Package Volume Increase 30 Percent Higher Than in Record 2020

In the sector of logistics, specifically package delivery, this is traditionally the busiest and most profitable part of the year, and frustrating for customers as they do not know whether the Christmas gifts they ordered on time will arrive under the tree.

If you did not make a mistake and ordered a package through a ‘Croatian’ web shop seven days ago only to find out that your package is traveling from Romania, rather than from a Croatian warehouse, packages should, according to the largest logistics providers, arrive on time.

Croatian Post notes that all packages arriving at the New Sorting Center are sorted and dispatched as quickly as possible. Given the volumes, there are minor delays, mostly from international traffic, especially from so-called ‘third countries’. – During this period, shipments sometimes take longer to reach Croatia, but as soon as they arrive, they are dispatched as quickly as possible. Also, minor delays for users can occur with suppliers and during the dispatch of goods from e-commerce, that is, on the way to Croatian Post, they say at the Post, adding that during record days, more than one hundred thousand packages pass through the New Sorting Center.

In November and December of this year, in the so-called ‘peak’ season, the increase in package volume is more than 15 percent compared to the same period last year, say DPD, and looking at the entire year and comparing it to the record year of 2020, the volume increase is as much as 30 percent.

However, the delivery frenzy is no longer specific only to the pre-Christmas period. Since Croatia adopted the American trend of Black Friday, it has extended throughout December, which has become the busiest month of the year for all logistics companies. The peak of the season begins as early as the end of November when numerous e-commerce businesses offer customers promotions and discounts.

Fortunately, logistics companies have digitized the delivery process and expanded services, making it possible to receive packages in multiple ways. At Overseas, they say they have strengthened their ‘OEX parcel shop’ network, and currently, there are more than 850 OEX shop locations in Croatia to provide end users with a greater choice of locations for picking up and returning packages. Additionally, a comprehensive digitization of the delivery process has been implemented, and all couriers are equipped with smart scanners, which has expedited the delivery process itself. They also state that all packages picked up by December 20, 2022, will be delivered by December 23. – Due to the increased workload, our couriers are working around the clock to deliver gifts and Christmas shipments, and we believe that all users will receive their shipments on time, they emphasize at Overseas.

For all packages picked up by DPD on December 20, the first delivery attempt will be on December 23, but the company states that locations where delivery is not made every day are not counted, and those will be delivered according to the usual delivery schedule. All packages picked up by DPD on December 23 will have their first delivery attempt on December 27, while for all packages picked up by DPD on December 30, the first delivery attempt will be on January 2, 2023.

Package Machines Becoming More Attractive

Users increasingly value the ability to manage their shipment and the option to choose the location and time for picking up the shipment. Croatian Post is increasing the number of package machines, with nearly 200 currently installed across Croatia, including the islands of Brač, Lošinj, Korčula, Krk, and Pag. They are available every day of the week, from 0 to 24 hours, and users can also return goods purchased from e-commerce through the package machines. Users also have the option to redirect packages during delivery, so all Paket24 shipments can be redirected for delivery to a package machine via a link that arrives in the electronic notification.

That package machines are becoming increasingly attractive delivery channels is confirmed by GLS, emphasizing that this option is actively used and is strengthening every day. – We live in a time of busy lives, so the package machine is a perfect option for people who are not at home. In addition to the package being able to wait for its owner at the package machine for up to seven days, it is safe and ready for pickup at any time of day or night. This solution allows for independent package pickup, which has also brought a new level of privacy and flexibility, they say at GLS. They also add that during this time, the company has ensured the necessary human and technological capacities, and that shipments are regularly delivered even during the largest spikes of the season, as preparations for this last all year.

Package delivery at DPD’s ‘Pickup’ locations has increased by as much as 130 percent compared to 2021. – If we only look at November of this year and compare it to October of this year, the increase is an incredible 135 percent. For this reason, there is a strong focus on optimizing our Pickup network and opening new branches and locations with DPD package machines. Today, we count more than 840 Pickup locations for package pickup across Croatia, they say at DPD, adding that recipients also have 24/7 access to Gita, a chatbot controlled by artificial intelligence, which can be asked at any time about the current status of the package, thus eliminating the need to wait for an agent in Customer Service or to await a response to an email.

Although it was assumed that the easing of epidemiological measures would lead to a decrease in online orders and deliveries, this did not happen. E-commerce continues to grow at double-digit rates despite the possibility of physical shopping. Although data and volumes for this year are not yet known, the DPD group announced mid-year that it also recorded a global increase in delivered packages to over two billion worldwide last year, a 14 percent increase in revenue, and operational profit exceeding one billion euros for the first time in its history. In Croatia, DPD grew by 20 percent last year compared to the record year of 2020, while revenues grew by about 25 percent, which is more than the volume compared to the previous year.