Budbee tracking

What is Budbee?

Budbee is a Swedish logistics technology company specializing in last-mile delivery for e-commerce. Founded in 2015 in Stockholm by Fredrik Hamilton, a young graduate of the Stockholm School of Economics, and Axel Warg, the company quickly established itself as a major player in parcel delivery across the Nordic countries and Northwest Europe. Initially, the company launched a food delivery service before refocusing entirely on parcels from online purchases in 2016, a strategic decision that would accelerate its growth.

Budbee's story is one of a startup born from its founder's frustration with the inefficiency of traditional delivery services. Fredrik Hamilton, after working at Rocket Internet in Turkey, returned to Sweden convinced that it was possible to revolutionize the delivery experience for online consumers. By developing proprietary technology and placing customer satisfaction at the heart of its model, Budbee succeeded in differentiating itself from traditional carriers by offering unprecedented flexibility and transparency in the sector.

• Founding date: 2015, with commercial launch of e-commerce parcel delivery services at the end of 2016
• Founders: Fredrik Hamilton (CEO) and Axel Warg, two Swedish entrepreneurs passionate about technology and logistics
• Headquarters: Stockholm, Sweden, at the heart of the Scandinavian tech ecosystem
• Parent company: Instabee, holding created from the merger with Instabox in October 2022, valued at over 1.6 billion euros
• Population served: Over 40 million people across Northern Europe

Budbee's market positioning is based on a concept it calls "Logtech", a contraction of logistics and technology. The company has developed proprietary algorithms for artificial intelligence and machine learning systems that optimize every aspect of the delivery chain, from route planning to real-time communication with recipients. This technological approach allows it to offer precise delivery windows, typically one hour, and real-time tracking of the driver's location, features still rare among traditional carriers.

Budbee has benefited from support from leading investors, including Kinnevik, H&M Group Ventures, AMF and Stena Sessan, which have enabled the company to raise over 136 million dollars in total to finance its expansion. This investor confidence demonstrates the potential identified in Budbee's business model and its ability to transform the e-commerce delivery sector in Europe. The company's valuation before its merger with Instabox was estimated at approximately 739 million dollars, making Budbee one of the most remarkable success stories in Swedish tech in the logistics field.

Among the e-commerce partners that trust Budbee for their deliveries are major fashion and online retail brands such as Zalando, ASOS, H&M, brands from the Inditex group (Zara, Massimo Dutti, Pull&Bear), as well as many local retailers in each country where the carrier operates. This collaboration with such prestigious e-commerce players has helped establish Budbee's reputation with consumers, who often discover the service when placing an order on their preferred shopping site.

Which countries does Budbee deliver to?

Budbee has progressively built its delivery network starting with Sweden, its domestic market, before expanding to neighboring Nordic countries and then Northwest Europe. Today, the carrier serves five main countries where it offers both home deliveries and a network of Budbee Box automated lockers. This targeted geographical coverage allows the company to maintain a high level of service while pursuing controlled expansion.

Budbee's approach to geographical expansion is to first conquer major cities in a country, where population density and e-commerce volume justify investments in logistics infrastructure. Once the position is consolidated in major cities, the carrier gradually extends coverage to medium-sized towns and suburban areas. This strategy of deployment by concentric circles has proven successful and continues to guide the company's expansion plans.

• Sweden: Budbee's historical market, where the carrier has become the leader in home delivery for e-commerce. Coverage extends from Stockholm to Malmö and Gothenburg, and now includes over 200 geographical zones throughout the country, from major cities to medium-sized towns.
• Finland: Budbee's second market, conquered in 2018 with the opening of a terminal in Helsinki. The network now covers Finland's major cities: Helsinki, Vantaa, Espoo, Turku, Tampere, Jyväskylä, Lahti, Oulu, and since 2025, the company has expanded to the Arctic Circle with the areas of Simo, Kemi, Keminmaa and Tornio.
• Denmark: Launched in 2019, Budbee's Danish service covers the country's main urban areas: Copenhagen and its region, Aarhus, North Zealand, Aalborg and Odense. The carrier offers the same quality standards as in Sweden.
• Netherlands: Budbee's largest market outside Scandinavia, launched in September 2019. The carrier delivers throughout the country except for the Wadden Islands. Deliveries take place from 5 PM to 10 PM, and the Budbee Box network is particularly well developed there thanks to partnerships with Albert Heijn supermarkets.
• Belgium: Budbee's latest market, opened in May 2021, with coverage currently concentrated in Flanders and the Brussels region. This launch brought Budbee's total population served to over 30 million inhabitants.

