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. The common goal is clear: a comprehensive, provider-independent OOH network with 20,000 locations – and thus an infrastructure that makes parcel collection and delivery as easy as going to the supermarket.
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.”
The latest E-Shopping 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 requirementsand 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 Sebastian Theissen 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.”’
About the cooperation between GLS and DPD DE
Since October 2024, GLS Germany and DPD Germany have been working together in the Out-of-Home sector to jointly operate and expand parcel shops and parcel stations. The aim of the partnership is to establish a provider-open network with 20,000 locations within the next few years. The concept of the two CEP service providers sets new standards in last mile delivery logistics.
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About DPD Germany
DPD is one of the leading experts in parcel delivery in Germany and Europe. The company is represented throughout Germany with 81 hubs and depots and an outof-home ecosystem with approximately 10,000 pickup parcel shops and parcel lockers. Around 8,000 employees and 11,000 delivery drivers are on duty for customers every day. DPD transports over 352 million parcels annually in the German parcel market. By 2027, DPD will provide its senders and recipients with access to a total of around 20,000 out-of-home delivery points, consisting of parcel shops and parcel lockers. With innovative technologies, industry-specific solutions (e.g., shipping tires and rims), and a consistent focus on customer requirements, DPD makes European parcel shipping in the B2B and B2C sectors easy, convenient, and flexible.
DPD Germany is part of Geopost, a leading European provider of parcel delivery and e-commerce solutions, which operates in more than 50 countries and offers over 130,000 out-of-home delivery points in Europe. In 2024, Geopost generated sales of €15.8 billion and delivered 2.1 billion parcels worldwide.
