Press Releases

International parcel delivery provider GLS significantly expands its fleet in the Czech Republic during July. The company will add 14 more electric vans to its network. The first large capacity van from MAN has been successfully delivering parcels at the depot in Hulín since February this year. The deployment of electric vans is part of GLS' ThinkGreen programme and will contribute to reducing the company´s carbon footprint.

GLS will once again support women entrepreneurs in starting or developing their business. As part of the Entrepreneurial Woman project, GLS supported the newly created eWoman category for entrepreneurs in the field of e-commerce in 2020. This year, GLS is also going to support small craft producers, and in cooperation with the AMSP CR, under the auspices of the Fandíme řemeslu project, a completely new eManuel category has been created. The three best business stories from both categories will be rewarded with a voucher worth CZK 15,000 to the GLS e-Balík Profi.

When buying goods in e-shops, almost half of Czechs (49%) already choose online payment by card. Young people aged 18 to 26 (60%) most often pay by card on the Internet. However, the COVID pandemic has taught older people to use online card payments when shopping in e-shops. Compared to 2020, the age group 54 to 65 increased by 9 percentage points (from 29% to 38% this year). At the same time, the number of people who do not shop online at all is declining significantly. Interest in cash on delivery despite the pandemic persists.

In May this year, the parcel delivery provider GLS will once again take part in the unofficial European celebrations of the Parcel day, whose tradition dates back to 2015. For this year, the carrier has prepared a fun online game focused on nature and animals for families with children. Up to 300 competitors can win a prize from the event partner Albi Czech Republic. Those interested can registeron the GLS website. This year's parcel celebration falls on Saturday, May 29.

The international parcel delivery provider GLS strengthens the transport network in the Hradec Králové Region. At the beginning of April, the depot in Hradec Králové moved to new premises, which were created by adapting the brownfield and which will also enable more ecological operation. The new logistics complex will handle double the parcels and employ dozens of new drivers.

More movement, joy of life and less emissions are all brought about by the ecological challenge Biking to work. In May, despite the state of emergency, the 11th year is taking place and due to limitations, it will be possible to upload any motorless routes to the system. Last year, despite government regulations, over 16,000 people from all over the country participated, saving 493 tons of CO2. For many people, after a year at the home office, the movement that the challenge motivates is one of the means to stay mentally and physically fit. All participants will receive a starter pack, which will traditionally be delivered free of charge by GLS.

Every third respondent (33%) plans to save more after the end of the pandemic, according to this year's GLS survey. Last year's savings fell by 30% of Czechs. The most coronavirus pandemic has hit people with lower education (44%) financially, who often cannot work from home. Women are also significantly worse off than men. On the contrary, university students and people from Prague improved. At the time of the corona crisis, most people accepted the same or only slightly larger numbers of shipments thanks to online purchases (77%) and plan to return to their shopping habits after the end of the pandemic (63%).

Last March GLS was the first on the Czech market to introduce the e-Balík Profi service, which significantly reduced the cost of sending parcels. The online portal e-Balík Profi enables payments using credits, the creation of multiple directories, the import of contacts or the mass printing of labels. The service has been very popular since its launch, and every fifth parcel sent via the portal is now paid for by credit. These are often start-ups and smaller companies (43%) who have been forced to move their businesses online as part of government measures against the spread of coronavirus.

In response to the past record Christmas season, the international parcel delivery provider GLS is strengthening its transport network and opening another depot in the Moravian Silesian Region. The new depot in Frýdek Místek has created up to 15 new jobs for couriers and will increase transport capacity in the region of northern Moravia by up to 35%. Delivery routes, and thus delivery times, will also be shortened. The carrier already operates 26 depots in the Czech Republic and plans to open two more this year.