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Press releases 2011
- Parcel and express service provider's volumes rise by 6%
- Daily 70,000 parcels more than in year before
- Over €90 million planned for network expansion in 2012
Aschaffenburg, 19 December 2011 – International parcel and express service provider DPD is heading for a new record year. Interim figures indicate that growth in volumes for 2011 will be a healthy 6%. This means that every working day in Germany DPD transported an average of 70,000 parcels more than during the year before, which adds up to a total of approx. 320 million shipments. "This further increase and our continued growth in this segment are all the more remarkable because we are already the market leaders in parcel shipping between business customers in Germany", states DPD CEO Arnold Schroven, adding: "We are continuing to grow with our existing customers while at the same time adding new ones and registering an above-average increase in B2C operations - in other words deliveries to private customers." According to Mr Schroven growth at DPD continues as in the past to be higher than that of the parcels market as a whole. "Our uninterrupted upwards trend confirms the DPD strategy of aiming at growth both in the B2B (business to business) segment and on the B2C (business to consumer) market." This positive development is being driven by quality and innovation. "Our appeal to customers is that we have developed solutions which enable us to transfer the high quality of our B2B services to B2C deliveries, too." This applies both to classical DPD customers, who in addition to traditional deliveries to retailers are now also increasingly supplying private customers, and to new customers in the rapidly growing e-commerce segment who deliver to the consumer direct. "A major factor behind our service-driven growth in the B2C segment is represented by the new, intelligent delivery options which we have introduced this year", explains CEO Schroven. For example, with DPD's FlexDelivery service consignees receive advance notification by SMS or e-mail that a parcel is to be delivered to them. They can then use the same medium to respond directly and specify the day they prefer for the delivery. On the day of delivery itself they then also receive advance information about the time window in which the DPD driver will be calling. Currently this time window is between two and six hours, but in the year 2012 it is to be brought down to 2 hours. "The aim is to communicate actively with consignees and offer them the kind of options which will make it possible to deliver parcels at the first attempt. This increases satisfaction on the part of the consignees and demonstrably reduces the number of returned parcels."
In 2012 an amount of over 90 million euros is to be invested in expanding the DPD network
In spite of generally less than positive prospects for the economy, DPD is confident that it will be able to continue its growth in 2012. "We're sticking to our expansion plans and in the coming year we will be spending over €90 million in Germany alone on increasing our capacity significantly and optimising our network", confirms Arnold Schroven.
Aschaffenburg, 13 December 2011 – In the year 2012, too, the 'DPD Initiative for People in Aschaffenburg' will be donating 30,000 euros for social projects from which the city's residents will benefit. Klaus Herzog, the Mayor of Aschaffenburg in Bavaria, and DPD CEO Arnold Schroven invited applications for funding in the course of a 'DPD Volunteers' Day', during which staff from the Aschaffenburg-based parcel and express service provider packed Christmas gift parcels for the 'Shining children's eyes' campaign on behalf of needy children and young people. This Christmas campaign has been initiated by the 'Malteser Hilfsdienst' voluntary organisation and the 'Grenzenlos' social advisory service. "I'm very glad that for the third year in succession DPD will be promoting social projects in our region", said Mayor Herzog on the occasion of the 'DPD Volunteers' Day', adding "I invite all the city's associations and organisations to apply with their projects for financial support." DPD CEO Arnold Schroven confirms: "We don't just want to do some good at Christmas time only. Our aim is to make a permanent contribution to the city which is home to our company, and the DPD initiative is an ideal vehicle for achieving this." Since 2009 DPD has funded 19 projects to a total amount of 60,000 euros. In addition, thanks to the 'DPD Volunteers' Days' a further 12 initiatives have received hands-on support by staff from DPD's Aschaffenburg head office. The projects which are to receive financial support are selected by an independent jury which in the year 2012 will consist of Klaus Herzog, the Mayor of Aschaffenburg, Volkmar Gregori, the Evangelical Lutheran Dean of Aschaffenburg and DPD CEO Arnold Schroven.
Photo motif I: Volkmar Gregori, the Evangelical Lutheran Dean of Aschaffenburg, DPD CEO Arnold Schroven and Klaus Herzog, the Mayor of Aschaffenburg. Photo motif II: Also at work: DPD Managing Director John Acton (right) and Verena Hilss, Director Network Marketing (center).
Bucarest, December 2011. DPD Romania, one of the major players on the Romanian market for parcel shipping and express courier services, has been awarded top spot in the 2011 company rankings which are published by the country's Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Dynamic Parcel Distribution (DPD) Romania is part of the Geopost group, which is itself a La Poste subsidiary, and has this year been ranked number one in the rankings which are published annually by Romania's Chamber of Commerce and Industry. In the category covering medium-sized companies DPD triumphed over its direct competitors in the section covering services, other postal activities and courier services thanks to its innovative approach and quality management. This award from the Romanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry represents renewed recognition of DPD's innovations and efforts aimed at optimising its efficiency throughout the entire year. With dpdonline.ro DPD Romania is the first courier service on the local market to launch a platform within the country on which customers can place orders online and implement e-payment for services with bank debit cards of all kinds.
Best/Veenendaal, 25 November 2011 – This afternoon, the official opening of the new distribution center of DPD took place in Veenendaal. The new establishment of DPD is the result of the continuous growth of the parcel service provider and will be the central location for distribution throughout the Netherlands. The innovative new establishment has been designed and built following sustainable principles. The offices are, for instance, completely CO2-neutral and DPD is the first in the industry to use the CROSSORTER 1500, a durable high-tech sorting system with an energy-saving start-stop system, designed by Vanderlande Industries. The new establishment has been built to process up to 120,000 parcels per day. Moreover, there is a possibility to expand the first floor in order to meet future growth. At the distribution center in Veenendaal, DPD combines its activities of the present depot in Ede with a central transfer function throughout the Netherlands. Because of the parcel service provider’s continuous growth in the Netherlands, the capacity of the depot in Ede became less adequate, and for that reason they chose to expand at a new location. “Aside from the expansion of our regional distribution centre, we have found the need for additional transfer capacity. Therefore, we have decided to move this hub to the centrally located Veenendaal. Our office in the in Brabant-situated Best will still remain the main location for our international transfer” as said by Michael van Ooijen, CEO of DPD Netherlands, who recently took on management responsibilities for DPD in the Benelux. The construction of the new distribution centre can hardly be called standard. In particular, the sustainable aspects of the building are special. The whole office – with a floor area of approximately 1.300 m2 – is executed in an energy neutral manner by means of the most modern techniques of warmth- and cold recovery. The 11.000 m2 hall of the building also has an energy efficient design. Moreover, the Holland Hub has been built in such a manner that, if wanted, it can easily be expanded with additional pilotage on the roof for the loading of the smaller parcel services. For its new distribution center in Veenendaal, DPD has chosen for the state-of-the-art sorting system, entirely new in the industry, designed by Vanderlande Industries. The CROSSORTER 1500 combines the latest technologies with a strong focus on energy efficiency. The cooperation between the two parties is also perfectly in line with the sustainable aspirations of the parcel delivery service provider. The sorting system of Vanderlande Industries enables DPD to manage the mixed flows of small and large parcels. “With this system DPD can continue to improve its performance, while minimizing the costs and environmental impact,” as said by Michiel Peters, President and CEO Vanderlande Industries. The sorting system processes 2-3 parcels per second, which in the future will amount to 120.000 parcels per day.
