GLS
GLS is a pan-European parcel delivery and logistics operator serving B2B shippers, e-commerce retailers, and consumers across roughly 40 European countries and North America via owned subsidiaries and partner networks. It monetizes per-parcel fees, cross-border services, fulfilment, and value-added delivery modules.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersNeuenstein, Germany
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What GLS does
GLS (General Logistics Systems B.V.) is a pan-European parcel delivery and logistics operator headquartered in Amsterdam with its operational roots in Neuenstein, Germany. Founded in 1999, the company runs a hybrid network of wholly-owned subsidiaries in 17+ major European markets (including Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, the Netherlands, and the Nordics) supplemented by partner operators in an additional set of European countries, plus wholly-owned or acquired operations in Canada and 8 U.S. states. The company serves three primary customer groups — B2B shippers, e-commerce/online retailers, and individual consumers — across approximately 40 European countries plus North America, with cross-border parcel services, domestic parcel delivery, express options, fulfilment/warehousing, and cash-on-delivery (CashService) as core offerings.
The technology stack is built around operational logistics rather than software: a hub-and-spoke parcel network, an out-of-home delivery layer of Parcel Shops and Parcel Lockers (GLS Balíkomat/Paketomat) with HERE Maps-powered locator functionality, real-time Track & Trace, the MyGLS dispatch platform, and API/webservice integration into e-commerce and ERP systems. Add-on modules (FlexDeliveryService, ShopDeliveryService, Pick&ShipService, Pick&ReturnService, DeliveryAtWorkService, InfoCourierService) extend the core delivery product, and the company is piloting warehouse robotics (via the NEOintralogistics partnership) and hydrogen fuel-cell long-haul vehicles (via the 2024 Hyundai trial).
GLS generates revenue predominantly through per-parcel transaction fees on domestic and cross-border deliveries, complemented by managed-services revenue from warehousing and fulfilment, and transactional revenue from value-added services. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; rates vary by country, weight, size, and service tier, with B2B customers quoting via local GLS contacts. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of International Distribution Services (IDS), GLS was taken private in 2025 under Daniel Kretinsky's £3.6 billion acquisition of IDS, and reported £320 million of profit as the European parcels arm of the group.
GLS firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- GLS
- Legal name
- General Logistics Systems B.V.
- Website
- https://gls-group.eu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- GLS is a pan-European parcel delivery and logistics operator serving B2B shippers, e-commerce retailers, and consumers across roughly 40 European countries and North America via owned subsidiaries and partner networks. It monetizes per-parcel fees, cross-border services, fulfilment, and value-added delivery modules.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where GLS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Neuenstein
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices8 records
Markets served
GLS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Parcel Delivery Services: Core revenue from domestic and international parcel delivery services for B2B and B2C customers. Includes standard deferred parcels and express delivery options.
- Logistics and Fulfilment: Warehousing and logistics services including fulfilment operations for e-commerce businesses.
- Cross-border Services: International shipping services covering B2C and B2B cross-border deliveries across Europe and worldwide.
- Additional Services: Value-added services including FlexDeliveryService, CashService, ShopDeliveryService, and express delivery options.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
GLS product offering
Product offeringCore offering
GLS is a pan-European parcel delivery and logistics company that provides domestic and international parcel delivery, express delivery, fulfilment, and supply chain services across roughly 40 European countries, 8 U.S. states, and Canada. The company operates through owned subsidiaries in major EU markets and partner networks in additional regions, complemented by a network of Parcel Shops and automated parcel lockers and the MyGLS dispatch platform with API integration.
Product overview
GLS (General Logistics Systems) is a pan-European parcel delivery network offering a comprehensive logistics platform with core parcel delivery services complemented by a suite of optional add-on modules. The core offering includes standard and express parcel delivery, international cross-border services, and logistics/fulfillment operations. The modular add-on services include FlexDeliveryService (flexible delivery options), CashService (cash-on-delivery), ShopDeliveryService (parcel shop delivery), and various notification and tracking services. GLS operates through a network of ParcelShops and Paketomat parcel lockers, supported by the MyGLS dispatch platform with API integration capabilities for e-commerce and ERP systems.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- MyGLS: Online shipping management platform and app for parcel senders
- FlexDeliveryService
- GLS ParcelShop
- GLS Balíkomat/Parcelomat
Products and services
- Cross-Border Parcel Services
- Domestic Parcel Services
- Express Delivery
- Fulfilment Services
- Logistics Services
- GLS ParcelShop Network
- GLS Parcel Locker (Paketomat/Balíkomat)
- MyGLS Dispatch Platform
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 100,000 packages delivered during hydrogen fuel cell truck evaluation covering 30,000 km
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use GLS
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
GLS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration8 records
Feature5 records
GLS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- iLogisticcoreGLS acquired Hungary's iLogistic, a strategic expansion in the Hungarian logistics sector.
- HyundaiminorGLS Germany partnered with Hyundai to evaluate hydrogen fuel cell technology in logistics operations. Successfully completed a 30,000 km trial with the Hyundai Xcient Fuel Cell truck equipped with Allison Transmission, delivering over 100,000 packages.
- Altimax CouriercoreGLS Canada acquired Altimax Courier, a logistics company based in Moncton, New Brunswick providing air and ground services in Atlantic Canada. The acquisition integrates Altimax into GLS's international network, enhancing regional logistics capabilities.
- SF ExpresscoreSF Express is GLS's partner in China, serving as the largest integrated logistics service provider in China and Asia. Provides domestic and international end-to-end logistics services and supply chain solutions for GLS shipments to/from China.
- Swiss Post GLScoreSwiss Post GLS handles parcel services from Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the EU area, offering services ranging from individual parcel shipping to company-specific logistics, customs clearance, and transport solutions.
- ACS S.A.minorACS S.A. is GLS's partner in Cyprus, providing courier and parcel services for shipments to/from the island.
- Smartposti/SmartPostiminorSmartposti/SmartPosti operates as GLS partner in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, providing parcel delivery services in the Baltic region.
- Interlogistica Ltd.minorInterlogistica Ltd. is GLS's partner in Bulgaria, providing logistics and parcel services for the Bulgarian market.
- Posten Norge AS (Bring)minorPosten Norge AS operates as GLS's partner in Norway under the Bring brand, handling parcel deliveries to/from Norway.
- DSV Road ABminorDSV Road AB is GLS's partner in Sweden, providing road freight and parcel services.
- Parcelforce WorldwidecoreParcelforce Worldwide is GLS's partner in the United Kingdom, operating from Coventry International Hub and providing parcel services for UK shipments.
- MaltaPost p.l.c.minorMaltaPost p.l.c. is Malta's sole licensed Universal Service Provider for postal services and GLS's partner in Malta, operating 6-days-a-week delivery across all Maltese addresses.
- NEOintralogisticsminorNEOintralogistics is a German robotics-as-a-service company focused on warehouse automation. GLS is listed as an industry partner alongside Magazino (Jungheinrich) and BITO as the company develops its pay-per-pick robotic picking system.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
GLS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentPeers
Regional players
- Österreichische Post (Austrian Post): Austrian Post is the national postal operator for Austria and a recognized major parcel player in the region alongside GLS. It is comparable as a regional incumbent offering domestic parcel, cross-border, and branch-based pickup — competing with GLS Austria.
- PostNL: PostNL is the Dutch national postal and parcel operator and a leading player in the Benelux market with growing e-commerce parcel volumes. It is comparable to GLS as a regional European parcel/postal operator competing in cross-border e-commerce flows, though focused primarily on the Netherlands and Belgium.
Broad incumbents
- FedEx: FedEx is a global integrator with express parcel and ground delivery operations in Europe. It is comparable to GLS on cross-border express parcel services, though its European footprint is less dense on ground/B2C than GLS and its primary strength is air-express.
- UPS (United Parcel Service): UPS operates a global integrated parcel and logistics network with strong European presence. It is a broad incumbent offering B2B and B2C parcel, freight, and supply chain services — directly comparable to GLS on cross-border B2B parcels though much larger and more diversified.
Emerging players
- InPost: InPost is the leading automated parcel locker network in Europe, particularly dominant in Poland but expanding across Western Europe. It is comparable to GLS on out-of-home delivery and competes for e-commerce volume using a locker-first model that challenges GLS's home-delivery economics.
Direct peers
- Evri (formerly Hermes UK): Evri is a major UK-focused parcel delivery operator with strong e-commerce customer base and an extensive ParcelShop network. It is comparable to GLS on B2C parcel delivery, out-of-home pickup points, and e-commerce shipper relationships, particularly in the UK where GLS relies on Parcelforce.
- DPD (GeoPost / La Poste Group): DPD is one of Europe's largest parcel delivery networks owned by La Poste, with directly comparable B2B and B2C parcel services, pick-up/drop-off points (Pickup), and a Track & Trace platform. It competes head-to-head with GLS across most continental European markets.
- DHL Express (Deutsche Post DHL): DHL is the dominant European and global parcel/logistics operator with a B2B and B2C parcel network across all of GLS's geographies. It is the closest direct competitor in international express and domestic European parcels, with broader portfolio including freight and supply chain.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
GLS social profiles
Digital presenceGLS compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
GLS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
GLS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
GLS subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries9 records
GLS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
GLS M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A2 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about GLS
What does GLS do?
GLS is a pan-European parcel delivery and logistics company that provides domestic and international parcel delivery, express delivery, fulfilment, and supply chain services across roughly 40 European countries, 8 U.S. states, and Canada. The company operates through owned subsidiaries in major EU markets and partner networks in additional regions, complemented by a network of Parcel Shops and automated parcel lockers and the MyGLS dispatch platform with API integration.
Is GLS a public or private company?
GLS is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was GLS founded?
GLS was founded in 1999. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is GLS based?
GLS is headquartered in Neuenstein, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does GLS make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Parcel Delivery Services are the primary driver. The others are logistics and Fulfilment, cross-border Services and additional Services.
Who are GLS's main competitors?
Colissimo (La Poste France) is listed as a peer. Regional players are Österreichische Post (Austrian Post) and PostNL. Broad incumbents are FedEx and UPS (United Parcel Service). InPost is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Evri (formerly Hermes UK), DPD (GeoPost / La Poste Group) and DHL Express (Deutsche Post DHL).
Does GLS have an API?
Yes. GLS offers API/webservice connectivity that allows direct integration with e-commerce platforms and ERP systems. The system enables automated parcel label preparation through API connections, enabling online shop and ERP system integrations for shipment processing. The MyGLS program is available for dispatch preparation and is free for users. Developer documentation is at gls-group.com/SI/sl/poslji-paket/redna-dostava/dispecerski-sistemi.