GLS is offering more convenience to Belgian customers with the introduction of its FlexDeliveryservice in the country and has launched the service on a cross-border level between Germany and
Austria.The free FlexDelivery service, already available to customers in Germany, Austria and theNetherlands, now also enables customers in Belgium to choose where and when they would like theirparcels to be delivered.
“GLS Belgium is now launching the FlexDelivery service, an equally digital and practicalsolution as the online order itself,” Luc De Schrijver, General Manager Belux at GLS, said. “And atno extra cost for the shipper and the recipient,” he added.
Shippers can use FlexDelivery very easily by submitting the recipient’s e-mail address, providedhis/her approval, together with the parcel data to GLS. The parcel operator will then handleeverything else.
As soon as the parcel has been dispatched, GLS Belgium informs the recipient by e-mail when itis expected to be delivered including a time slot which is set between 1-5 hours, depending on thedestination address. This way, it can be quickly determined if anyone is going to be at home toreceive the parcel. If the date is not convenient for the recipient, he/she simply needs to clickon the link contained in the e-mail to select the most convenient delivery option among a largechoice of possibilities. These include modifying the delivery date or delivery address, fixingdelivery to a GLS parcel shop or a pick-up at a GLS depot.
In case neither shippers nor recipients opt explicitly for the FlexDelivery service, GLS triesto deliver the parcel in the standard way. “If the recipient tells us the best way to contact him,he will get his package quickly and conveniently,” De Schrijver added. “This is an advantage forhim, but also to the shipper.”
While German and Austrian customers have already been profiting from FlexDelivery in theirrespective countries, they will now be able to use it for cross-border parcels ordered either inGermany or Austria.
GLS explained that cross-border shipping between countries such as Germany and Austria isespecially interesting as there are no language or currency barriers involved with orders expectedto arrive quickly and reliably, even across borders. “Consumers often don’t consider whether or notthey will be at home when a parcel is delivered. We overcome this challenge by informing recipientsabout the delivery of their parcel early on and by offering them various delivery options – afterthe order has been placed, but before the delivery takes place,” GLS CEO Rico Back said.
The delivery choices offered by the FlexDelivery service are thus maintained with thisinternational cross-border parcel service as well. GLS introduced the service for domestic parcelsin Germany over a year ago, with Austria being added in September 2013. As is the case withFlexDelivery on the domestic level, this cross-border service is free of charge and can be used assoon as the shipper indicates the e-mail address of the recipient to GLS.
Parcels sent between Germany and Austria are delivered within a standard delivery time of 24-48hours. The recipient will be notified of the expected delivery date and approximate time slot (1-5hours). Even when the shipment is on its way, recipients can redirect the parcel to a differentaddress; choose a GLS ParcelShop as the pick-up point or a different day for the delivery. The GLSmobile app enables quick access to these options via a smartphone.
“The internationalisation of our service with cross-border shipments is beneficial especiallyfor mail-order companies who can offer their foreign customers a high level of transparency andservice,” Back added. “We plan to expand this innovative service to other countries which havealready introduced the FlexDelivery service.”