Aschaffenburg, 29.11.2011. In the coming year international parcel and express service provider DPD in Germany will be raising its prices by an average 4.8%. The reasons for this are rising wage costs and incidental wage costs, together with significant price increases on the part of suppliers and freight forwarders. In taking this step DPD is reacting to the increasing cost pressures which the entire transport and logistics industry is facing: "The continuing boom and a considerable rise in parcel volumes mean that load space is in short supply and is becoming correspondingly expensive", explains DPD CEO Arnold Schroven. A further challenge is the shortage of skilled workers and qualified drivers which industry associations and logistics companies are experiencing. This is also leading to an increase in costs in the freight sector. "For DPD the quality of our services continues to be the top priority", adds Mr Schroven. "That's the reason why this overall development within the industry will be reflected in our prices." In Germany alone DPD is already investing millions at the double-digit level every year in expanding its existing depots and building new ones, and accordingly in the quality and capacity of its network.
Aschaffenburg, 28.11.2011 – Consumers who order goods want to know when their parcel will arrive -- and not just the day but also the approximate time when it will be delivered. With parcel and express service provider DPD in Germany this is possible. DPD delivers parcels not just on the date specified by the consignee, but also provides proactive information on the day of delivery about the time window in which the parcel will arrive. At present this countrywide service is unique among parcel service providers in Germany.
Requested delivery day + time window = 'FlexDelivery'
FlexDelivery makes taking delivery of a parcel much easier for consumers to plan. For example, someone who has ordered something from an online shop will – provided the retailer is a DPD customer – be informed the day before by SMS and/or email about the planned delivery. The consignee can then postpone the delivery to one of three successive working days. On the actual date of delivery the consignee is then informed by SMS and/or email about the time window within which the parcel will be delivered. At the moment this time window lies between two and six hours, values which are based on experience from past delivery tours and have an accuracy of around 95%. This time window is soon to be reduced to a maximum of two hours.
Pilot project in Great Britain successful
In Britain DPD has been registering positive results with 'FlexDelivery' since 2010, with its flexible delivery service enabling the acquisition of a large number of new customers. "In an era where speed and efficiency are decisive factors, the precise delivery of parcels at the predicted time is a major factor in ensuring consignee satisfaction", confirms DPD CEO Arnold Schroven. "This is why many online and mail-order retailers are using our FlexDelivery service for the purpose of increasing the satisfaction and loyalty of their customers." He adds that the service also simplifies operating processes for shippers in that there is a significant reduction in the number of returns and complaints they have to deal with.
One parcel – many solutions
If the parcel can't be delivered in spite of the advance notification, the consignee can, as usual, go online at www.neuzustellung.de and, free of charge, either issue an authorisation to deposit, request delivery on a different day or to a different address, or even arrange to pick up the parcel from a DPD parcel shop.
Tallin. 17th of November 2001 – For courier services the month before Christmas is the most hectic time of the year. In gratitude and to show its appreciation of the couriers, who work hard throughout the whole year to ensure that parcels are delivered safely and punctually from the shipper to the consignee, leading Estonian courier service DPD has decided to honour the third Friday in November as 'Couriers' Day'. The courier service, which is one of the biggest in Estonia, employs more than 100 couriers who day in, day out deliver thousands of parcels to both business and private consignees throughout the entire country. The initiative of nominating one day in the year as 'Couriers' Day' has been initiated in Latvia and Lithuania as well as in Estonia. Currently 115 couriers in Estonia, 80 couriers in Latvia and 250 couriers in Lithuania are responsible for ensuring that goods are delivered within 1 - 2 working days in all three Baltic states. "On average our couriers deliver up to 20% more parcels in November and December than they do in the remaining months of the year. And in spite of the increased workload a courier has to carry out, the relevant duties have to be carried out just as responsibly and professionally as at any other time", explains DPD Managing Director Tarmo Tael. At first sight the work of a courier may seem to be quite simple -- you take a parcel and you deliver it to the consignee's address. However, this is only part of the courier's everyday work. "Couriers form an important link in a large system which is based on precision operations, and their work has a direct impact on the trouble-free processes and quality of this system", adds Tael. At the same time the increasingly wide spectrum of the services that are offered by logistics operators increases the demands made on couriers and the tasks they have to implement. For example, the development of e-commerce has led to an increase in parcel deliveries to private individuals, which requires greater flexibility on the part of the couriers in order to meet the requirements of customers in this target group. In addition to the increasing number of tasks which make up their daily work, couriers also perform the role of representing their company. "These examples illustrate that couriers don't just have to be good drivers -- they also have to be able to communicate well and have the ability to remain calm and good humoured in tense situations. In addition they have to have a strong sense of responsibility", says Tael. He calls on everyone to make a note of the day which has been nominated as 'Couriers' Day' and to congratulate couriers on the occasion of this special day for them when they call to deliver a parcel. "If you see a courier from DPD or from another courier service in the city, give him or her a wave or a smile", says Tael, adding that DPD is optimistic that this will prove a successful occasion while calling on the other logistics operators to join in the tradition.
GeoPost UK is in the top 3% of the Environment Agency’s inaugural Energy Efficiency Performance League Table which ranks more than 2,000 organisations according to how they manage their energy use under the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC). And the parcel delivery giant – which operates under DPD and Interlink Express in the UK – is the highest ranked parcel carrier in the 2011 Performance League Table. GeoPost UK was assessed with other national carriers, retailers, major supermarkets and hospitals according to what they have done to measure energy use and reduce carbon emissions. The CRC scheme requires large organisations that use more than 6,000MWh electricity per year to measure and report carbon emissions. They gain credits for installing smart meters and complying with Carbon Trust standards - or an equivalent accreditation scheme.
Explained Mark Wilkes, Director of Technical Services for GeoPost UK, said: “We have a strong, proactive environmental ethos. We are committed to recycling and reducing waste and carbon emissions.
“We were the first in the industry to introduce a biodegradable bag; have invested in the industry’s largest fleet of double-decker vehicles (which has saved 4.2million miles a year); have replaced 300 vehicles with energy-efficient versions; introduced waste compactors at our Hubs and operate a fuel management system guaranteed to optimise fuel performance and thus cut carbon emissions. “We scored 92.5% in the Performance League Table and were ranked ahead of our competitors. However, we see the score as one on which to build and improve for the Environment Agency’s next report.” Of the 2,106 organisations listed in the Environment Agency’s report, 22 were in joint first place with 100% while 803 organisations scored zero. GeoPost UK scored 92.5%. The Environment Agency’s Director of Environment and Business Ed Mitchell said he was encouraged to see that six out of 10 organisations taking part in the scheme have taken steps to improve their energy management. He added: "The UK needs its high-street shops, major businesses, councils, government departments and other big energy users to use less electricity to help meet tough carbon reduction targets. This scheme encourages all big organisations to measure and reduce energy use which in turn should also save them money and help cut the UK’s carbon footprint."
