- Harmonised set of services in both countries of origin and destination.
- Full track-and-trace platform from posting to delivery
- RFID barcode technology
- Free Cross-border e-commerce return solution
- Harmonised processes throughout Europe
- Rapid resolution of handling customers queries through connecting call centres from up to 180 posts worldwide
Facts & Figures
Key features of postal operators’ e-commerce Interconnect Programme:
On average, both retailers and consumers can choose from 9 different operators for domestic parcel delivery and 8.1 different operators for cross-border delivery (including universal-service providers and their competitors), according to the updated 2018 data gathered by national postal operators across all 28 EU member states1.
| Country | No.of operators | Domestic B2C delivery | No.of operators | Cross-border B2C delivery |
| Austria | 6 | Österreichische Post (Austrian Post), DPD, GLS, Hermes, DHL Parcel UPS |
6 | Österreichische Post (Austrian Post), DPD, GLS, Hermes, DHL Parcel UPS |
| Belgium | 13 | bpost (Belgian Post), Bubble Post, DHL Parcel, DPD, Dynalogic, Eurosprinters, GLS, Kariboo, Kiala/UPS, Mondial Relay, Mikropakket, PostNL, Sprintpack |
12 | bpost (Belgian Post), Asendia/Colissimo, DHL Parcel, DPD, Dynalogic, FedEx, GLS, Kiala/UPS, Mondial Relay, Mikropakket, PostNL, Sprintpack |
| Bulgaria | 6 | Balgarski poshti (Bulgarian Posts), Econt Express, Speedy, Starpost, M&BM, Tip Top Courier |
10 | Balgarski poshti (Bulgarian Posts), Starpost, M&BM, Tip Top Courier, GLS, DPD, FedEx, DHL, InTime, TNT |
| Croatia | 5 | Hrvatska pošta (Croatian Post), Intereuropa, Overseas Express, Tisak, GLS |
4 | Hrvatska pošta (Croatian Post), DPD, GLS, Overseas Express |
| Cyprus | 1 | Cyprus Post | 1 | Cyprus Post |
| Czech Republic | 27 | Česká pošta (Czech Post), GLS, Zásilkovna, BXB, Česká Distribuční, DHL Express (Czech Republic), Direct Parcel Distribution CZ, Global Box, Haypost CJSC, i-post solutions, J + M logistika, Jednota, Kouzelná Almara, Mediaservis, Mechanika Prostĕjov 97, Messenger, MUFF, Novanet Systems, OVISION CZ, PETR STŘÍBRNÝ, Pošta CÍL, SuperDoručovatel.cz, TAU impex, TNT Express Worldwide, Uloženka, UPS Czech Republic ViS Post Express |
20 | Česká pošta (Czech Post), BXB, Česká Distribuční, DHL Express (Czech Republic), Direct Parcel Distribution CZ, GLS, GO! Express & Logistics, Haypost CJSC, i-post solutions, J + M logistika, Janzen, Mediaservis, Messenger, RGW Express, TAU impex, TNT Express Worldwide, Uloženka, UPS, ViS Post Express Zásilkovna |
| Denmark | 3 | Post Danmark (Danish Post), DAO 365, VNL |
3 | Post Danmark (Danish Post), GLS, Bring |
| Estonia | 3 | Omniva (Estonian Post), DPD, Itella |
3 | Omniva (Estonian Post), DPD, Itella |
| Finland | 5 | Posti (Finnish Post), Matkahuolto, PostNord, DB Schenker, Bring |
6 | Posti (Finnish Post), Matkahuolto, PostNord, DB Schenker, Bring, GLS |
| France | 9 | La Poste (French Post), Colis Privé, Kiala/UPS, Mondial Relay, Relais Colis, Exapaq, GLS, UPS, FedEx |
10 | La Poste (French Post), Kiala/UPS, DPD, Toopost, IMX, GLS, Relais Colis, B2CEurope, UPS, FedEx |
| Germany | 8 | Deutsche Post DHL Group (German Post), DPD, GLS, Hermes, UPS, Trans-o-flex, FedEx, TNT |
8 | Deutsche Post DHL Group (German Post), DPD, FedEx, GLS, Hermes, Trans-o-flex, TNT, UPS |
| Greece | 10 | (Unlisted) | 10 | (Unlisted) |
| Hungary | 6 | Magyar Posta (Hungarian Post), DPD, GLS, Sprinter, Express One, Royal Sprint |
8 | Magyar Posta (Hungarian Post), DPD, GLS, Express One, DHL, FedEx, TNT, UPS |
| Ireland | 5 | AnPost (Irish Post), DPD, Nightline, Fastway, GLS |
5 | AnPost (Irish Post), DPD, Nightline, Fastway, GLS |
| Italy | 5 | Poste Italiane (Italian Post), Bartolini, GLS, TNT, Fedex |
6 | Poste Italiane (Italian Post), Bartolini, GLS, TNT, Fedex, UPS |
| Latvia | 4 | Latvijas Pasts (Latvian Post), DPD, Itella, GreenCarrier |
3 | Latvijas Pasts (Latvian Post), DPD, Itella |
