DPD Germany to "make the parcel digital"

DPD Germany has revealed it is to introduce a new digital parcel label which will eliminate online shoppers having to print out a shipping label to return items to retailers. The new digital label is expected to be available from spring 2015, with conventional labels still being available.

The new feature will initially be available for SMEs and individual shippers choosing to use DPD’s online shipping platform, DPD Web Parcel, however e-commerce retailers such as eBay will also be able to take advantage.

The digital parcel label is to be in the form of a QR code which will be sent to the shipper’s mobile phone when their parcel shipment is booked. The shipper will take their mobile phone to a DPD Parcel Shop to have the code scanned without needing to print out a label. Once the code has been scanned, the DPD Parcel Shop employee fixes a ‘mini label’ to the shipment so that is can travel through the DPD network onwards to its destination.

Boris Winkelmann, DPD Germany Chief Executive, has said: “Printed paper is losing more and more of its role in our increasingly digitalised world. Nowadays, many households manage very well without having their own printer. In addition the shipping of parcels is a lot more convenient and flexible if customers are not dependent on physical parcel labels.”

The company has said the strategy is to use technical innovation to “make the parcel digital” and improve the convenience of parcel shipping by bettering factors such as tracking abilities, shipping management and delivery arrangements.