Best, 2 November 2011 – As of now Michaël van Ooijen, CEO of DPD the Netherlands, will be taking on the role of Head Cluster Benelux in addition to his current responsibilities. Consequently, Van Ooijen will have overall responsibility for the operations in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. Van Ooijen will be working closely together with the recently appointed Managing Director DPD Belgium and Luxembourg, Marc Morioux, to continue the success of DPD in the Benelux. Van Ooijen (52) began his career in 1982 as Controller at Philips I&E, after which he switched to BDO Nederland in 1987. There he worked as a Consultant. He began working for DPD in 1995 as Director Finance & Administration and was appointed to CEO DPD Nederland in 2007. Since his appointment as CEO in 2007, the organization has seen a tremendous growth. DPD recently built a new establishment in Veenendaal, which will officially be opened on 25 November 2011. His knowledge of DPD, his background in financial management and his experience on the operational side of the organization make Michaël van Ooijen exceptionally suited to lead the Cluster Benelux. Michaël van Ooijen enthusiastically looks forward to his new role: ‘DPD is an innovative company with huge potential and ambition. The focus of the organizational changes within the Cluster will mainly lie on creating win-win situations. We want to look at how quickly and efficiently synergy advantages can be achieved in a pragmatic manner. By means of a more intense collaboration with my colleagues in Belgium and Luxembourg, I expect to be able to continue the successful growth of DPD in the Benelux’.
Erftstadt/Aschaffenburg, 3 November 2011 – In Erftstadt parcel and express service provider DPD is building the most modern and highest capacity parcel distribution centre in its entire network at a total investment cost of approx. 42 million euros. In the autumn of 2012 DPD will be moving to the new depot from its current location in Frechen. Together with general contractors Köster GmbH DPD celebrated the official start of the construction work at a symbolic groundbreaking ceremony on 3 November 2011. The core of the new DPD distribution centre in Erftstadt is the cutting-edge conveyor system with two 400 m long sorting conveyors. From the autumn of next year around 18,000 parcels an hour will be carried along the conveyor belts at a speed of 2.5 metres per second. Parcels will be weighed, scanned and measured fully automatically, and then channelled to the individual loading bay. Operations for the loading staff and drivers will be considerably facilitated by 120 electric scissor lift tables.
Construction time for major depot will be 11 months
On a site which is 8.3 hectares in size, roughly the equivalent of 11 football pitches, the dimensions of the new depot reflect its importance as a central distribution location. The sorting hall on its own measures 1.3 hectares and has 320 delivery gates. Next autumn 300 depot staff and up to 350 drivers will be starting work here. The distribution centre will be built as a turnkey project by the Gießen division of Köster GmbH in a construction time of only 11 months.
Groundbreaking ceremony for the most modern DPD depot in the network
"The new depot in Erftstadt is the biggest and most important investment made by DPD in the last three years", states DPD Regional Director Armin Margardt. "In terms of capacity and technical sophistication it will beat all our other 75 depots. And the new centre will also play a decisive role in DPD's European network." Dr. Franz-Georg Rips, the mayor of Erftstadt, also welcomes the new depot: "The DPD project will have a positive impact for our business park and for the city as an attractive location for companies. In addition DPD will be creating long-term jobs here."
A building concept which conserves resources
At the same time the new DPD depot is a demonstration of the company's commitment to the environment and climate protection. For the most part recyclable natural building materials such as wood will be used for construction, while a photovoltaic installation will supply energy free from any emissions. The office building will be heated and cooled geothermally, backed by an intelligent, event-based lighting system. Large windows will enable the maximum amount of daylight to enter the hall, which means that electric light will only be used where it is actually required. And finally noise pollution will also be greatly reduced by means of leading-edge, low-noise conveyor equipment and a sound-absorbing building structure. The noise level in the hall will max. 70 dB, which will be highly beneficial for the workforce. The new location at a glance: facts and figures
- Start of the construction work: 1 August 2011
- End of the construction work: 1 August 2012
- Operational start-up: 1 September 2012
- Total investment: 42 million euros
- Workforce: over 300
- Delivery drivers: up to 350
- Site area: 83,000 m²
- Built-up area: sorting hall 13,000 m², office building 2,800 m²
- Sorting capacity: min. 18,000 parcels per hour
- Long-distance transport links: 120 (compared to current 80 in Frechen)
Photo motif: At the groundbreaking ceremony in Erftstadt: Erftstadt’s mayor Dr. Franz-Georg Rips, DPD’s Depot Manager Martin Klein, DPD’s Regional Managing Director Armin Margardt and Mike Flörke of the general contractor Köster GmbH.
- Apprenticeship Charter launched
- 108 apprentices begin their first year of training
Aschaffenburg, 18.10.2011 – At the start of the 2011/2012 vocational training year 108 apprentices took their first steps into the world of work with DPD. In Germany the international provider of parcel and express services is now training a total of 250 young and women in 16 different occupational areas. In future DPD even intends to expand its commitment to high quality training and for this purpose the company has now launched an Apprenticeship Charter. "For 30 years now training has been a matter of high priority for DPD", explains Dirk Müller, Director Human Resources at DPD GeoPost (Deutschland). "Many top specialists and managers at DPD received their training within the company and in spite of falling numbers of school leavers there will be no change in this policy in future – our Apprenticeship Charter will lay the foundations for this". Accordingly there are plans to increase the apprenticeship rate from its current 4.4% to 5.6% by the year 2020. In order to achieve this objective DPD is enhancing the attractiveness of its training programme by developing in-company training activities which are customised specifically for apprentices. Every year there are awards for the top apprentices within the company and even after they have completed their training the company makes sure that the skills of young members of the workforce continue to be developed. In cooperation with schools and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry apprenticeship scouts are responsible for generating interest in the CEP industry. The spectrum of careers which are offered by DPD ranges from qualifications in freight forwarding, CEP operations and commerce to specialisation in warehousing logistics and computer science. Dirk Müller describes what the company is looking for in its apprentices as follows: "All those who wish to work in a service-oriented manner, are team players and can work on their own initiative will be welcome at DPD!" Please see also: https://www.dpd.com/de/Home/Ueber-DPD/Job-und-Karriere/Ausbildung-bei-DPD2
Leopoldsdorf bei Wien, 10 October 2011 – DPD Austria now offers customers the possibility of checking on the progress of their parcels from their mobile at mobile.dpd.at, thus facilitating mobile access to DPD's online services. At the same time there has been a relaunch of the website dpd.at.
Creating the best possible connections
DPD Austria has not just relaunched its company website, it has also at the same time created a mobile version which provides customers with access wherever they may be. "For us it's important that the enquiry function which enables customers to check on the status of their parcel is available right round-the-clock and from any location. The aim of the relaunch of www.dpd.at was to ensure the ongoing optimisation of the user-friendliness of the homepage, and to make a targeted response to individual customer requirements", explains Rainer Schwarz, CEO of DPD Austria.
Innovations at dpd.at
The new homepage offers features such as a simplified search function, news alerts, a service box and a new teaser format with which specific services, products or tools can be highlighted. The central point of the homepage is the focus box in which the latest DPD topics and products can be presented in an eye-catching way by means of a slideshow.
Mobile website 'to go'
Users can access the mobile website by entering mobile.dpd.at into the address line of their mobile browser. No additional installation is required. The shipment tracking function has been adapted technically and simplified for the mobile website. A route planner is also available to users. Describing the benefits of the new online features Rainer Schwarz says: "It was important to us to make the use of the website as simple and as fast as possible. After all, that's the whole point. Customers want to find out quickly where their parcel is. Via the mobile DPD website they can now not only find the location of the nearest DPD depot, but also the fastest way to get there." Photos for downloading are available at http://www.radix-group.com/dpd.html
AEO-S (Authorized Economic Operator-Security) provides enhanced security and ensures faster customs clearance Budapest, 3 October – DPD Hungary has officially received AEO status (AEO – Authorized Economic Operator), which certifies the compliance and excellence of operations in all respects at one of Hungary's leading courier companies. AEO status took effect from 1 January 2008, and is available to all economic players that come into contact with the European Union in connection with customs clearances. “AEO status is an important step in DPD Hungary’s life, and proves the quality of our processes with a view to increasing our ability to develop and improve. We have always attached great importance to safe transport, but formal certification is proof that the company complies with the necessary financial and safety regulations” - said Csilla Hosszú, DPD Hungary’s Managing Director. In the future, DPD Hungary Ltd., as a recognized operator with AEO certification, can accelerate customs clearance processes and customs controls.
Budapest, 3rd of October – After the number of innovations and developments in DPD Hungary, the company has opened an another new depot. DPD Hungary has opened a new depot in Kapuvár which is in Győr-Moson-Sopron County and by now, the company increased the number of the depots to 18. In the 250 square depot five couriers are working now, but this number can be increased if the parcel numbers rise in parallel. The new depot has been designed for daily operating needs, so it’s not suitable for warehousing and storage. The new depot is fully in line with the DPD Hungary’s objectives: meet the customers needs and, in order to cover a specific area ranging from Kapuvár to Sopron and Mosonmagyaróvár.
Oldbury, 6 October 2011 – World Cup footballing legends Sir Geoff Hurst MBE and Sir Gordon Banks MBE joined DPD UK's team to officially open a £12m extension to DPD's national sorting hub at Oldbury. The celebration marked the culmination of a 12-month project which has created 150 new jobs and features state-of-the-art facilities which will increase DPD's parcel sorting capacity to more than half a million packages each night. Dwain McDonald, DPD's CEO, said: "It's a fantastic feeling to open this International extension to our hub and I am delighted that these two England legends were able to join our customers and staff on this special occasion. "It's also wonderful in the current climate to have the opportunity to recruit people to our growing business - a team which is customer-focussed company and aiming for market leadership by 2015." Footballing hero, Sir Geoff Hurst MBE, added: "I'm particularly pleased to be involved in this event because in both football and business, the key is to build on your success and perform better every year, both as individuals and as a team." The investment into the Oldbury hub - which has direct connections nightly to 23 European countries - has created a self-contained site which the event of severe weather or other local infrastructure problems can draw on its own power supply, fuel, rock salt, snow ploughs as well as a separate IT system. The new international sorting area features a CAA approved secure X-ray area for air freight screening and £900k has been invested in new Vitronic video technology that photographs all five sides of every parcel going through the hub, improving first time read rates and routing accuracy. DPD's Dwain McDonald added: "The Oldbury hub will help accommodate the vast volumes of International business that we handle. However, our business is growing in all area. Our unique Predict service, which offers customers a one hour delivery window, has produced £40 million of new business wins this year as customers switch to DPD from carriers who cannot provide this award-winning service." Photo motif: Left to Right: Sir Geoff Hurst, Sir Gordon Banks and DPD UKs CEO Dwain McDonald.(v.l.n.r.).
- DPD enables online retailers to offer customers a wide range of delivery services
- Consignees can now make a date with their parcel
Aschaffenburg, 4.10.2011 – Whether it's at a retail store or online, for customers the shopping experience has to be a positive one. However, when a product is sold online it still has to be delivered, which means that the shopping experience doesn't simply end with the click of the mouse. Shoppers who don't receive their goods on time and in good condition probably won't make any further purchases from that particular online retailer, no matter how well-organised and attractive the website is. On a fiercely competitive market the performance of the parcel service provider, who also comes into direct contact with the customer, is becoming increasingly important. This is why international parcel and express service provider DPD offers online retailers a wide range of delivery services. These don't just ensure satisfaction on the part of the final customer but also optimise the retailer's processes and reduce the number of returns, saving them a great deal of time and work while at the same time cutting their costs. There is no doubt that online retailing is a growth market. Because shopping on the internet is convenient and offers unlimited choice, more and more people are taking advantage of the opportunities it offers. The demands made on parcel services by this increasingly large consumer group are extensive. New and individual supplementary services which can be flexibly integrated into the everyday life of the consumer are required. DPD has recognised this trend and already offers a wide spectrum of delivery services with which online retailers can meet the needs of their customers. Two examples are the interactive delivery notification service, which offers alternative delivery on any of the next three working days in case the first delivery has failed, and the planned advance notification of a four to six-hour delivery window. And if occasionally a parcel delivery is unsuccessful the consignee can, as usual, make arrangements free of charge online at www.neuzustellung.de for the parcel to be delivered on a more convenient day, to a different address or to a Parcel-Shop for personal collection. Returns are also processed simply and fast. In short, using DPD as the service provider enables online retailers to offer their customers an ideal selection of flexible and individual delivery services. At the same time the international parcel and express service provider is working continuously on the ongoing development of its existing services in the B2C field, because satisfied customers are the key to success in e-commerce.
E-commerce made easy – thanks to DPD
In addition DPD provides direct support for the processes operated by the retailers: "With DPD's easy-to-use online platform MyDPD our services can not only be integrated flexibly into the daily routine of the final customer but also into the retailer's operational processes", says Thomas Preuß, Director Sales & Marketing at DPD GeoPost (Deutschland). The interactive features of MyDPD can be individually adapted to the specific retailing business, with all processes displayed with full transparency. For example, if required DPD customers have access at any time to an overview of all their financial transactions. A further feature of the platform is the regular address update function, which makes it possible to avoid unnecessary returns and to save costs. All information on the subject of e-commerce is also available on the internet at www.dpd.com/de.
