Belgian postal company bpost has taken several measures to manage the expected peak in package deliveries during the end-of-year period: it is prepared to deliver up to 800,000 parcels a day. The normal average is 500,000.
Traditionally, the end-of-year peak begins with Black Friday (this year on 29 November) but volumes are increasing earlier and earlier every year.
"This means that we are already in end-of-year mode," the company said.
To cope with this peak, the company is recruiting temporary workers, while 400 head office employees will also help to sort or distribute parcels for at least one week.
24 hours a day
For incoming parcels, bpost provides sufficient space to receive the lorries and sort the parcels. It also coordinates with online retailers to find out the expected quantities and make the necessary arrangements. Reinforcements are also planned for parcel delivery.
In terms of sorting, capacity goes up by running more hours – 24 hours a day if necessary, the company said. Extra trips and services are scheduled for transport. In the next step, distribution, bpost is aiming for more efficiency, by being able to deliver the package from the first time; since this month, for example, it has been possible to change the day or address for shipments that are already in transit.
PostNL is also deploying extra lorries and staff in Belgium. PostNL is deploying 150 extra sorting and preparation workers, and office staff will once again be helping out, the company said in a press release on Thursday.
