The GLS Production Process of transport logistics
One powerful network for transport logistics at your service
Europe is our defined core market. One of GLS' major competitive strengths in the field of transport logistics is its stable, comprehensive network coverage of 42 European states and its globally connection via contractual agreements.
38 central transshipment points and 642 depots allow for seamless parcel distribution across Europe. Regional and direct cross border traffics allow for flexible and fast movement of shipments to neighboring countries.
The 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
Usually the transportation process is performed as following:
After having picked up the parcels, GLS sorts them at the outbound depot and transports them either to one of our Hubs or directly to the destination depot.
At the Hub, we sort the parcels during the same night and forward them to the depots. Here, the shipments are sorted into delivery tours and are delivered in course of the next working day.
See the map below to find out where our Hubs are located in Europe.
Export shipments are similarly transported either via transshipment points or directly from depot to depot.
Since April 1st, 2006 a day sort has been implemented in Neuenstein (Germany), which allows for a one day transit time reduction for parcel shipments between Austria, Belgium, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Denmark and the Netherlands.
Modern IT systems and rigorous quality checks for premium transport logistics
Processes within GLS are supported by state-of-the art IT systems and tools. A leading principle to achieve a high level of delivery quality and transparency is to always scan a parcel whenever it is touched.
Every day, more than 20 million data sets are under way parallel to the circa 1.2 million parcels transported by GLS throughout Europe. Currently, the main collection point for the data is the computer centre at the Group’s European hub.
By October 2011 a new European computer centre near Frankfurt will be put into operation. With the backup systems used there, GLS will be able to switch over within very short term. All data of the first centre will be mirrored and run synchronnously in the new one.
Servers with a storage capacity of 50 terabyte on each site ensure that each and every step in the processing and handling of more than 363 million parcels and express shipments per year across Europe can be followed without fail and provide customers with premium service quality in transport logistics.
Each shipment is labeled with a barcode, is scanned at each interface and tracked by IT - regardless of 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, and, thanks to online data transmission out of the delivery van, nearly in real-time.
At last, digital video surveillance systems enable increased transparency and security, allowing tracking the way of each shipment by the depots. 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.
