DHL Parcel Germany is enhancing the user-friendliness and security of its 2,500 Packstationsnationwide with the new mobile Transaction Number (mTAN) replacing the previous personal
identification number (PIN).The new authorisation concept will come into effect on 29 October for all of DHL’s parcelmachines across Germany.
The mTAN system has already proven itself in online banking and is not only moreuser-friendly but it also ensures a higher level of security as third parties will no longer beable to access the system, the company said. As in online banking, the mTAN at DHL is atransaction-related number that is valid for a limited time period.
DHL customers will receive the mTAN together with the shipment notification sent as a textmessage via SMS. To pick up their items, they will need the DHL Goldcard and the mTAN. A personalidentification number (PIN) will no longer be required. If a customer picks up several parcels atthe same time, the mTAN will be valid for all of them but is deleted when the last parcel isremoved.
“By sending the access code directly to a customer’s cell phone, we are not only making itmuch simpler for customers to pick up their items at a Packstation but we are also providing alevel of security previously used only in the banking sector, to counter the increasing number ofphishing e-mails,” Andrej Busch, CEO DHL Parcel Germany said. The mobile TAN has proved itself asparticularly effective for many banks securing the technical systems that are externally accessibleagainst unauthorised use by third parties.
To ensure the high security level, all Packstation customers will be required to enter theircell phone number when they register. The number of Packstations users has further grown this year,as it was the case in 2011. Currently, almost three million customers use the 2,500 parcel machinesin Germany.
