Shopping centers as service hub: ECE to equip 50 shopping center parking garages with parcel stations from DPD and GLS
ECE is further expanding its service offering at the shopping centers it operates and is launching its first cooperation with the parcel service providers DPD and GLS to set up parcel stations at center parking garages. The plan is to equip a total of up to 50 ECE-operated parking garages at its centers with parcel stations by mid-2026.
The provider-open parcel stations will be installed at easily accessible sites in and around the parking garages and will enable customers to pick up or drop off their parcels before or after shopping easily and without having to walk any further. The first new parcel stations have been put into operation at Herold-Center Norderstedt, Franken-Center Nuremberg and Hessen-Center Frankfurt. Further sites are planned at Billstedt-Center and Alstertal-Einkaufszentrum in Hamburg, Olympia-Einkaufszentrum Munich and Promenaden Hauptbahnhof in Leipzig, among others.
The aim is to supplement the extensive range of services offered by the centers and the connected parking garages with additional offers and services and thus further increase customer benefits and the function of the centers as central service and supply hubs. It is planned to use the centrally located, highly frequented and easily accessible parking garage areas under management of ECE for additional suitable services to a greater extent in future, e.g. for mobility services such as e-charging stations.
Ina Königsberg-Brouns, Director Parking & Mobility at ECE Marketplaces: "The parking garages we operate at the centers offer great potential for additional offers and services that are easily and conveniently accessible for customers and further strengthen the centers in their role as central supply hubs. With the DPD and GLS parcel stations, we are taking a further step in this direction, and various other offers are already in planning stage."
Jens Haberecht, Group Manager Parcelshop at DPD: "The cooperation with ECE is an important building block for DPD in the expansion of our out-of-home strategy. Our aim is to establish a nationwide, dense network of parcel stations in order to offer consignees flexible collection, shipping and returns options without being tied to fixed opening hours. We are delighted to have profited from ECE as an important and strategic partner."
Through strategic partnerships in the retail and real estate segment and in cooperation with GLS, DPD plans to set up around 20,000 parcel stations in Germany in the coming years.