| Lithuania | 6 | Lietuvos paštas (Lithuanian Post), Bijusta, Omniva, DPD, Samus, Venipak |
2 | Lietuvos paštas (Lithuanian Post), Itella |
| Luxembourg | 6 | Post Luxembourg, DPD, Kiala/UPS, Hermes, Mondial Relay, DHL Parcel |
5 | Post Luxembourg, GLS, DPD, Hermes, DHL Parcel |
| Malta | 9 | Malta Post, Aramex, Gozo Express, Airsped Express, Tubeline, Gazelle, GLS, Arrow Express, Miles Express |
3 | Malta Post, Aramex, GLS |
| Netherlands | 6 | PostNL (Dutch Post), DHL Parcel, DPD, Kiala/UPS, GLS, Hermes |
5 | PostNL (Dutch Post), DHL Parcel, DPD, Kiala/UPS, GLS, Hermes |
| Poland | 11 | Poczta Polska (Polish Post), DPD, DHL Parcel, FedEx, Geis, GLS, InPost, Speedmail, UPS, X-Press Couriers, Ruch |
9 | Poczta Polska (Polish Post), DHL Parcel, DPD, FedEx, GLS, InPost, Speedmail, UPS, X-Press Couriers, |
| Portugal | 10 | CTT Correios (Portugal Post), Chronopost, MRW, Seur, Nacex, Adicional, Rangel, GLS, Enviália, Torrestir, TNT |
9 | CTT Correios (Portugal Post), Chronopost, MRW, Seur, Nacex, Rangel, GLS, Enviália, TNT |
| Romania | 8 | Poşta Română (Romanian Post), DPD, Urgent Cargus, GLS, Fan Courier Express, Sprint Curier Expres, Nemo Express, Posta Atlassib |
8 | Poşta Română (Romanian Post), DPD, Urgent Cargus, GLS, Fan Courier Express, Sprint Curier Expres, Nemo Express, Posta Atlassib |
| Slovakia | 17 | Slovenská pošta (Slovakian Post), Aramex, DER KURIER, DHL Express, DHL Parcel, DPD, Geis Parcel SK, GLS, GO4, IN TIME, INSPEKTA SLOVAKIA, ReMax Courier Service, Slovak Parcel Service (UPS), SLOVENSKÝ DORUČOVACÍ SYSTÉM, TNT Express Worldwide, Uloženka, Zásielkovňa |
17 | Slovenská pošta (Slovakian Post), Aramex, DER KURIER, DHL Express, DHL Parcel, DPD, Geis Parcel SK, GLS, GO4, IN TIME, FedEx express, ReMax Courier Service, Slovak Parcel Service (UPS), SDS, TNT Express, Uloženka, Zásielkovňa |
| Slovenia | 18 | Pošta Slovenije (Slovenian Post), TNT, DPD, GLS, DHL Ekspres, UPS Adria, FedEx, Intereuropa, Slovenske železnice, Gold Ekspres, Global Express, Bona J, Kurirček, Klade Logistika, EC Logistics, Venneti, In Time, Eurosender |
12 | Pošta Slovenije (Slovenian Post), DPD, GLS, DHL Ekspres, FedEx, Gold Express, Intereuropa, Slovenske železnice, In Time, EC Logistics, Eurosender, TNT |
| Spain | 25 | Correos (Spanish Post), Seur, Envialia, Tourline, ASM, DHL, TNT, Fedex, Resyser, Sending, ICS, Rapid Express, FLR, May Courier, UPS, MRW, Nacex, Tipsa, Halcourier, Zeleris, GLS, FC Courier, General Courier, SPC Courier, OCS |
23 | Correos (Spanish Post), Seur, Envialia, Tourline, ASM, DHL, TNT, Fedex, Resyser, ICS, General Courier, OCS, Rapid Express, May Courier, SCP Courier, FLR, UPS, MRW, Nacex, Tipsa, Halcourier, Zeleris, GLS |
| Sweden | 4 | Posten (Swedish Post), DB Schenker, Bussgods, Bring |
5 | Posten (Swedish Post), DB Schenker, Bring, Asendia , DHL Freight |
| United Kingdom | 15 | Royal Mail (UK Post), APC, CitySprint, DPD, DX S&C, DX Freight, FedEx, Hermes, Interlink, Parcelforce, TNT, Tuffnells, UK Mail, UPS, Yodel |
13 | Royal Mail (UK Post), APC, DPD, DX Freight, FedEx, Hermes, Interlink, Parcelforce, TNT, Tuffnells, UK Mail, UPS, Yodel |
1Source: The figures above are the latest data (June 2016) obtained by national postal operators, except those marked in italics – which denote information from 2013.
The number of parcel operators is actually growing rapidly.
In 2013, the average number of parcel delivery operators is 5 for domestic and 4.44 for cross-border. In 2016, it’s 7.68 for domestic and 6.75 for cross-border. Spain has the highest number of cross-border operators – 16 – while the Czech Republic has the most number of domestic operators – 20.
Factors influencing cross-border delivery prices:
- volume of the dispatch
- regularity of the dispatches
- amount of trade flow between the two countries
- market conditions
- wage differences
- fuel prices
- population density of destination
- geographical terrain
The e-commerce delivery value chain:
