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GLS Ireland: sights set on high-quality parcel service

GLS Ireland, based in Dublin, was developed out of the Williames Group. It is a subsidiary of the pan-European logistics company General Logistics Systems, which employs 12,000 people and generated revenue of 1.2 billion euros in financial 2003/2004. "One of the main reasons for our success is the fact that we focus on our core business – parcels, logistics and express delivery", explains Rico Back, Chief Executive Officer of General Logistics Systems, Amsterdam. "We have also now realigned the Williames Group portfolio accordingly."

Drive towards quality leadership

The GLS Group aims to achieve quality leadership throughout Europe. It defines a high-quality parcel delivery service as one that is very reliable, with strong adherence to deadlines, short delivery times (24 hours nationwide, 24-96 hours throughout Europe and 72-120 hours worldwide), strong customer orientation, a modern information management system that is user friendly, and the automatic insurance of every parcel.

"This service is not just promised, but also delivered", explains Olaf Stuewe, Managing Director of GLS Ireland. "During the course of the reorientation programme, we have restructured operational processes at all locations to make them more efficient, implemented a modern IT architecture with new hardware and software, and introduced a special routing system that was developed especially for Ireland. And the new dispatching software, GEPARD Connect, which was installed parallel to the other system elements, now prints the required routing information on the dispatch label before the parcel leaves the sender, allowing later collection times from the customer."

Parcel delivery for commercial customers

Commercial customers from a wide range of sectors take advantage of the service offered by GLS Ireland. In addition to small and medium-sized companies, GLS has also been able to gain large companies as customers, among them HILTI Ireland and the Systemhouse Technology Group. The company operates depots in Dublin, Carlow, Cork, Knock, Letterkenny and Limerick. GLS Ireland also runs an additional logistics centre in Dublin, where it provides value-added services such as pick-and-pack and management of a warehouse with over 12,000 pallet spaces for large-scale customers such as the Systemhouse Technology Group or Irish Distillers Limited.

"GLS will also introduce a cash-on-delivery system for Ireland in the fourth quarter of 2004", says Olaf Stuewe. "Furthermore, we are also planning to install video cameras in all GLS Ireland depots. Digital parcel-tracking forms part of GLS’ pan-European security concept, which was developed in order to minimise damage and loss. The aim is to establish GLS as a reliable, high-quality parcel service on the Irish market and to show potential customers in Ireland how effective the GLS service is."

Quality delivered by GLS: GLS Ireland is a subsidiary of General Logistics Systems B.V., Amsterdam (GLS). GLS provides reliable, high-quality parcel services, express deliveries and value-added logistics services. Via its own companies and partner organisations, it offers services in 33 European countries. GLS has 27 central transhipment points, 510 depots and employs around 12,000 people. 16,000 vehicles transport 1.1 million parcels a day for 180,000 customers throughout Europe. In financial 2003/2004, GLS generated revenue of 1.2 billion euros. The aim: to achieve quality leadership in Europe – an aim that every GLS employee works towards every day.