Hamburg / Aschaffenburg, 5 September 2011 – This week two electrically powered vehicles began operations in residential areas of Hamburg on behalf of DPD, the international express and parcel service provider. In the Vito E-CELL made by Mercedes Benz DPD is using the world's first factory-fitted electrically driven van, enabling the emissions-free delivery and pickup of parcels. In testing the Vito E-CELL in its operations DPD is playing a pioneering role. "Electric vehicles make it possible for DPD to deliver parcels without generating any emissions, in that they emit neither exhaust gases nor engine noise", explains Hansjürn Beckmann, DPD branch manager in Hamburg. Because the volume, load capacity and range of the Vito E-CELLs are lower than the conventional delivery vehicles used by DPD, the vans are only suitable for specific routes. "This is why the electric Vitos are ideal for urban residential areas, where DPD mainly delivers parcels to private consignees", explains Beckmann. "In such areas our drivers have to stop very often over a short distance and generally only deliver a single parcel at each stop." The electric vehicles are charged at charging stations which have been set up at the DPD branch in Hamburg-Wilhelmsburg. Their batteries are loaded at night, when surplus electricity is available. As a result no additional power needs to be generated for charging the batteries. Positive experiences in the Stuttgart conurbation At the start of the year DPD launched a trial run with five Vito E-CELLs in the Stuttgart area. "Our excellent experience with electric vehicles in the Stuttgart conurbation have encouraged us to extend the trial run to Hamburg", comments Gerd Seber, Manager for Sustainable Development at DPD GeoPost (Deutschland), adding: "In transport-intensive parcel shipping electro-mobility is a highly promising method for reducing emissions in the long term". Facts and figures about the Vito E-CELL by Mercedes-Benz With a permissible gross weight of 3,050 kg the Vito E-CELL has a load capacity of 900 kg. This transport performance is enabled on the one hand by an especially compact and accordingly light lithium-ion battery which has a high energy density compared to conventional batteries. At the same time the electric drive is an integral, factory-fitted component of the vehicle's design. The Vito E-CELL has a range of approx. 130 kilometers. Its top speed of 80 km/h is designed for transport operations both in the inner city and for short stretches in suburban areas. Pictures: DPD driver Ali-Nasser Yassine making emissions-free deliveries near the city hall and the harbour of Hamburg.
'Approved Economic Operator' status increases security standards and ensures benefits in customs clearance operations Aschaffenburg, 23.08.2011 - On 12 July 2011 DPD GeoPost (Deutschland) GmbH received certification as an 'Approved Economic Operator'. The 'Approved Economic Operator' (AEO) seal of approval indicates to the customs authorities and to customers that Germany's second-largest express and parcel service is an especially secure and reliable service provider. The AEO certificate is official confirmation that DPD complies with the applicable legal and security directives and meets their high standards of reliability and financial viability", states Dr. Armin Bohnhoff, Director Operations and Technology at DPD GeoPost (Deutschland). The company has been awarded AEO-F (full), the highest level of certification, which combines the AEO-C (customs) customs specifications and the security directives of AEO-S (security) status. In addition to DPD in Germany, DPD GeoPost UK and DPD in the Czech Republic have also received AEO-F certification. AEO-S certification has already been awarded to the countries of Luxembourg and Lithuania.
Seal of approval facilitates customs clearance
As an approved economic operator DPD will in future enjoy benefits when it comes to customs processing in that AEO-certified companies receive preferential treatment during customs clearance operations. The declaration process is simpler, clearance is implemented faster and with fewer formalities, and checks on goods and documents are not made so frequently. In international shipping this provides significant benefits in terms of time and cost. "Of course our customers will benefit from this," adds Dr Bohnhoff, "because their goods will reach their destination not only faster but also more securely."
New employee ID cards and training courses
As part of AEO certification, new staff ID cards have been introduced at company locations. The Operations department at DPD GeoPost (Deutschland) GmbH offers regular training courses for the responsible staff at the depots, so that they always have the latest information about the security requirements of the certification.
Secure and transparent supply chains
On 1 January 2008 the European Union introduced AEO status throughout Europe. The aim is to make the international supply chain from the producer of the goods to the final customer more secure and transparent. For an increasing number of customers worldwide this certification has become a decisive criterion in the selection of their service providers.
Moscow, July 19, 2011 – DPD began operating in Pyatigorsk in June 2011. The company’s decision to open a depot in one of the major spa centres of Russia is linked to an increasing demand in the region for transport and logistics services. Pyatigorsk is the largest retail centre of the Stavropol Territory, in which more than a quarter of the whole trading volume of the territory is concentrated. Pyatigorsk has a population of more than half a million. A number of light industry and engineering enterprises are concentrated in the city and the surrounding area. The demand for professional transport and logistics solutions has significantly increased in the region and therefore the opening of the depot was an important event for companies based in the city. There has been an increase in the demands of DPD in Russia customers for high quality delivery of parcels and freight in this segment. It is for this reason that DPD opened a Pyatigorsk depot located near to one of the main highways of the Stavropol Territory, KAVAKAZ (M29). With the total area in excess of 400 sq. m., the capacity of the depot is more than 23,000 parcels a day, which is approximately 450,000 tonnes. New depot offers customer service and receipt of shipments for delivery to 4000 towns and cities in Russia and provides the company’s most popular services: DPD 18:00 (Express delivery for parcels and freight that must arrive no later than 18:00 on the specified day with 100% money-back guarantee), DPD CLASSIC (reliable delivery of documents and parcels from door to door), DPD ECONOMY (cost-effective delivery for heavier-weight parcels and freight). An effective delivery network enables DPD customers in Pyatigorsk and towns and cities of the Caucasian Mineral Waters to receive parcels within two days from Moscow. This logistics solution is a unique offering on the transport services market in Pyatigorsk. As noted by the Southern Region Director of DPD in Russia, Alexei Kovalchuk: ‘Pyatigorsk relatively recently became the capital of the North Caucasian Federal District, which lead to the formation of a number of state and commercial structures needing effective logistics solutions. The great number of service companies targeted at servicing the needs of holidaymakers in Pyatigorsk, the relative proximity to Sochi, the capital of the Winter Olympic Games and the bordering republics of the North Caucasus are all factors that have influenced the decision to open an official DPD representative office in Pyatigorsk. We intend to continue active development in the territory and plan to occupy 30% of the market within a year.‘
Moscow, July 6, 2011 – The official DPD representative office in the city of Cherepovets began operations at the end of June 2011. The decision to open a DPD branch in one of the largest centres of the Vologda Region was made as part of the strategy for expanding the company’s network in the Central Region. Cherepovets has companies from the wood and metal processing industries, the food and light industries and the construction industry. There are more than 1500 small and medium-sized companies in the city and the GDP in Cherepovets is several times higher than the GDP in Vologda. DPD’s objective is to link together the main cities of the Central Region by spanning the centre of business activity with a dense road delivery network. The opening of a new representative office in Cherepovets will therefore enable the time for the transport of parcels and freight in the Central Region to be significantly reduced and will guarantee delivery of all shipments in time. According to the Head of the DPD Agency Network in Russia Anna Matveeva: ’The opening of the new official representative office in Cherepovets demonstrates the active expansion of the company in the regions. Despite the fact that the city’s economic potential is based on companies working in ferrous metallurgy and the chemical industry, Cherepovets is the leader in terms of retail turnover amongst the cities of the Vologda Region. The new DPD representative office will enable our customers to make use of the entire range of modern logistics services. ’
Moscow, July 4, 2011 – DPD is continuing to actively expand its presence in the North Western region and is opening an official representative office in Murmansk. Since the end of 2009, DPD has successfully been implementing a strategy for the expansion of its geography in towns and cities with a population of less than 500,000. The 26th representative office was opened in the port town of Murmansk. According to the Head of DPD Agency Network in Russia Anna Matveeva: ’The opening of the new representative office in Murmansk is a landmark event for the company. For the first time in its history, DPD will be represented in the Arctic Circle. The North Western Region as a whole and Murmansk itself in particular are of great interest both for small and medium-sized business, as well as major retailers. The rising demand for high quality logistics services was a key factor in making the decision to open an official DPD representative office in Murmansk.’ Murmansk is a city located in the Arctic Circle. The basis of the city’s economy is the Murmansk Sea Port, which is one of the largest ice-free ports in Russia. Most companies of the federal and regional retail networks are represented in the city, as well as distributors of tools and car spare parts. The company’s official representative office in Murmansk is working under the international DPD brand and with a single information system of the company.
