Press Releases

Parcel pick-up points were an important part of the delivery network in the Czech Republic during the hectic pre-Christmas season. That their popularity is growing steeply year by year. This is also evidenced by data from the parcel carrier GLS. In December 2023, the number of parcels delivered to parcel points increased by 136% compared to the same period in 2022, and to parcel machines by 1567%. Overall, this is a threefold increase in the number of parcels transported to pick-up points during December 2023. Despite lower household consumption and a decline in the e-commerce segment, GLS transported a fifth more parcels than before last Christmas, not only thanks to the wide range of pick-up points. This year, the carrier plans to expand the number of its own parcel machines, at least doubling.

Discount events linked to Black Friday bring the first peak of the pre-Christmas shopping season. Interest in shopping in the week culminating in Black Friday was significantly higher than last year, e-shops are handing over a record number of parcels to parcel carriers for delivery this week. Over the past week, GLS has taken over half as many parcels as usual.

Interest in sending parcels between households is experiencing a renaissance, with more than a quarter of people sending a parcel this year. Applications that allow the sale of no longer needed goods and the simplicity of sending contribute to the growing popularity again - even households can easily send their parcels from a pick-up point, via a courier or the increasingly popular locker. Interest in sending packages is growing mainly among the young generation.

Christmas will be richer this year than last year. People want to shop and spend more than last year, and they buy the vast majority of Christmas gifts online. Most often, they have Christmas gifts delivered to lockers, where almost half of all gifts go. There is also a growing interest in sending parcels between households.

Contactless lockers have become very popular in recent years and their popularity is constantly growing. The main milestone of the lockers was the covid period. However, contactless pick-up or sending parcels is not only for young people. GLS is also trying to find a friendly solution for older generations who may not be so technically savvy.

The transport company GLS started supporting the Bike to Work project in 2018 and has continued its support this year. The project, which aims to motivate the public to commute to work by bike and has a significant environmental and health impact, has received significant logistical support from GLS. The transport company transported 3,000 starter packs free of charge, ensuring the smooth running of the event. This year, over 25 thousand people took part in the challenge, covering a total distance of 5 million kilometres.

The transport company GLS has become the general partner of the eŽena competition for the fifth time. The competition, which recognizes the talent and achievements of women entrepreneurs in the field of e-commerce, is organized by the Association of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Crafts of the Czech Republic (AMSP ČR). Business projects can be submitted until August 31, 2024 and the winners will be announced on Entrepreneurs' Day on November 7, 2024.

Parcel pick-up points have been an important part of the delivery network in the Czech Republic during the hectic pre-Christmas season. That their popularity is growing steeply year by year. This is also evidenced by data from the parcel carrier GLS. In December 2023, the number of parcels delivered to pick-up points increased by 136% compared to the same period in 2022, and by as much as 1567% to parcel machines. Overall, this is a threefold increase in the number of parcels transported to pick-up points during December 2023. Despite lower household consumption and a decline in the e-commerce segment, GLS transported one-fifth more parcels than before last Christmas, not only thanks to a wide range of pick-up points. The carrier plans to expand the number of its own parcel machines this year, at least double.

The international parcel carrier GLS is expanding its network of GLS ParcelBox vending machines with the new Solar series. The energy-optimised boxes are powered exclusively by solar panels, and GLS cooperated with the Czech manufacturing company Alfa3 on their development. In this way, GLS responds to the ever-growing popularity of parcel machines and the interest of customers in environmentally friendly parcel transport solutions. According to a survey from the spring of this year, every third Czech is currently actively using this form of parcel delivery.

Last week, the international shipping company GLS recorded almost double the number of parcels handled (91%) in connection with the Black Friday discount event compared to the beginning of November. This year's seasonal increase started earlier than last year, with a 22% increase at the beginning of the month. People are also more likely to pick up parcels directly at pick-up points and boxes, where the carrier has registered an even higher increase. GLS recommends ordering gifts from e-shops no later than 18 December. The carrier guarantees delivery by Christmas Eve if you take over the transport by Wednesday, December 20, 2023.