmann. “As a result it is very important for us to keep pace with digital innovations and
make the best possible use of the possibilities they offer.”
DPD said it is already enabling the convenient and flexible management of parcel shipping
both online and mobile, by putting users in a position to organise their deliveries by means of
mobile websites and apps for iOS and Android.
A range of options are available for this purpose, including postponing the delivery day or
redirecting the parcel to the consignee’s place of work or a DPD ParcelShop. And if the consignor
transmits the consignee data to DPD on an automated basis parcels can even be redirected before the
first delivery attempt is made. All other consignees can specify online and mobile how DPD is to
make the second or third delivery attempt.
On the morning of the delivery DPD’s parcel tracking service shows consignees exactly when
their parcel will arrive. For every parcel DPD indicates a one-hour delivery window, which is even
narrowed down to 30 minutes in the course of the delivery itself. Thanks to DPD’s Live-Tracking
service consignees can see on an online map exactly where their parcel is at any particular time,
and how many stops the delivery driver still has to make before he arrives.
Last month, the company was awarded this year’s Service Innovation Prize by the YouGov
Germany organisation. The top prize in the ‘Flexibility and configuration’ category went to DPD for
its Predict delivery notification service.
