In a unique pilot project, DHL Parcel is turning the German capital, Berlin, into a parcel capital. By the end of 2016, Berlin will have the densest network of alternative delivery options not only in Germany but also in all of Europe. Half of today’s shipments in the capital will be handled using automated solutions, such as DHL Packstations, DHL parcel boxes, and Parcel Shop locations. As a result, DHL Parcel will be able to even better meet the demands of online store customers in terms of mobility and flexibility in Berlin.
– E-commerce is growing worldwide and is particularly popular in Berlin – says Jürgen Gerdes, Board Member for eCommerce – Parcel at Deutsche Post DHL Group. – Today, people are on the move more than ever, which means that traditional forms of delivery, such as home delivery, are not enough. That is why, as a leader in the parcel sector, we have been developing alternative delivery types for years that meet the needs of online store customers and match their lifestyles. Our one-of-a-kind project in Berlin is the beginning of an era of even greater flexibility, made possible by a huge number of constantly available automated parcel drop-off and pick-up points.
According to recent studies on consumer behavior, more than 60 percent of the residents of the German capital shop online regularly. This trend is constantly gaining popularity. Consumers are increasingly living on the go. They live in single-person households, which means that often no one is home when the courier rings the doorbell. Therefore, DHL Parcel has combined known and new types of solutions. The network of DHL Packstations, popular among 8 million customers across Germany, will be significantly expanded in Berlin – from the current number of 180 units to 500 by the end of 2016. By then, it will be possible to process up to 50,000 parcels per day.
Furthermore, in many courtyards in Berlin, space is being left for newly developed parcel boxes intended for residents of rented apartments and buildings. By 2016, as many as several thousand parcel boxes could be installed throughout the urban area of Berlin.
The third key element of the innovative project in Berlin is the DHL Parcel Shop locations. With nearly 900 Parcel Shop points and Deutsche Post retail outlets, Berlin has the largest parcel pick-up network in Germany. Today, a Berlin resident has to walk an average of just 360 meters to reach the nearest DHL Parcel Shop. In the near future, DHL will open Parcel Shop locations in places where customers can both send and receive parcels.
That is not all – in addition to current evening delivery options, DHL Parcel will make additional time slots available this year for deliveries carried out throughout the day.
For the first time in Germany, as part of the project, DHL Parcel is introducing completely new crowdsourcing options and testing a new smartphone application. This will allow the use of other means of transport, such as taxis and delivery companies, so that parcels can reach their recipients as quickly as possible.