Christmas online shopping drives record deliveries for DHL Express

With the festive season now in full swing, Australian consumers are increasingly swapping the checkout line for online retail when it comes to their Christmas shopping. Here to help deliver this festive cheer is DHL Express Australia.

This year, delivery volumes are predicted to be up 20 per cent from the 2016 season, with peak volumes of overseas parcels expected on 18 December, as a final wave of last minute international orders are placed over the preceding weekend.

In the last 12 months, the retail landscape has rapidly developed as consumers look to the convenience and global accessibility of online shopping, said Gary Edstein, CEO/ Senior Vice President, DHL Express Oceania.

“Consumers are gradually turning to overseas online retailers for their Christmas purchases,” Edstein said. “Online shopping enables them to buy products from around the world that may not be available in domestic brick and mortar stores. And with online retailers now offering a wide range of convenient delivery options to consumers, it’s now easier than ever to fill the Christmas stocking.”

“At DHL Express, we are experiencing the direct effect of the move to online shopping, and in response to this, we have put in place a peak Christmas season strategy to cater to this tremendous volume growth,” Edstein commented.

To ensure parcels find their way under the tree, DHL’s army of red and yellow couriers will be out on the roads, working extended delivery hours six days a week. And from this week on, additional weekend and evening delivery routes will be activated across the company’s delivery network, with more than 300 additional drivers working in the lead up to Christmas Eve.

“The teams are the very heart of our delivery operations; our courier drivers, our warehouse staff and the pilots flying our planes all work tirelessly to ensure every parcel is delivered within our transit time targets. It is incredibly positive to witness such strong industry growth year-on-year,” Edstein concluded.

With only a few weeks until Christmas, DHL Express encourages Australian consumers to plan ahead when shopping online. For those wanting to make sure their parcel arrives before the big day, ensure you consider the following tips:

1. Don’t leave orders until the last minute – and if you do, consider choosing the express delivery option offered by the online retailer
2. Before you order, be sure to check the delivery times and location capability – different retailers will have different fulfilment times and/or may not deliver to Australia
3. Check the return policy for the order and if return shipping charges apply
4. When sending items overseas, be very specific with the parcel’s description of the items to avoid delays at Customs

For more information about DHL Express, please visit: www.dhl.com.au