This year, it has extended the delivery time to 23 December, with parcel collection also possible on Christmas Eve in certain cases. With a network of over 6,700 pick-up points and boxes, enhanced capacity and new technologies, it is ready for the expected double-digit increase in the volume of parcels processed compared to last season.
The pre-Christmas period is traditionally the busiest time for transport companies. In response to customer demand, PPL has therefore extended its delivery service until Monday 23 December. Customers can also pick up these parcels on the last day of Advent - 24 December - at 1,200 PPL Parcelboxes and selected PPL Parcelshops, which will also be open on Christmas Eve.
"The delivery date is important for the package to be delivered in time to appear under the tree. If an e-shop delivers a parcel to us on Friday 20 December, over 98% of such parcels will be delivered on Monday 23 December to the customer's address or to any of the more than 6,700 PPL outlets and boxes," says Petr Horák, CEO of PPL CZ.
During this year's pre-Christmas period, PPL expects the volume of processed shipments to significantly exceed last year's figures and record a double-digit year-on-year increase. The company traditionally handles the largest number of shipments after Black Friday and in the period just before Christmas. "We expect 500,000+ shipments per day. Thanks in particular to the commitment of our employees, we handle these hectic periods with grace every year. And I believe that will be the case again this year. Thanks to all the measures we have put in place before the season, we can safely say that we are ready for the upcoming period," adds Horák.
Last year, PPL also experienced a very strong pre-Christmas season. Its network reached its highest traffic during the second week of December. The highest number of registered shipments on the network in one day was 860,000, just before Christmas. In total, PPL delivered 55 million parcels in 2023.
Ready transport capacity and extensive network
PPL enters the new season with 2,000 drivers and 1,500 employees. "Since the main season has already started for us and the number of processed shipments is increasing, we have mostly stabilized the number of our tribal and agency employees and drivers. If the need for additional staff arises, we are ready to strengthen our ranks. In order to handle the huge volumes of shipments before the Christmas holidays, we reinforce our operations every year, especially with seasonal drivers and handlers," comments Petr Horák.
Customers can use more than 6,700 pick-up points for picking up gifts, including 1,200 PPL Parcelboxes, over 4,000 PPL Parcelshops and 1,500 AlzaBoxes. "Compared to last year, we have increased the number of pick-up points to improve delivery flexibility and increase the number of available spaces for parcels. Of course, it is better to order as early as possible and not to leave purchases to the last minute. But if our customers do need their last gifts delivered just before Christmas, we are ready to take care of their packages reliably," explains Petr Horák.
PPL achieves a next-day delivery success rate of more than 98% of the time.
Czechs prefer boxes
Czechs are increasingly using dispatch boxes to deliver their parcels. PPL is adapting to this demand not only by increasing their number, but also by strategically locating them so that they are available in smaller towns and villages across the Czech Republic.
"We have invested in expanding our network and placing boxes in as many locations as possible to meet the needs of our customers," says Horák, adding: "At PPL Parcelshops, customers can collect their parcels within 7 days of deposit, after which the parcel is returned to the sender. In PPL Parcelboxes, the storage period is then set up to 72 hours, and for third-party boxes up to 48 hours after notification."
Loyalty programme and mobile gamification
This year's novelty, launched by PPL in October, is the mojePPL mobile app extended with a loyalty programme that rewards customers for using its services with discounts on shipments.
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