DPD and GLS unveil joint German out-of-home delivery network scheme

Rivals DPD and GLS are teaming up with ambitious plans to create a joint ‘open’ out-of-home (OOH) delivery network of parcel shops and lockers in Germany over the next three years to offer win-win benefits to business customers, consumers and other stakeholders.

The two parcel companies aim to operate an integrated network with a common brand by opening up their exclusive parcel shops to each other and by jointly investing in a new network of parcel lockers.

Growth targets

With DPD and GLS each already operating OOH networks of about 8,000 parcel drop-off and collection points, their cooperation already starts with a total of 16,000 out-of-home delivery points, which are mostly parcel shops.

There will be a strong focus on a rapid deployment of parcel lockers with 1,000 next year, and then 2,000 a year over the following two years, to reach a total of 5,000 in 2027. In all, a two-digit million euro sum is likely to be invested jointly and equally in the lockers over the next three years.

Overall, the two companies aim to have an OOH network of about 20,000 points by 2027. Both GLS and DPD stressed that the OOH network is designed to be open to other partners, whether other parcel companies such as Hermes, retailers or other players.

Better customer service

Achim Dünnwald, CEO of GLS Germany, said: "We are looking at the situation from the point of view of our customers. We want to provide them with more service and greater flexibility in sending and receiving parcels outside their own four walls.

“We can do this much better in one fell swoop thanks to a cooperation with DPD: more points of contact mean shorter distances for our parcel customers and more business for our parcel shop partners. This cooperation goes hand in hand with the ambition to fundamentally accelerate the transformation of the 2C business of two strong partners."

Creative solutions

Karsten Schwarz, CEO of DPD Germany, added: "This network partnership is the fastest way to provide the best service to our customers. According to our Geopost E-Shopper Barometer, more than a quarter of German e-shoppers already prefer delivery in a parcel shop - and the trend is rising. The parcel industry needs creative solutions to best meet its customers' needs for convenience and future viability - and this partnership is just that.