Our History: on the pulse of time since 1993
GLS Austria is one of the leading parcel services in Austria. We rely on short standard turnovers, a dense network and high quality, right from the start. Since its foundation in 1993, our service portfolio has grown continuously. From flexible delivery options to environmentally friendly shipping and cross-border services: Our shipping solutions are based on the needs of customers and developments in the parcel market and society.
Find out more about the milestones in the history of GLS Austria.
1993
The beginnings: Ten medium-sized Austrian shipping companies found General Parcel Austria (GPA).
1995
Austria joins the EU: Since then, GPA customers have been sending parcels within the EU without customs documents. In 1999, GPA enables its customers to return shipments for the first time.
1999
General Logistics Systems (GLS) is established with its headquarters in Amsterdam.
2002
GPA becomes the GLS Austria we know today.
2004-2010
GLS Austria is the first parcel service in Austria to open the first ParcelShops in 2005. Another first in Austria: In 2008 GLS expands its offer with the addition of ExpressParcel, thereby offering parcel and express shipping from one source. The European network continues to grow together. Since 2010, GLS Austria has been delivering from Vienna to Eastern Europe in just 24 hours.
In this time period, the GLS Group also strengthens its position in Eastern Europe: In 2004, GLS Slovakia starts operating.
2008
The GLS Group increasingly focuses on Europe-wide environmental protection activities and launches the group-wide initiative ThinkGreen in 2008.
2012-2013
GLS Austria expands the services offered. Thanks to the introduction of the ShopDeliveryService in 2012 and the FlexDeliveryService in 2013, shipping and receiving parcels is now even more flexible.
2014-2019
GLS Austria is also commissioning several new locations: A depot in Steinabrückl starts operating in 2014, one in Rankweil in 2017 and another in Kalsdorf in 2019. GLS also has its sights set on the environment at all times: Since 2016, deliveries have been carried out in Graz using freight bikes.
GLS expands its international service for recipients in the 21st century across the whole GLS Group. Since 2015, the ShopDeliveryService has been possible across borders between Austria, Germany, Belgium, Denmark and Poland. In 2017 GLS launches the international ShopReturnService between Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg and Poland. GLS is also continuously expanding the international FlexDeliveryService. Since 2019, 21 countries have been connected across borders via the service.
2015-2018
For more proximity to consumers, GLS Austria joins Facebook in 2015, followed by Instagram in 2018.
Since 2020
Quality leader in European parcel logistics:
GLS looks to the future with this claim in mind and will continue to invest in innovative solutions and a strong network in the coming years.