DPD Russia has signed a contract with Chinese electronics company Xiaomi as its exclusive logistics provider in Russia, expanded its cooperation with fashion e-retailer Lamoda and considerably increased parcel volumes shipped through its Pickup parcel shops.
As part of the logistics contract with Xiaomi, one of the leaders in the global smartphone market, DPD Russia will deliver orders made on mi.com, Xiaomi 's recently opened online store. In Russia, Xiaomi registered a threefold increase in its market share for the first half of 2018.
In the official online store of the Chinese manufacturer, only branded smartphones are presented so far. In the future, the product range will be expanded with other devices such as robot-vacuum cleaners, computers and accessories.
"Chinese smartphone manufacturers are becoming increasingly popular among Russian consumers. According to the first half-year results, the most famous producers from this country occupied about a third of the market in unit terms, which is one and a half times more than during the previous year," Vyacheslav Sarkisov, Director of International Sales, DPD in Russia, said. "We have extensive experience in both the telecom industry and with Chinese online stores, so we are committed to a fruitful and long-term cooperation."
During the first half of 2018, DPD also recorded a strong increase in parcel volumes generated through its Pickup parcel shop network in Russia. Thus, online shoppers received twice as many parcels and shipped eight times more parcels via the Pickup shops than during the same period in 2017. The average weight of the items shipped this year is about 3 kg, and the share of parcels weighing up to 3 kg is more than 50%.
For shippers, the “DPD Shop to Shop” service is available at a single tariff from RUB 250 (€3.30) for both intracity and intercity deliveries. The price is only based on the weight of the parcel and not on the distance. The tariff is valid for shipping between 2,000 Pickup points within Russia and Belarus.
"Picking up parcels is becoming more popular day by day. More and more buyers want to personally choose where and when it is more convenient for them to receive their orders,” Irina Zilberberg, head of DPD Pickup network in Russia, said. “The Pickup network makes it possible to make the collection and shipping process as comfortable as possible: a wide geographical coverage makes it possible to find the optimal shop by location, and the opening hours – to pick up or send the parcel at a convenient time for the customer."
Meanwhile, DPD has expanded its cooperation with Lamoda, the leading online retailer for fashion and lifestyle in Russia and the CIS countries, enabling Lamoda customers to receive their orders not only via DPD couriers but also at the DPD Pickup shops in most Russian regions.
The project was launched in mid-June in Moscow. Since the addition of the Pickup delivery option, the total amount of shipments from the online store via DPD has doubled.
"Lamoda is one of the most demanding customers. Our partnership is an eloquent testimony to the high quality of DPD's work. The pickup points are an extremely popular channel for receiving online orders: according to the latest DPDgroup E-Shopper barometer survey, more than 80% of Russian online shoppers would prefer to receive their purchases there. The popularity of picking up orders oneself is growing, so we have plans to further expand the network,” Zilberberg explained.
The online retailer said: "Lamoda strives to create the most convenient conditions for customers to deliver orders. We not only introduce new services, increase the coverage and availability of our own infrastructure, but also expand the range of services provided by existing logistics operators.
“DPD has been one of Lamoda's most trusted courier delivery partners for several years now, and we are ready to step up our cooperation through the self-pickup channel. Many Lamoda customers prefer their orders to be delivered to parcel shops and parcel terminals, so we look forward to further increasing volumes and expanding the geographical coverage of delivery, as well as the launch of new services.”
Currently, Lamoda customers can pick up their orders at more than 1,800 DPD parcel shops in Russian cities. Among the partners of DPD Pickup are telecom operators, retail chains and parcel terminal operators. “Lamoda shoppers can always choose the most convenient option,” DPD Russia added.
