Up to date in snow and ice: DPD in Germany keeps consignees informed about their parcels during the busy Christmasperiod

DPD lets consignees know proactively if during extreme weather conditions, traffic jams or vehicle breakdowns a parcel can't be delivered within the predicted time window

Automatic push messages are sent out by email and SMS

Saturday delivery provides greater flexibility over the Christmas period

Aschaffenburg, 3December 2014 –DPD can reliably forecast down to the last 30 minutes when a parcel will reach the consignee. However, exceptional circumstances such as traffic jams caused by accidents, vehicle breakdowns, black ice or heavy snow can lead to delays in delivery. In such cases DPD is now sending out an email notification or text message to all consignees whose predicted delivery time window can't be met.

"With DPD consignees always know exactly when their parcel will arrive", explains Michael Knaupe,Director Domestic Products & Servicesat DPD. "However, wintry conditions often lead to traffic jams caused by accidents and traffic chaos. In these situations DPD makes sure that there is an efficient flow of information and proactively notifies consignees in the event of delays. At the same time DPD of course works with commitment every day on ensuring that such messages remain the absolute exception."

Since July of this year DPD has, thanks to its Predict service, been in a position to inform consignees down to the last 30 minutes when the delivery driver will be ringing their doorbell. This individual delivery time forecast already takes into account individual parcel volumes for the day and regular traffic jams or delays caused by heavy traffic. In addition the time window, which on the morning of the delivery consists of one hour, is continuously updated and made more precise in the course of the delivery tour. In the event of unforeseeable delivery problems the newly-introduced push messages sent by email or SMS make sure that no consignees have to wait in vain for the notified parcel.

"Since the launch of our Predict service we have listened carefully to our customers and consignees", states Michael Knaupe. "Suggestions for improvements are of course just as welcome to us as praise, because they enable us to develop the service further and expand our innovation leadership in the field of flexible deliveries."

Saturday delivery provides even greater flexibility for private consignees

Anyone who won't be at home for a notified parcel delivery can postpone the day of delivery or take advantage of a number of options for redirecting the parcel. During theupcoming Christmas season many consignees will also for the first time be able to opt for Saturday as an alternative day of delivery. Saturday deliveries are already available for 30% of consignees within Germany, and DPD will be turning Saturday into a normal delivery day for parcels throughout the country by May 2015.

Image:Consignees of Predict parcels are now proactively sent a message if their parcel will be delayed because of weather conditions or traffic jams caused by accidents.

The image is available in print quality at

About DPD

With the shipment of 2.5 million parcels a day DPD is a leading international provider of parcel and express services. The company has the most efficient road network in Europe and delivers to 230 countries worldwide. Customers can choose services from an extensive product range of national and international parcel and express services for business and home deliveries.

Every parcels sent via DPD’s network are carbon neutral in major European markets as of July 2012. This Total Zero principle means carbon neutral parcel shipping at no extra cost to the customer. Total Zero, DPD’s new carbon neutrality commitment, demonstrates the company’s ongoing efforts to reduce its environmental impact on the planet.

A workforce of 24,000 and 18,000 vehicles operate at more than 800 locations. The majority shareholder in DPD with 83,32 % shareholding is the GeoPost Group, a wholly-owned subsidiary of French Groupe La Poste. With a consolidated turnover of 4.391 billion euros in the year 2013 GeoPost is currently Europe's second-largest provider of express parcel services.

In Germany DPD is the market leader in national and international B2B parcel services. It has 75 depots country-wide and more than 5,000 DPD ParcelShops, with a workforce of 7,500 and 9,000 vehicles in daily operation on behalf of the customers in B2B and B2C parcel shipping.

Press contact:

DPD Dynamic Parcel Distribution GmbH & Co. KG

Peter Rey

PR Officer

Wailandtstraße 1

63741 Aschaffenburg

Tel.: +49 (0) 6021 492-7066