GLS delivered the first parcels in Austria 25 years ago. From the beginning, the parcel service provider relied on shipping solutions tailored to market developments and customer needs. This also benefits the Austrian economy, the company emphasizes in a press release.
“Over the past 25 years, we have grown steadily with our customers and transport partners and have continuously adapted our service portfolio to the requirements of the parcel market,” says Dr. Axel Spörl, General Manager GLS Austria. “But our eyes are turned to the future. For example, we are currently working to further increase the convenience of e-commerce recipients. “
In 1993, ten medium-sized Austrian freight forwarders founded General Parcel Austria (from 2000 GLS Austria) and thus became part of the Europe-wide General Parcel network. “Europe keeps growing together. In cross-border trade, shippers can rely on our dense European network, “explains Axel Spörl. “Between the metropolitan area of Vienna and Hungary, for example, as in the case of national broadcasts, we usually deliver within 24 hours.”
These short transit times also make parcel shipping with GLS attractive to private senders. Between 2003 and 2015, the number of online shoppers in Austria has increased fivefold. In order to make it easier for private customers to send parcels and receive their orders, starting in 2005, GLS Austria opened its own parcel shops in Austria.
In 2008, GLS expanded its offer with ExpressParcel, offering parcel and express delivery from a single source – a novelty in Austria. Since then, this segment has grown continuously. About one fifth of all GLS senders use express delivery parallel to parcel shipping.
With the FlexDeliveryService, GLS Austria customized the delivery process in 2013. For example, recipients can choose the delivery day and place of delivery of their package under several options – even during delivery and also for orders coming from web shops in European countries.
“Our aim is to continue to score as a quality leader with innovative solutions for our customers in the years to come,” says Axel Spörl. “We would like to thank our customers, employees and transport partners as well as their deliverers. Together they have made our positive development in the last quarter century possible with their trust and dedication. “