DHL has launched DHL Parcel Metro. It’s a new fast and flexible service for online retailers that they say meets consumers’ increasing demand for same-day and next-day delivery.
Parcel Metro utilizes customized software that allows DHL ecommerce to create a ‘virtual delivery network’ of local and regional contract couriers and crowd-sourced providers to ensure maximum flexibility and capacity over the last mile. Retailers can offer a fully branded suite of delivery options to their customers. For consumers, the service creates a seamless experience: an online and mobile interface allows consumers to track shipments in real-time, communicate special instructions to their courier, reschedule a delivery and rate their delivery experience.
The new service is now available in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles, and will be launched in Dallas, Atlanta, San Francisco and Washington DC later in 2018.
As they say of the innovation and new service:
E-tailers today recognize more and more that the customer experience – and their ability to build customer loyalty – is won and lost in how well the orders are fulfilled and delivered. Deutsche Post DHL Group is constantly looking for new and innovative ways to offer the best service, quality and efficiency for our customers. The DHL Parcel Metro solution provides a technology solution to the last mile opportunity. Our digitalization journey is all about how we can add value to our customers, to our employees and to our shareholders. DHL Parcel Metro is part of a number of innovations we are actively implementing, including augmented reality glasses for greater pick accuracy, “follow me” robots, and autonomous vehicles.
– Charles Brewer, CEO, DHL eCommerce
It’s always good to report on new services and systems that could improve the experience that shoppers get. And this development, which is currently only available in the USA, could be an interesting new frontier in delivery and also crowd-sourcing.