In the run-up to Christmas, people send more parcels than at any other time of the year. To make sure your parcel reaches its recipient on time, we have put together a few tips – for reliable and secure dispatch with GLS.

Most important: the dispatch deadlines. We recommend the following deadlines:

• No later than 21 December 2017 for parcel shipment within Romania

• No later than 19 December 2017 for parcel shipment to neighbouring European countries

• No later than 14 December 2017 for parcel shipment to other European countries

From packaging tips to shipping prices

Sturdy packaging is very important when sending parcels. The parcels travel along conveyor belts in depots and are loaded onto various lorries and delivery vehicles. Here are a few important tips:

1. Use a sturdy cardboard box.

2. Fill it completely with padding.

3. Carefully seal the parcel with packing tape.

4. Do not use ribbons or other Christmas decorations that could get stuck on conveyor belts.

Secure packing

The ISO certificates for quality and environmental management at the GLS Group have been renewed for the next three years. GLS has also achieved GDP certification for the transportation of medicinal products in two more countries.

GLS operating companies in 18 countries had their quality and environmental management systems recertified in accordance with ISO 9001 and 14001. The certification contributes to the transparency of GLS products and services in the eyes of the customers. The management systems help the national organisations to achieve their environmental and quality goals.

GDP-certified medicinal transport

GLS also obtained GDP (Good Distribution Practice) certification in Denmark and Ireland. The GDP guideline is binding for pharmaceutical wholesalers across the EU. Following Germany and France, GLS companies in four countries now meet the stringent safety and hygiene requirements for the non-temperature-controlled transport of medicinal products for human use.

GLS contracted DQS – one of the largest international providers of management system certification – for almost all the certificates.

Reliability

Order from abroad and simply send items back: GLS offers its practical parcel return service across borders between seven countries.

Free of charge and convenient: parcel recipients in Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Austria and Poland can simply drop off returns parcels from retailers in these countries in a GLS ParcelShop and GLS will return them.

If retailers wish to offer the service to their customers, they can simply enclose a returns label with the goods ordered, or send consumers a PDF file or download link if required. The retailer only incurs costs if a parcel is returned.

International e-commerce simplified

With the cross-border ShopReturnService, GLS is expanding its range for online retailers that appeal to customers abroad. The ShopReturnService complements the FlexDeliveryService: as well as convenient solutions for returns, recipients also benefit from flexible parcel delivery.

The parcel service provider GLS adds two new depots to its domestic network. Customers benefit from improved delivery times.

The new GLS depot in Tulcea in South-East Romania serves Tulcea county and started operations in July. The depot has a handling capacity of about 6,100 parcels per month. In August, GLS opened its depot in Târgu Jiu to cover the two counties of Gorj and Mehedinți, excluding the city of Orșova. It handles more than 11,100 parcels per month.

Closer to customers

GLS customers in the three counties benefit from improved collection and delivery times. The new depots will also free up capacities in neighbouring depots. Another advantage of the network expansion: recipients in the cities of Tulcea and Târgu Jiu can pick up parcels directly at the respective depot, if the first or second delivery attempt has failed.

The Romanian network

GLS now offers its flexible delivery service between 12 countries in Central and Eastern Europe. In this area, online shoppers receive information in advance about parcel delivery and can play a role in deciding where and when they receive their goods ordered abroad.

As of now, the Benelux countries, Germany, Austria, Poland and the GLS region Europe East – which includes Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Croatia and Romania – are linked with each other in all directions.

Integration into an interconnected region is another milestone on the road towards a Europe-wide FlexDeliveryService. Progress is already being made in linking Denmark and France. The FlexDeliveryService is also available at national level in each of the countries listed.

International e-commerce made easier

Those who shop beyond borders in the linked countries can choose from numerous delivery options. Popular choices include parcel delivery on a desired day or at a GLS ParcelShop. Depending on the services available in each region, GLS also delivers in the evening, deposits the shipment at an agreed secure location or, in Europe East, leaves it for collection at a GLS parcel locker terminal.

By expanding the FlexDeliveryService, GLS is accommodating the growth in cross-border online retail and the increased demand for international services.

FlexDeliveryService

The GLS Group bought regional US overnight parcel delivery company Postal Express Inc.

Postal Express operates in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. The company offers overnight parcel delivery, mainly to business-to-business customers, across a number of industries.

Founded in 1985, Postal Express today operates a network of 15 hub facilities, with around 400 employees. In 2016, Postal Express generated revenue of approximately 42 million dollars and delivered around 8.7 million parcels.

Targeted geographic expansion

GLS acquired 100 per cent of the shares, paying a total consideration of about 12.5 million euros. The company will be consolidated within GLS for reporting purposes but managed as a separate entity. This targeted geographic expansion follows the acquisition of California based Golden State Overnight Delivery Service Inc. (GSO), in October 2016.

More about the GLS Group

The GLS Group was one of the first European parcel companies to have its quality and environmental management system audited in line with the new ISO standards, which were revised in autumn 2015.

As part of the external audits, GLS adapted the quality and environmental management systems of operating companies in 18 countries to meet the standards ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015.

Quality assurance and sustainable operations are key factors in the service GLS offers. The responsible employees therefore used the update to drive forward the continuous development of our existing systems

The external audits were carried out by the internationally recognised audit firm DEKRA in September 2016. Transition to the revised standards took place in almost all countries at the same time.

Certification with tradition

In many countries, the GLS quality management system has already been ISO-certified for more than twelve years. For its environmental¬ management system, GLS received its first certification in 2011 in the Netherlands. Since 2015, all GLS operating companies have obtained both certificates.

More about ISO certification

Vision & values