Pan European delivery company GLS has announced that it will start a SameDay service in ten urban centres in Germany. Senders of parcels through the company are able to have goods delivered on the evening of the day they sent them. The service is currently available in a number of other areas across Europe.

In a statement posted on Tuesday, GLS said that “expansion to include more cities and urban centres is being planned”.

GLS added: “As long as the article is available in the region and ready for collection at the agreed time, GLS will deliver it the same evening. The fixed delivery time frame of between 17.30 and 22.00 is therefore ideal for working people.

“With its SameDay delivery, GLS is a pioneer in the fast growing market. Currently only 5 per cent of online retailers offer their customers delivery on the same evening, even though market research has discovered that approx. 40 per cent of consumers actively request this service.”

Same day delivery is the new buzzword in e-commerce and many larger delivery companies are struggling to catch up with demand. Royal Mail has moved into same day delivery through acquisitions for example, but companies such as Amazon are doing this in-house while Sainsbury’s has taken the leap of buying Home Retail Group for the Argos Fast Track same day delivery service to go head to head with Amazon. Specialist delivery companies that meet demand will survive this latest round of intense e-commerce delivery competition.