Neuenstein / Aschaffenburg, 10th of December 2025 - One year after its launch, the joint initiative by DPD Germany and GLS Germany to establish a shared Out of Home (OOH) infrastructure is gaining momentum: Just in time for the peak Christmas season, 150 newly and jointly installed locations are now fully operational, with a further 500 currently in the rollout phase.
Both carriers currently operate a network of over 10,000 Out of Home points for parcel drop-off and collection. The majority of these parcel shops and stations can already be used by customers of both providers. Especially in the pre-Christmas period, this is a key advantage for simplifying parcel shipping and receiving for tens of thousands of customers. The shared goal is clear: a nationwide, provider-agnostic Out of Home (OOH) network with 20,000 locations.
Jascha Waffender, Director Out of Home at GLS Germany, emphasises the strategic importance of the initiative: "We are translating customer centricity into a provider-open infrastructure. Whether it's a retailer solution, co-branding or an individual station – we are creating a networked solution that redefines the last mile: faster, more flexible and more consistently oriented towards people's day-to-day lives. Out of Home is thus becoming the centrepiece of the last mile."
"In just twelve months, we have proven that close cooperation really works in a highly competitive market," says Michael Knaupe, Chief Customer Experience & Business Development Officer at DPD Germany.
Together with GLS, we are creating a network that offers real added value - for customers, partners, cities and local communities. DPD and GLS see the joint OOH network as a blueprint for modern, urban logistics, as we are rolling out a provider-open ecosystem.
Michael Knaupe, Chief Customer Experience & Business Development Officer at DPD Germany
The latest E-Shopper Barometer conducted by Geopost and the Last Mile Delivery Experience Study conducted by GLS subsidiary Bettermile show that customers desire more flexibility in parcel delivery and that OOH solutions such as lockers and parcel shops are continually gaining popularity.
Customisation options and strong partners
Lockers are not merely functional, but form a scalable retail network: modular, customisable and optimised for a wide range of applications. Each location can be tailored, upon request, to the spatial requirements and brand identity of the respective partner – from design and functionality modules to digital integration. Whether in city centres, car parks or specialist stores, retailers increase footfall and convenience for their customers, while brands boost their visibility – a win-win for modern location partners.
Among the first partners of GLS and DPD are beverage retailer Getränke Markgrafen and sports retailer INTERSPORT. Two retail companies that consciously focus on additional services, as Michael Körber, CEO of Getränke Markgrafen explains: "Our customers combine parcel collection with their shopping. This increases footfall and offers real added value. The concept fits perfectly with our aim of thinking holistically about customer experiences." Authorized Signatory Sebastian Theissen adds: "The concept fits perfectly with our ambition to provide our customers with a consistently pleasant all-round experience."
Thomas Storck, Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board and CFO of INTERSPORT Germany eG also draws a positive conclusion after the first few months of cooperation in the Out-of-Home segment: "With the introduction of parcel services and stations at our first participating retailers, we are creating real added value for our customers: they benefit from flexible pickup and shipping options directly on-site, making their daily lives even easier. Together with our partners, we are thus setting new standards for innovative and customer-focused logistics solutions.”
Photo: Michael Knaupe (left), Chief Customer Experience & Business Development Officer at DPD Germany, and Jascha Waffender (right), Director Out of Home at GLS Germany, are pleased with 150 new jointly installed locations and the expansion of their shared Out of Home infrastructure. Source: DPD
Home / GLS and DPD accelerate expansion of their Out of Home network with strong partners