DPD aims to expand its position on the B2C market with the acquisition of iloxx AG Aschaffenburg, 28.06.2011 – DPD, Germany's No. 2 provider of express and parcel services, has announced that it has acquired iloxx AG, which is based in Nuremberg. "As an innovative provider of logistics services for both private and business customers iloxx AG is highly attractive to us", says DPD CEO Arnold Schroven. "Our customers in the B2B and B2C segments appreciate our flexible product portfolio, outstanding network and reliability, as well as the value for money we provide. We expect continued growth in online and mail order shipping, and with iloxx AG we will have access to further growth areas in the B2C segment which will enable us to widen our business base." Via a shipping portal which it has developed itself the Nuremberg-based company offers a wide range of shipping services, from the delivery of standard parcels right across to the specialised shipping of sensitive and bulky goods. All shipping services can be accessed simply and cost-effectively on the company's own internet portal in the form of a one-stop shop solution. In the 2010 business year iloxx AG made record revenues of €29.4 million, which was a 15% increase on its turnover for the previous year. The largest proportion of the company's sales, 75 %, was accounted for by its B2C operations. In the field of parcel shipping and freight forwarding more than 4 million shipments were transported in 2010. The company, which was founded by managers Volker Hofmann and Matthias Emmel in 1999, has a workforce of 118 employees. Volker Hofmann comments: "We welcome DPD's decision and are pleased to be able to guarantee the employment of all our personnel." iloxx AG has around 700,000 private and 70,000 business customers. "The two managers will continue unchanged to manage the company in accordance with their existing recipe for success," adds Mr Schroven. Both parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price. DPD will with in the future take over all of iloxx AG shipping volumes in the parcel segment. iloxx AG has already won a number of awards, including 'Bavarias Best 50' and 'Europe's 500 Job Creating Companies'. Volker Hofmann and Matthias Emmel have repeatedly reached the finals of the 'Entrepreneurs of the Year' contest, and last year the company was awarded the title of 'Germany's Customer Champions 2010 and 2011'. In 2010 iloxx also was for the first time a finalist in the 'Medium-sized Company Grand Prix' organised by the Oskar Patzelt foundation.
Parcel delivery company DPD has scooped a pair of prestigious national awards for first-class customer service. Winning the UK Customer Experience Award plus the motor industry's Customer Care Award, DPD beat dozens of household names and was rewarded for its "outstanding" service to its customers.
The nationwide parcel carrier with its HQ in Smethwick, West Midlands employs more than 4500, delivers more than a million parcels each week and counts O2, Vodafone and Sony Computers among its customers.
Announcing the result of the UK Customer Experience Award on Friday, the judges praised DPD's "high standards of customer care in every area of their business". And this honour comes hot on the heels of DPD taking the top slot in the Customer Care category at the motor transport industry 'Oscars' last week when judges said the company's customer care ran "from the boardroom to the loading bay and doorstep." Both sets of judges were particularly impressed with DPD's 'customer-obsessed' culture; personal client care; on-line innovations plus the parcel carrier's unique Predict service - providing customers with a one-hour delivery window so they don't have to wait in all day for their parcel. Director of Sales and CRM, Elaine Kerr, said: "This is an incredible double vote of confidence in all that we do. Customer care is our life blood and we're delighted when the outstanding achievements of our people are recognised." CEO Dwain McDonald said: "Winning one prestigious award is fantastic. Winning two in the same week is amazing! This is wonderful news for all our employees and demonstrates that real customer care pays dividends in the current economic climate."
Hamburg, 25 May 2011 – In Hamburg DPD is now delivering parcels on two wheels, too. In a pilot project Germany's No. 2 provider of parcel and express services is testing three different models for suitability. "The delivery bikes never get stuck in a traffic jam, can find their way through every narrow alley and don't generate any emissions", explains Hansjürn Beckmann, DPD branch manager in Hamburg. "For DPD these bikes could be the answer to the challenges caused in inner-city areas by particulates, restrictions on vehicle access and traffic congestion". Delivery by pedal power is suitable above all for delivery tours which combine a high stop density with relatively short distances. This is particularly the case with deliveries to private consignees in town centres, who often receive just a single parcel. As a result the areas where the delivery bikes are being used are the Hamburg districts of Barmbek, Steilshoop, Rotherbaum, Winterhude and Alsterdorf, all of which share the above preconditions. The bikes are loaded at sorting centres which DPD has set up in each district – for example with business customers who can provide storage facilities. There the driver loads up to 50 parcels and sets off on the delivery round. "If these bikes pass the test in practice it will enable DPD to free other inner-city areas from noise and exhaust fumes in this way", comments branch manager Beckmann. Definite results are expected by the middle of August. The bikes which are being tested are models produced by Wulfhorst, Velocab and Pedalpower. Photo: Environmentally friendly but hard work: DPD is delivering parcels by bike in Hamburg. The driver can carry up to 50 parcels on his delivery bike.
