Fast-growing demand for next-day delivery has spurred parcel delivery company DPD to take on 700 new staff to meet demand at weekends.
The company says it is delivering 40% more parcels at weekends than it did a year ago, as more online retailers promote Saturday and Sunday deliveries. Fashion and electronics are among the categories where it has seen particularly fast growth. It will initially take on more than 600 part-time employed drivers, while creating 100 warehouse jobs in regional depots to support the expansion of its weekend service. It expects that within a year it will have taken on more than 1,000 new weekend drivers to meet rising customer demand.
Dwain McDonald, DPD chief executive, said the company had been “amazed” by the fast growth in demand for the weekend service, first launched in 2014.
“The increased demand for weekend deliveries is coming direct from the consumer. Online shoppers increasingly expect to get their goods the next day, regardless of when they make the purchase. We also find that many customers now specifically request a weekend delivery for goods like fashion and electronic devices where they want to be sure they are going to be at home to receive it. Retailers trust us to deliver these types of goods safely and professionally, and we’re investing in that part of our business to meet the demand and improve the service still further.
“Our proposition is really well suited to weekend deliveries. We don’t turn up out of the blue and interrupt your weekend. We deliver within a sensible time window and customers know in advance exactly when we are coming. They also have complete control over their delivery, with a wide range of options to choose from if they aren’t going to be at home.”
The update follows a recent DPD announcement that it would build Europe’s largest automated parcel hub in Hinckley, Leicestershire, creating 750 jobs. The new Hub 5 will be capable of handling 71,000 parcels an hour by the time it goes into operation in October 2020.
RetailX findings in IRUK Top500 2018 research found that 59% of Top500 retailers offered next-day delivery, while 28% offered Saturday delivery.
Image courtesy of DPD
