Hermes Achieves New Record Volumes and High Punctuality

With 99.8 percent of packages and parcels delivered on time for the holidays, historic peak days, and an increase in processed peak shipment volume of 8.9 percent compared to the previous year, Hermes Germany’s balance sheet for the 2024 Christmas season is positive.

(Hamburg) “The extensive preparations for the peak season have paid off,” summarizes Dennis Kollmann, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Hermes Germany. “Thanks to a strong team effort, we were able to demonstrate very good performance as Hermes Germany during this challenging time of year – from planning to logistics processing and delivery to customer channels. Experiencing and mastering record days in our network in a highly volatile market environment fills me with particular pride for everyone who contributed to this success,” Kollmann adds.

To ensure timely delivery for the holidays, Hermes Germany meticulously prepared for the 2024 Christmas season since spring. The key to a confident performance during this peak phase of the year was to strategically increase sorting, transport, and personnel capacities at the right time based on precise volume forecasts after the quieter summer months to meet the demands of the high-volume last quarter. The plan worked: Hermes Germany was able to maintain the Christmas delivery promise for all timely submitted and delivered shipments at 99.8 percent. Additionally, 95.3 percent of the shipments reached their destination on the first delivery attempt.

Record Volumes in the Logistics Network

Two days in early December stand out as record days in this Christmas season. Hermes Germany anticipated peak days with over 2.9 million shipments in processing, which includes delivered and picked-up parcels as well as returns. The forecast, made in advance with the involvement of newly developed AI tools, was spot on. With over 2.9 million shipments processed on each of December 3rd and 4th, 2024, these days not only marked the highest volume days in the peak but also in the company’s history of the Hamburg parcel logistics provider. Overall, Hermes Germany processed 8.9 percent more shipments from early October to Christmas Eve than in the previous year.

Considering all logistical touchpoints, meaning all process stages including sorting at logistics locations, the number of shipments in the Hermes Germany network on the two peak days in December rises to over 4.5 million shipments each. This expanded perspective highlights the immense capability of the logistics network during the peak season.

“Such confident maneuvering through the peak phase is only possible through highly professional, close collaboration – both with our clients regarding detailed volume forecasts and in the interplay of all departments, especially with our operational area,” explains Dennis Kollmann. Regarding the current consumer sentiment, the CEO adds: “Particularly in light of the subdued shopping mood in Germany, even during the Christmas season, this development is to be viewed as more than positive.”

Parcel Shops Highly Frequented

Looking at private shipping, there is also positive news for the parcel logistics provider. From October to Christmas Eve 2024, private senders shipped a total of 11 percent more parcels and packages with Hermes Germany compared to the same period last year. “Our strong parcel shop network of around 17,000 acceptance and drop-off points, which is hardly comparable in size in Germany, is a crucial pillar of this success,” says Dennis Kollmann.

The Hermes parcel shops were also an important point of contact for customers during this Christmas season – both for sending and receiving private parcels as well as for receiving online orders or returning items. In the Christmas month of December, Hermes Germany recorded a higher frequency of its parcel shop network compared to the same month last year. In particular, the option of delivery to a Hermes parcel shop was significantly more popular among recipients, with an increase of 16.8 percent compared to December 2023.

Fashion, Electronics, and Beauty Very Popular

By the way, for those wondering what online shoppers particularly liked to order during the Christmas season: A look at the shipment volumes of individual retailers provides clues. For Hermes Germany, packages from the areas of fashion, electronics, and beauty dominated the shipping volume around the popular Black Friday. Naturally, parcel service providers do not have detailed insights into the packages and parcels they transport.

Photo: © Hermes Germany / Willing-Holtz