One powerful network at your service

Europe is our defined core market. One of GLS' major compeitive strengths is its stable, comprehensive European ground-based infrastructure of 21 own subsidiaries and participations as well as further longstanding network partners.

678 depots and 36 central transhipment points allow for seamless distribution within Europe and beyond. National interfaces and regional cross-border traffic allow for the rapid movement of shipments across Europe.

We deliver 350 million parcels for 228,000 customers in 36 European countries every year, with regular delivery times of less than 24 hours domestically and to neighbouring countries, as well as 48 hours or more for the rest of Europe.

Our central European gateway in Neuenstein near the RheinMain Airport facilitates the direct connection of GLS to the entire world - no matter if deliveries from Overseas, or shipments to non-European countries.

Clear structured processes, which we continuously develop

Typically, the transportation process is performed as follows:

The parcels are picked up at the customer premises by GLS then sorted at the outbound depot and routed either to our Hub or directly to consignee.

At the Hub, parcels are sorted that night and then forward to the relevant depots. The shipments are sorted into delivery tours and are distributed during the course of the next working day.

Export shipments are similarly transported either via transshipment points or directly from depot to depot.

Modern IT systems and rigorous quality checks

Processes within GLS are supported by state-of-the art IT systems and tools. A key leading principle to achieve a high level of delivery quality and transparency is to always scan a parcel whenever it is handled.

In March 2006, GLS' new central computing centre began its operation. Approximately 20 million data records from all over Europe are processed daily in the GLS computer centre. Servers with a total storage capacity of 50 terabyte ensure that each and every step in the processing and handling of more than 335 million parcels and express shipments per year across Europe can be track & trace at any stage.

Each shipment is labelled with a barcode, scanned at its different interval and tracked through IT - irrespective whether it is a national or international shipment. Consignees can access the current status of their shipment via the GLS Tracking & Tracing system - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

This and other security measures as well as a sophisticated alarm system ensure that GLS data is highly accessible and well-protected from inside and out.