Since the merger with Instabox in October 2022 and the creation of the Instabee holding, the group has a combined presence in seven European countries. Instabox brings a presence in Norway and Germany, markets where Budbee was not yet established. Under the Instabee banner, the group's three consumer brands, namely Budbee, Instabox and Porterbuddy, serve millions of European consumers together. This geographical complementarity opens up prospects for accelerated expansion in the years to come, with the stated ambition to become a pan-European e-commerce delivery player.

It should be noted that Budbee focuses exclusively on deliveries within its national markets and does not offer a direct international shipping service. Parcels delivered by Budbee are orders placed with partner e-commerce merchants who use the carrier's services for final distribution. An individual therefore cannot send a parcel from Sweden to Belgium via Budbee; however, they will receive their parcel through Budbee if the seller has chosen this carrier for local delivery in their country.

What are Budbee's delivery services and timeframes?

Budbee has developed a range of delivery services designed to adapt to modern consumers' lifestyles. The company's philosophy is based on flexibility and personalization: each recipient should be able to choose how, when and where they want to receive their parcel. This customer-centric approach translates into several distinct delivery options, each meeting specific needs.

Budbee's flagship service is evening home delivery, which has made the company's reputation. Unlike traditional carriers that primarily deliver during business hours, Budbee has made the strategic choice to concentrate its routes on time slots when recipients are most likely to be at home. This specialization in evening delivery meets growing demand from active consumers who work during the day and want to receive their parcels without having to go out or ask a neighbor.

• Budbee Home - Standard delivery: The basic service offers home delivery within a predetermined time window. Deliveries take place in the late afternoon and evening, generally between 4 PM and 10:30 PM in Nordic countries, and between 5 PM and 10 PM in Belgium and the Netherlands. The recipient is informed of the delivery day and receives an initial time window of a few hours.
• Budbee Home - Scheduled delivery: This premium option allows the customer to choose the delivery time that suits them. Via the Budbee app or the tracking link received by email, the recipient can select from available time slots the one that matches their schedule. A small surcharge may be charged for this personalization.
• Express delivery: For urgent orders, Budbee offers an accelerated delivery mode that prioritizes parcel handling. This service aims to minimize the time between order and receipt, sometimes with same-day deliveries possible depending on the zone and order time.
• Budbee Box - Locker delivery: As an alternative to home delivery, this service allows parcels to be delivered to an automated Budbee Box locker near home or work. The parcel is placed in a secure compartment and the recipient receives a PIN code to retrieve it whenever they wish, 24 hours a day.

Budbee delivery timeframes depend on several factors, including the location of the e-commerce retailer's warehouse, the destination zone, and the level of service chosen. As a general rule, once the parcel has been handed over to Budbee by the merchant, delivery occurs the next day or day after for well-covered areas. When the parcel arrives at the Budbee terminal in the recipient's region in the morning, delivery can occur the same evening.

A popular feature of the Budbee system is the increasing precision of delivery information throughout the day. On the morning of delivery, the customer first receives a general confirmation indicating that the parcel will arrive between 5 PM and 10 PM. Around lunchtime, a more precise notification provides a narrower time window. Finally, when the driver leaves the terminal for their route, real-time tracking activates and allows knowing the estimated arrival time down to the minute. The recipient may even receive an alert 30 minutes before the driver's arrival to be ready.

Regarding weekend and holiday deliveries, Budbee adapts its operations according to countries and periods. In some markets and during peak activity periods such as year-end holidays, Saturday deliveries may be offered. However, most Budbee routes take place during the week, Monday through Friday, in line with the company's positioning on evening deliveries at the time people finish work.

It is important to note that the ability to modify your delivery time window remains available until 1 PM on the day of the planned delivery. This last-minute flexibility is a valuable feature for recipients whose schedules may change at the last moment. In case of unexpected events, the customer can request rescheduling to another day or opt for Budbee Box deposit instead of home delivery.

What are Budbee's rates and maximum dimensions accepted?

Budbee's business model differs significantly from that of traditional carriers accessible to individuals. Indeed, Budbee works exclusively with e-commerce professionals under directly negotiated contracts. An individual cannot send a parcel via Budbee on their own initiative; they only benefit from the carrier's services as a recipient of an order placed with a partner e-commerce merchant. Shipping rates displayed on merchant sites thus integrate the cost of Budbee transport, negotiated in advance between the merchant and the carrier.

For e-commerce merchants wishing to offer Budbee as a delivery option to their customers, access to the carrier's services requires significant shipment volume. According to available information, a minimum of 2000 shipments per month is generally required to obtain a direct contract with Budbee. This requirement is explained by the company's operational model, optimized for large volumes that allow routes to be profitable.

