DPD in Germany on Schedule with Expansion of Its Parcelshop Network

DPD in Germany on schedule with expansion of its ParcelShop network

n  Current number of over 5,000 DPD ParcelShops to be increased to 8,000

n  Framework contracts with retail chains and branch networks open up enormous potential at individual locations

n  Equipping the ParcelShops with the latest technology completed

Aschaffenburg, 6 February 2014 – DPD in Germany is continuing to drive forward the expansion of its DPD ParcelShops. At present the shop network operated by the international provider of parcel and express services already contains significantly more than 5,000 locations. In addition DPD has secured for itself major potential at locations throughout the country on the basis of framework contracts with numerous retail chains.

"With the aim of building up our network to 8,000 DPD ParcelShops in a highly competitive segment of the market we have set ourselves an ambitious target", states Boris Winkelmann, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of DPD, adding: "In recent months DPD has concluded a range of framework contracts, for example with the Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels (Germany's Book Trade Association) and the bvt-Verbund petrol station network, as well as other branch networks and retail chains. This provides us with a five-digit number of potential locations and accordingly means we are well on schedule. I'm entirely confident that we will achieve our target of 8,000 locations."

At present a DPD ParcelShop is already within ten minutes' reach of 95% of Germany's population, but with the expansion of its network DPD aims to ensure that in urban areas no one will need to walk more than five minutes in order to reach a DPD ParcelShop.

"For DPD high quality standards and strict selection criteria are more important than the number of ParcelShops in itself", remarks DPD COO Boris Winkelmann. "Our DPD ParcelShops need to be located exactly where they can best be integrated into the normal everyday lives of consignees." This is ensured among other factors by intelligent locational planning: the recruitment of new DPD ParcelShops is implemented in a targeted way on the basis of tools which use extensive geo-marketing data.

Focus on quality

The first step in DPD's ParcelShop offensive has already been completed with the equipping of all DPD ParcelShops with the latest electronic manual scanners. The new technology makes it possible to cut to 30 seconds the time required to hand in or pick up a parcel. In addition this technical equipment also provides a direct link with DPD's IT network. As a result it is now possible, for example, to inform consignees proactively by SMS or email as soon as a parcel arrives for them at a DPD ParcelShop.

Another development which has been completed is setting up a central operations centre. With the aid of the data recorded by manual scanners the staff at the operations centre can control the pickup and delivery of parcels at the DPD ParcelShops in a targeted way. For example, this enables capacity bottlenecks at a DPD ParcelShop to be identified in good time to redirect the affected parcels to a different location nearby. The staff at the operations centre also provide expert support for shop operators who have questions or need information.

Photo: The new technical equipment of the DPD ParcelShops does not just make parcel shipping simpler but also enables maximum transparency and targeted management of parcel flows within the shop network.

The photo is available in print quality at

http://www.dpd.com/de/Home/Ueber-DPD/Presse-Center/Pressemitteilungen

About DPD

With the shipment of 2.5 million parcels a day DPD is a leading international provider of parcel and express services. The company has the most efficient road network in Europe and delivers to 230 countries worldwide. Customers can choose services from an extensive product range of national and international parcel and express services for business and home deliveries. A workforce of 24,000 and 18,000 vehicles operate at more than 800 locations. The majority shareholder in DPD with 83.32 % shareholding is the GeoPost Group, a wholly-owned subsidiary of French Groupe La Poste. With a consolidated turnover of 4.026 billion euros in the year 2012 GeoPost is currently Europe's second-largest provider of express parcel services.

Press contact

DPD Dynamic Parcel Distribution GmbH & Co. KG

Peter Rey

PR-Manager

Wailandtstraße 1

63741 Aschaffenburg

Phone: +49 6021 492-7066