DHL Express has linked up its B2B and B2C networks in the Netherlands and is expanding deliveryservices to private customers with a new product.
The express operator this week announced the launch of DHL For You, a new B2C delivery servicetargeted mostly at smaller and mid-sized companies sending about 100 parcels a day to consumers.The move broadens the company’s portfolio in the Netherlands and is partly a response to the trendthat traditional B2B firms also have increasing B2C flows direct to consumers.
To provide the service, DHL Express has linked up its own B2B network with the existing B2Cnetwork of Selektvracht, a DHL subsidiary that specialises in delivering larger volumes of smallpackages to private consumers.
The DHL For You service offers next-day B2C delivery, including evenings and Saturdays, with aSelektvracht courier either to a home address or to one of the 750 DHL Service Points across thecountry for collection by the customer. The service includes four delivery attempts, track &trace, and returns via the Service Points. SMEs can ship parcels directly to a DHL Service Pointusing the DHLForYou.nl website.
About 95% of Dutch consumers have a DHL Service Point, generally located within a retaillocation on a ‘shop-in-shop’ principle, within 4km of their home, according to DHL. The companyplans to expand the network to about 1,000 locations.
Meanwhile, DHL Express Netherlands has also extended its environmentally-friendly deliverymethods this year and important contracts have been won or extended.
Last month, DHL Express introduced ‘parcycles’ in the towns of Delft, Amersfoort , Maastricht,Sittard-Geleen, Apeldoorn, Arnhem and Nijmegen following their successful operation in Breda,Amsterdam and Enschede in recent months. The bicycles are adapted to carry large packages and areideal for use in town centres. Earlier this year the company replaced 12 vans by bicycle couriersfor urgent deliveries in The Hague, Delft and Rotterdam.
Also last month DHL Supply Chain won an e-fulfilment contract with Schoenenreus, a large Dutchshoe shop chain, with deliveries made through DHL Express/Selektvracht. Another boost for thecompany earlier this year was the decision of Würth to extend its contract with DHL Express, whichdates back to 1966, for a further three years.