• Access reserved for professionals: Budbee does not offer retail shipping services for individuals. Only e-commerce merchants with a signed contract can use the carrier.
• Minimum volume required: To establish a partnership, merchants must generally justify a volume of at least 2000 parcels per month, ensuring sufficient density for routes.
• Custom pricing: Rate tables are negotiated individually with each e-commerce merchant based on volume, delivery zones, desired service types and other commercial parameters.
• Technical integration: Budbee offers APIs and integration modules for major e-commerce platforms (Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, etc.), making it easy to add the carrier to checkout shipping options.

Regarding parcel dimensions and weight accepted, Budbee is primarily designed for typical e-commerce shipments: clothing, accessories, beauty products, books, small electronics, household items, etc. Budbee Box lockers, which constitute a significant part of the delivery network, naturally impose size constraints on parcels that can be deposited there. Different sizes of locker models exist, some capable of accommodating up to a hundred parcels at once, with compartments of varying dimensions.

The specific restrictions regarding maximum weight and dimensions accepted by Budbee are not published in a standardized manner and may vary by country and contract. For home deliveries, limits are generally more flexible than for locker deposits. Particularly bulky, fragile or special goods requiring special transport conditions are not suitable for the Budbee network, which remains focused on standard e-commerce parcels.

It is recommended that e-commerce merchants interested in a partnership with Budbee contact the carrier's sales team directly to obtain the exact technical specifications applicable to their case. Maximum dimensions, accepted product categories and possible restrictions are among the elements discussed when setting up a contract.

What are Budbee's delivery options?

Budbee stands out for the wealth of options made available to recipients to customize their delivery experience. The company understood early on that flexibility had become an essential criterion for online shoppers, often frustrated by overly broad delivery windows or missed pickups by traditional carriers. Each feature offered by Budbee aims to give recipients control over how they want to receive their parcel.

Home delivery remains Budbee's historic and most widely used service. It takes place primarily in the evening, between 5 PM and 10 PM depending on the country, allowing working people to receive their parcels after work. The Budbee delivery person comes to the indicated address and hands over the parcel directly to the recipient or to someone present at the home. This option is perfect for customers who want a door-to-door service without having to go out.

• Choice of delivery time window: Via the app or tracking link, the recipient can select the time window that suits them best from those offered. This feature, sometimes called scheduled delivery, ensures you are present when the driver arrives.
• Custom delivery instructions: The customer can indicate their preferences to the driver: ring the doorbell, do not ring, call upon arrival, leave the parcel at the door, etc. These instructions are sent to the driver via their app and facilitate parcel handover.
• Access codes and practical information: For secure buildings, the recipient can provide the entry code, floor number, or any information useful for the driver to access the home without difficulty.
• Delivery rescheduling: In case of unexpected events, it is possible to change the delivery date or time window until 1 PM on the day itself. This flexibility prevents missed deliveries and undelivered parcels.
• Notification 30 minutes before arrival: An optional alert allows being notified shortly before the driver arrives, leaving time to prepare to receive the parcel.

Automated Budbee Box lockers are an increasingly popular alternative to home delivery. These smart lockers are installed in frequently visited locations: supermarkets, shopping centers, service stations, bookstores, laundromats, and even some partner stores like H&M boutiques. When ordering or via the app, the customer can choose a Budbee Box near home or work as the delivery point.

When the parcel is placed in the Budbee Box, the recipient receives a unique PIN code via SMS or through the app. This code opens the corresponding compartment and retrieves the parcel at any time, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Budbee Boxes offer total flexibility to people with unusual schedules or who prefer to group their parcel pickups with their regular shopping. The network has hundreds of lockers distributed across the five countries where Budbee operates, with particularly high density in the Netherlands thanks to the partnership with Albert Heijn supermarkets, of which over 700 stores are equipped.

Returns management is also integrated into the Budbee ecosystem, offering a simplified experience for customers wanting to return an item. Two main options are offered for returns: home pickup and Budbee Box deposit. For a home return, the customer reserves a time window via the Budbee app and a driver comes to pick up the parcel on the chosen date and time. For locker deposit, the customer receives a PIN code and has one hour to go to the Budbee Box and deposit their return parcel.

One of the major advantages of the Budbee return system is the lack of need to print a label. Return information is managed digitally via the app, which greatly simplifies the process for customers without a printer. This feature addresses growing consumer demand for frictionless return solutions, particularly appreciated in the fashion sector where return rates can be high.

What should I do if my Budbee parcel is lost or damaged?

Although Budbee does everything to ensure reliable and secure deliveries, incidents can occasionally occur: delayed parcel, damage during transport, or in rare cases, lost parcel. It is important to know what steps to take and your rights as a consumer to get a quick resolution to these situations.