Both retailers and consignees now benefit from DPD's new delivery services Aschaffenburg, 9.05.2011 – DPD in Germany, the No. 2 among parcel and express service providers in Germany, is reacting to the fact that parcel consignees are increasingly difficult to locate at home. If, for example, someone who is working full-time orders a product online and if the retailer is a DPD cus-tomer, the consignee will be informed about the planned delivery by email or SMS one day in advance. The consignee can then either confirm the no-tified delivery or postpone it to one of the next three days. After a successful test with selected customers DPD is now launching this service throughout the country. "For the consumer this is completely free of charge," states DPD CEO Arnold Schroven. "We are offering this interactive delivery notification as an additional service to online retailers and mail or-der companies who attach great value to quality." The result is a win-win situation for both the retailer and the consignee. There is an increase both in the accuracy of the delivery operations and in customer satisfaction on the part of the consignee. At the same time the service enables consignors to optimise their shipping processes, which means fewer returns and com-plaints.
Ongoing individualisation of parcel delivery services
For the third quarter of 2011 DPD is planning, in addition to advance notifi-cation of delivery, to make the notified time window for this delivery even more precise. The aim is to inform consignees of the exact delivery time within a variable two-hour to six-hour delivery window, depending on whether they live in an urban or rural area. "By 2012 it is our objective to provide consumers with a delivery window of two hours at the most", adds Mr Schroven. In Great Britain DPD has been successfully offering this ser-vice since 2010. If the parcel delivery is unsuccessful in spite of prior notification, the con-signee can, as usual, specify without extra charge at www.neuzustellung.de that delivery should be made on a different day or to an alternative address, or arrange to pick the parcel up from a DPD Parcel-Shop. DPD aims to set new benchmarks on the German market with these two new services: interactive delivery notification and specifying a time window for delivery. Arnold Schroven is convinced that the services will be wel-comed with open arms by those online retailers who wish to make the online shopping experience of their customers a positive one. In addition the number of consumers who shop online is rising year by year, and with it the number of people who expect flexible delivery processes from their par-cel services. DPD is now offering to private customers, and at the same high quality level, those services which have made it the market leader in Germany when it comes to parcel shipping on behalf of business customers. At the present day DPD is already the third-largest service provider within the B2C segment in Germany, a segment which accounts for well above 20% of the parcels the company delivers. Comprehensive information about DPD's new delivery services is also available online at www.dpd.com/de.
Prague, 19 April 2011 – DPD Czech Republic is regarded as the leading express service provider in parcel shipping in the Czech Republic. The company has now decided to open up the consumer segment in addition to its B2B customers, and for this reason it has launched its initial interactive campaign in this segment, which is so far unique on the Czech market. The guide through the world of parcel shipping and the campaign as a whole is the Sláva Balík express courier service, the new face of DPD. This campaign by DPD CZ is aimed first and foremost at B2C customers. As a result the company is relying on the growing potential of social networks and is taking advantage of a range of platforms for interactive communication. The aim of the campaign is to increase awareness of the service, which is entitled 'DPD Private' and has been conceived in particular for e-shops, providing consumers with convenient and reliable home deliveries. Ogilvy Interactive, supported by Ogilvy PR, was responsible for the design of the campaign and the entire online solution. The progress of the campaign can be followed on the internet at www.slavabalik.cz. The landing page, which is graphically designed as a guidepost, is on the one hand the link to the company's website and on the other provides information about prize games, interactive applications and further activities on Facebook and Youtube. On its website the express courier service Sláva Balík offers valuable gifts which visitors can receive for original activities or services. The best ideas and their implementation are filmed by Sláva and shown on the website. In addition, presents can be selected on Facebook for well-known personalities, and prize game points can be collected. Videos of the prize game can be viewed and participation is possible in discussions about further activities. All this is supplemented by PR measures and online advertising. The concept of the campaign is based on a combination of interactive communication and the related viral effects.
Aschaffenburg / Melle, 17 March 2011 – International parcel and express service provider DPD is now using four semi-trailers with high levels of energy efficiency on the route between Melle (near Osnabrück in Lower Saxony / Germany) and Barcelona. The aim is to save around 100 tonnes of CO2 per year. These savings will above all be achieved by state-of-the-art aerodynamics. The semi-trailers are in operation five days a week in overnight depot-to-depot transport operations, on a route operated by Diebel Speditions GmbH on behalf of DPD. The use of semi-trailers with noticeably improved aerodynamics enables lower fuel consumption, which in turn reduces CO2 emissions. Further improvements such as lower road resistance on the part of the tyres and lower vehicle weight reinforced the savings. The permitted overall weight is 38 tonnes, with a payload of 25 tonnes. "Within Europe DPD relies almost 100% on road transport and as a result almost completely avoids the use of air transport, which generates up to 8 times more CO2 .emissions", explains Dr. Armin Bohnhoff, Director Technology & Operations at DPD GeoPost (Deutschland), adding: "This makes it all the more important for us to exploit all the savings potentials which are offered by long-distance transport". Planned participation in the field trials for long trucks For the purpose of reducing CO2 emissions further, DPD and Diebel Speditions GmbH wish to participate in the field trials for long trucks which are planned in Germany, and will also be using the newly-tested semi-trailers for this purpose. Dr. Bohnhoff is convinced that: "A combination of long trucks and fuel-saving components will enable DPD to achieve a significant reduction in emissions per parcel. This is why I am appealing to our politicians to create the necessary framework conditions for this as soon as possible." Long trucks are truck and trailer rigs which can weigh up to 44 tonnes and reach up to 25.25 metres in length. At the moment such long trucks are not allowed on Germany's roads. However, two long trucks can carry the same amount of freight as three conventional trucks, which means a reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 savings of 20 per cent. The five-year trial run planned by the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development is aimed at testing how long trucks perform in traffic, and to what extent they enable savings in CO2 emissions. Regardless of the combination with long trucks, DPD is also looking at the use of the energy-efficient semi-trailers used between Melle and Barcelona on other international long-distance routes. This is a further step on the road to more ecological sustainability in DPD's operational processes. Further elements of this strategy are, for example, the use of electric vehicles for local deliveries and the use of rail in intermodal transport, all backed up by efficient network planning. Photo: The significantly improved aerodynamic features of the new semi-trailer – shown here on the site of the DPD depot in Melle near Osnabrück – enable CO2 reductions of approx. 100 tonnes per year.
Leopoldsdorf near Vienna, 14 March 2011, For 2010 DPD Austria registered turnover of more than €153 million, which is an increase of 4% on the crisis year of 2009. In domestic parcel shipping DPD experienced growth of 3.6% in 2010, while its export parcels registered healthy growth of 12.5% and import parcels rose by 6.2%. In 2010 DPD shipped a total of 37.5 million parcels, which represents growth in parcel shipping of 5.4%.
Turnover of €153 million After its turnover of €147.1 million in 2009, DPD was able to increase its sales and parcel volumes once more in 2010. "We are delighted that we registered such a clear increase in 2010, with 5.4% growth in our parcel volumes and an increase in turnover of 4%. In the second half-year in particular our business developed especially strongly," declares Rainer Schwarz (50), CEO of DPD Austria GmbH.
