DPD Romania has launched its first online shopping service, COD International, for domesticcourier companies selling products to Hungary and Bulgaria via the internet.
The parcels firm has invested some €50,000 into the service, having identified Hungary andBulgaria as the two countries with the fastest-growing demand for online purchases fromRomania.
The COD International service is already successfully used in the majority of countries coveredby DPD, including Germany, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Austria and Hungary.
Based on an online shopping business model, COD International aims to provide fast and easyshipping of international parcels, providing the option of payment on delivery for the itemstransported. The DPD courier collects payment at the time of delivery, which is transferreddirectly into the online shopping account.
COD International guarantees maximum delivery times of two days and bank transfers in 48 hours.In addition, businesses can profit from financial reports and customised shipping-status reports,automatic insurance and online tracking, with proof of delivery available online, as part of theservice.
Alin Gherman, DPD Romania Marketing Manager, said: “There has been a real boom in electronictrading in recent years, which has also been the main factor driving growth in the local couriermarket. So it was a natural choice for us to make a special service available for online shoppingto help courier services extend their business in the region. The service is initially beingoffered for shipments to Hungary and Bulgaria, countries with a pronounced interest for Romanianonline shopping offers. In future, when the Romanian online shopping offer starts to attract othercountries, we will extend this service to other emerging markets such as Poland, the Czech Republicor Slovakia.”
In 2011, DPD Romania generated a turnover of LEU 36 million (€7.9 million), up 20% on theprevious year, with a market share of 7%.
For 2012, the company has budgeted more than €800,000 for the launch of IT4EM, its new ITsystem, which has been adapted 100% to the specific requirements of the emerging markets so thatDPD’s customers can benefit from the latest-generation communication, technology andinfrastructure.
Separately, DPD has donated over 400 volumes of historical and children’s literature toBulgarian cultural institutes all over Europe. It aims to become a leader in inbound and outboundroad-based courier services in Bulgaria and is currently in talks with local logistics partnerSpeedy.
The initiative is part of the company’s campaign, “DPD delivers Bulgarian culture to Europe”, inpartnership with the Bulgaria Holding Media Group. All shipments with literature are delivered byinternational DPD couriers to the country’s cultural institutes in Berlin, Bratislava, Budapest,Warsaw, Vienna, London, Paris, Prague and Rome.
DPD’s CEO Arnold Schroven, commented: “Transport is not a means in itself, but it connectspeoples and economies and enables understanding and trade. We are therefore delighted todemonstrate the efficiency of our network by spreading Bulgarian culture all over Europe.”
