All delivery providers surveyed by Latvian Radio said that as a routine, during the Christmas period, they were prepared, attracted additional work force, worked more and delivered most of the shipments to the recipients. The head of Omniva Latvia, Beāre Krauze-Čebotare, said that this year there was at least 30% more work than a year earlier.
“This year we noticed that people were already making Christmas gifts in good time, and the final days before the holiday were no longer as much a rush as it was in other years. We told our customers in good time that all Christmas gifts were to be delivered to us by 17 December. Then we will be able to guarantee that everything is delivered,” Krauze-Čebotare said.
DPD Latvia's board chair Jānis Grants said that this year the total number of parcels increased by 67% compared to 2020.
“This year and just in December, we felt much better than in the beginning of the pandemic – in April, in May, when the increase in parcel volume was more unexpected. But, of course, we had learned lessons and were prepared in good time, both attracted additional couriers and terminal staff and made infrastructure improvements. Consequently, the quality of supply was much higher than during the beginning of the pandemic,” Grants said.
In the Latvian Postal Service, additional work tensions were created by the new rules on shipments from third countries that are subject to value-added tax (VAT) so additional procedures should be carried out.
Delivery providers surveyed by Latvian Radio said they could take a breath these few days until the end of the year, but by the beginning of January, shipments will grow with new vigor as sales time begins.