The first thing to understand is that your main contact in case of delivery problems is the e-commerce merchant from whom you ordered, not Budbee directly. Indeed, according to consumer law, it is the professional seller who is responsible for proper execution of the sales contract, including delivery. The carrier, whether Budbee or another, is a service provider of the merchant. This distinction is essential to know who to contact first.

• Parcel not received or delayed: First check the tracking of your order via the Budbee app or the tracking link received by email. If the parcel seems stuck for several days without updates, contact the e-commerce merchant's customer service who can conduct a search with Budbee.
• Damaged parcel upon receipt: Immediately report the issue to the merchant while keeping photographic evidence of the parcel's condition and contents. You generally have a few days to file a formal complaint.
• Parcel marked delivered but not received: Check with your neighbors or building manager, and consult any delivery proof photos if Budbee took them. Then contact the e-commerce merchant to report the situation.
• Direct contact with Budbee: For transport-specific questions, you can contact Budbee via the app (recommended and fastest method), by phone at 010-147 77 00, or by email at [email protected].

If your parcel is declared lost by Budbee after an internal search period, it is up to the e-commerce merchant to process the refund or send a replacement item. The merchant can then turn to Budbee under the terms of their commercial contract to obtain compensation. As a consumer, you do not need to manage this relationship between the seller and their carrier.

For damaged parcels, the recommended procedure is to send a written complaint to the seller as soon as possible, ideally within 3 days of receipt. Describe the damage precisely, attach photos and keep the original packaging if possible. The seller is required to offer you an exchange, repair or refund under the legal guarantee of conformity.

Regarding insurance and compensation, the terms depend on contracts established between Budbee and each partner e-commerce merchant. There is no public compensation schedule for individuals, with compensation managed within B2B business relationships. If the merchant refuses to compensate you despite an established delivery problem, you have recourse: applying to a consumer mediator, reporting to fraud prevention authorities, or requesting a chargeback from your bank if you paid by card.

In case of persistent dispute, keep all written exchanges with the merchant and Budbee. The maximum legal delivery deadline is 30 days from order confirmation, unless explicitly agreed otherwise. After this deadline, you are entitled to cancel your order and demand a full refund. A parcel stuck in tracking for an extended period can be declared lost after 10 to 21 days depending on the carrier's internal procedures.

Does Budbee handle international shipments and customs procedures?

Budbee positions itself as a specialist in last-mile delivery in its domestic markets, which means the company does not offer international shipping service in the traditional sense. The carrier does not transport parcels from one country to another; it only ensures final distribution of orders within the countries where it operates: Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Netherlands and Belgium.

This specialization means Budbee intervenes in the logistics chain after the parcel has already crossed borders, if applicable. Let's take the example of a Belgian consumer who orders from a Swedish e-commerce site: the merchant will ship the parcel to Belgium via an international carrier or their own logistics network, then Budbee will only take over for final delivery to the Belgian customer's home. Cross-border transport is therefore not Budbee's responsibility.

• No direct international shipping: Budbee does not offer individuals or professionals the ability to send parcels from one country to another. The company focuses exclusively on local distribution.
• Final delivery only: For international orders, Budbee only intervenes at the final step, when the parcel has arrived in the destination country and must be delivered to the end customer.
• No customs procedures management: Since Budbee does not perform cross-border transport, the company is not involved in customs clearance procedures, import/export declarations or collection of customs taxes and duties.
• Intra-European zones: The five countries served by Budbee are all part of the European Union, which means exchanges between these markets are generally not subject to customs procedures in the strict sense.

For consumers receiving orders from abroad, it is important to understand that Budbee is not responsible for any delays related to prior international transport or customs controls. If you order from a foreign site and Budbee is the final carrier in your country, the timeframes announced by the merchant include both international transport and local delivery by Budbee, but only this final step is under the direct control of the Swedish carrier.

In the particular case of orders from countries located outside the European Union (such as post-Brexit United Kingdom or Asian countries), customs procedures and any customs clearance fees are handled by the e-commerce merchant or the international carrier mandated for transport. Budbee retrieves the parcel once these procedures are completed and is only responsible for delivery to the final recipient.

The merger with Instabox within the Instabee holding could eventually open prospects for expansion to other European markets, but Budbee's business model remains fundamentally focused on local last-mile delivery rather than long-distance transport. This specialization allows the company to maintain a level of quality and responsiveness difficult for generalist carriers to achieve while managing complex international flows.

Understanding tracking statuses

When you track a Budbee parcel online, different statuses may appear as your order is being delivered. These indications allow you to know exactly where your parcel is and at what stage of the delivery process it is. Here are the main statuses used by Budbee and their detailed meanings: