GLS

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.

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

Headquarters

HQ city

Neuenstein

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. Logistics and Fulfilment: Warehousing and logistics services including fulfilment operations for e-commerce businesses.
3. Cross-border Services: International shipping services covering B2C and B2B cross-border deliveries across Europe and worldwide.
4. Additional Services: Value-added services including FlexDeliveryService, CashService, ShopDeliveryService, and express delivery options.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core 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

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• iLogisticcoreOthers · 1 July 2024GLS acquired Hungary's iLogistic, a strategic expansion in the Hungarian logistics sector.
• HyundaiminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024GLS 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 CouriercoreOthers · 1 June 2023GLS 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 ExpresscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSF 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 GLScoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwiss 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.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorACS S.A. is GLS's partner in Cyprus, providing courier and parcel services for shipments to/from the island.
• Smartposti/SmartPostiminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSmartposti/SmartPosti operates as GLS partner in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, providing parcel delivery services in the Baltic region.
• Interlogistica Ltd.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInterlogistica Ltd. is GLS's partner in Bulgaria, providing logistics and parcel services for the Bulgarian market.
• Posten Norge AS (Bring)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPosten Norge AS operates as GLS's partner in Norway under the Bring brand, handling parcel deliveries to/from Norway.
• DSV Road ABminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDSV Road AB is GLS's partner in Sweden, providing road freight and parcel services.
• Parcelforce WorldwidecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorParcelforce 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.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMaltaPost 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.
• NEOintralogisticsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNEOintralogistics 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

Peers

• Colissimo (La Poste France):

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

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCnucRdFC8TSPop5KrGlcFxA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gls
• Xx.com/gls_germany

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about GLS