Imports and exports push up parcel numbers In 2009 DPD shipped 35.7 million parcels, a volume which rose to 37.5 million in 2010. Its export parcel figures rose by 12.5% and import parcels by 6.2%. One main reason for this is the growing volume of parcels shipped to Germany. One factor which contributed to the 3.6% growth in domestic parcels was the fact that many companies are reducing the size or even shutting down the regional intermediate stores they use as distribution centres. "DPD can provide a replacement service for such situations and implement direct shipping in place of these distribution centres", explains Mr. Schwarz. "We are committed to keeping our services up to date at all times. For DPD these positive figures are a signal indicating that as reliable logistics partners we can provide our customers with a perfect service in both good times and bad", adds Rainer Schwarz. Photos available for downloading at http://www.dpd.at/downloads-bild-a-grafik.html
Budapest, March 1st, With its new payment option DPD Hungária Kft. is responding to the requirements of customers and the market, enabling even faster and more convenient payment of their cash-on-delivery parcels.
With its recently introduced new method of payment consignees can now also pay for C.O.D. shipments with their mobile phone. Thanks to the launch of this option customers can now take delivery of their parcels even if they don't have the necessary cash on hand, because all delivery drivers also accept settlement of the invoice by mobile phone. The new payment option can be implemented via the Telenor and T-Mobile networks.
This new supplementary service saves customers time, because the DPD driver can be paid conveniently by mobile phone at the first delivery attempt, even if not enough cash is available at the time, which makes additional delivery attempts unnecessary.
Best, 31 January 2011 – DPD Netherlands has started the New Year with a pilot of CNG vans in collaboration with Holwerda Distributie en Transport. The parcel service provider will operate daily with three Mercedes-Benz CNG vehicles in the region Joure. These vans use the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) technology and run entirely on natural gas. With this pilot, DPD is taking the next step in the development of sustainable driving. The pilot is an initiative of DPD Netherlands and Holwerda Distributie en Transport. Both parties have worked together before, initiating a LVZ eco combi. Holwerda Distributie en Transport is responsible for the DPD parcel delivery within the catchment area of Friesland operating from the depot in Joure. “County Friesland, Groningen and Drenthe see a future in ‘green’ driving and because of that Joure is the ideal location for the CNG pilot. DPD wants to contribute to the realization of these counties’ ambition to have a hundred thousand vehicles running on sustainable fuels by 2015”, as said by Michael van Ooijen, CEO of DPD Netherlands.
CO2-emissions reduced by 20 to 25%
By having vans run on natural gas instead of gasoline, it is possible to realize a reduction of 20 to 25% in CO2-emissions. The distance that the CNG vans can cover is limited to 270 - 300 km per day. These vans are therefore ideal for inner-city transport. This sustainable mode of transport is not only beneficial to the environment but also for the parcel service provider’s drivers, as they are thus less exposed to harmful CO2-gases.
Next step
DPD is constantly looking for new opportunities when it comes to creating a sustainable environment, both in terms of transport as in distribution sites. The new distribution centre of DPD in Veenendaal and Etten-Leur are nice examples of this. The offices in these centers are designed in such a manner that they are completely CO2-neutral. In addition, DPD has previously introduced the LVZ eco combi and the Mercedes-Benz Vital E-CELL. Both these vans and the CNG vans emphasize DPD’s focus on sustainable transport.
Ludwigsburg / Aschaffenburg, 31 January 2011 – Since the start of last week five DPD electric vehicles have been in operation in the Stuttgart conurbation. These enable the emission-free delivery of parcels in the area of Stuttgart. With the Vito E-CELL by Mercedes Benz DPD is using the first factory-fitted electric-battery operated vans for its parcel deliveries. This makes DPD one of the very first companies to test the Vito E-CELL in its demanding daily operations. The results of the tests are shared on a continuous basis with the manufacturer Mercedes-Benz. "The Vito E-CELL enables DPD to deliver parcels without emissions, because the vehicle is free from exhaust fumes and engine noise," explains Peter Bachmann, DPD branch manager in Ludwigsburg. The Vito E-CELL has a lower load capacity and a shorter range than conventional DPD delivery vehicles, which is why it is used only for deliveries to private consignees in inner-city areas. Here the driver has to make a relatively large number of stops within a small area in order to deliver parcels. In contrast to business consignees private customers generally only receive a single parcel. In inner city areas this therefore means many stops, combined with relatively small parcel volumes and short distances. The Vito E-CELL is also better suited for restricted traffic and parking situations, because it is more manoeuvrable than conventional vans. "As a result our new vehicles are exactly the right answer to the particularly high noise and emissions pollution found in inner-city areas," adds Peter Bachmann. In Stuttgart DPD is using the emission-free vans in the area between the Neckartor and the Burgholzhof, where the limit values for particulates are often exceeded. Another of the five electric vehicles is used in the Ludwigsburg district of Eglosheim, which is highly polluted by emissions from the traffic volumes on the neighbouring B 27 road. The electric vehicles are charged at charging stations which have been set up at the DPD branches in Ludwigsburg and Wendlingen. Batteries are charged at night when surplus electricity is available, which means that no additional electricity needs to be generated for the purpose of charging the batteries. "As a leading provider of parcel services DPD has a special responsibility towards the environment," states Gerd Seber, Sustainable Development Manager at DPD GeoPost (Deutschland). "We operate a transport-based business and are constantly investigating ways of reducing the emissions which are generated in the process. Alternative drive systems can play a decisive role in this, provided that they can prove their viability in practical operations," confirms Mr Seber. The practical test of the five Mercedes-Benz Vito E-CELL vans is designed for a period of four years and a distance of around 80,000 km per vehicle, after which the electric vans will be returned to Mercedes-Benz. During these four years fuel consumption and distances covered will be continuously measured and monitored, with DPD sharing the experience gained during the test phase with the manufacturer. "In this way DPD intends to drive forward the further development of this environmentally-friendly and future-oriented drive system," explains Gerd Seber.
Facts and figures about the Vito E-CELL by Mercedes-Benz
With a permitted gross weight of 3050 kilos the Vito E-CELL has a load capacity of 900 kg. This transport performance is enabled on the one hand by a comparatively compact and therefore light lithium ion battery with a high energy density compared to conventional batteries, and on the other hand because the electric drive system is fitted as standard during the original production stage. The Vito E-CELL has a range of around 130 kilometres. Its maximum speed of 80 km/h is designed for transport operations both within the city and for short distances in suburban areas.
Photo motif I: DPD driver Christoph Richter delivering parcels with the Vito E-Cell in the Ludwigsburg market square.
Photo motif II: at the Ludwigsburg branch a special socket is used to supply the Vito E-Cell with fresh energy. Charging is implemented at a time when the load on the grid is low and surplus electricity is available.
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DPD ships new record quantities in 2011 
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photo motif I: DPD in Germany packs Christmas parcels 