Hermes tracking

Logistics and parcel transport in Germany since 1972

Hermes, officially known as the Hermes Group, is an international logistics and parcel transport company founded in 1972 in Germany. A subsidiary of the Otto retail group, Hermes has established itself as one of the largest parcel carriers in the world. The group offers a full range of delivery services to individuals and businesses, particularly in the field of e-commerce, and operates globally through an extensive network in Europe and international partnerships. Recognized for its vast distribution network, Hermes handles several hundred million parcels each year and has a strong presence in many countries, while maintaining a reputation for reliability and efficiency in the logistics sector.

History

Hermes was created in 1972 by the German Otto group to offer a parcel delivery service to Otto's mail-order customers. During its early years, the company established a national network in Germany, opening around twenty distribution centers in its first year of operation. In the following decades, Hermes experienced sustained growth: in 1989, after German reunification, its service extended to the entire territory including former East Germany. During the 1990s, the group began its international expansion in Europe. Hermes established itself in France in 1997, then in the United Kingdom in 2000 (via the acquisition of the Parcelnet network from British mail-order companies). The 2000s saw the continuation of this expansion: Hermes opened a subsidiary in Austria in 2007, in Italy in 2009, and in Russia in 2010, thus extending its geographical reach.

Over time, Hermes also expanded its activities and innovated in its services. In 2008, the British subsidiary Parcelnet was renamed Hermes UK to strengthen its common identity with the German parent company. In 2010, Hermes launched its first network of ParcelShops in the UK for sending and receiving parcels, offering customers more flexibility. In 2014, Hermes UK became the first British carrier to offer 7-day-a-week deliveries and set up a dedicated international division to facilitate shipping to around twenty European countries. Growth accelerated during the 2020s, driven in particular by the rise of online commerce. In 2020, the investment fund Advent International acquired a majority stake in Hermes UK and a minority stake in Hermes Germany to support the group's development and modernization.

In March 2022, following criticism regarding service quality, Hermes UK underwent a rebranding: the British subsidiary was renamed Evri. This revaluation was accompanied by initiatives to improve customer experience and courier conditions. The same year, Hermes inaugurated a new sorting center "super sorting center" in Barnsley (UK), presented as one of the most environmentally friendly sites in its network. In 2023, Evri established itself as the leading parcel carrier in the UK with over 700 million parcels delivered annually. At the same time, the Hermes group as a whole continues to expand its logistics capabilities while remaining a key subsidiary of the Otto group. In 2025, Otto Group announced its intention to buy back the 25% minority stake held by Advent in Hermes Germany, thus strengthening its control over the entire company after a period of restructuring.

Logistics services and solutions

Hermes offers a wide range of transport and logistics services, tailored to the needs of individuals and businesses. Its core business lies in delivering parcels to consumers (B2C) on behalf of online sales sites and mail-order companies. The carrier offers, in particular, an economical standard delivery service for non-urgent shipments, as well as express delivery options for shipments requiring a quick arrival (for example, a next-day delivery service for urgent parcels). Customers can also opt for delivery to a pickup point: via the "Click & Collect" service, a parcel can be sent to a local store or an automated locker, where the recipient will collect it at their convenience. Similarly, Hermes offers shippers drop-off solutions at pickup points, allowing them to drop off a parcel at an approved network location rather than scheduling a home pickup.

In addition to traditional courier services, Hermes has developed value-added logistics services to support the growth of online commerce. The group thus manages end-to-end logistics for certain brands through its Hermes Fulfilment branch, which handles the storage of goods in warehouses, order preparation, packaging, and shipping to end customers. This comprehensive solution allows e-merchants to outsource their supply chain and entrust Hermes with the management of stocks, orders, and customer returns. Furthermore, Hermes also ensures the efficient processing of parcel returns for online stores, offering return labels and easy collection or drop-off of returned items by consumers.

The group also addresses the segment of business-to-business (B2B) deliveries and the transport of bulky or special goods. Through its entity Hermes Einrichtungs Service (HES), Hermes is capable of ensuring home delivery of bulky products (for example, furniture or appliances) with associated services such as assembly or installation at the final customer's home. This specialized "two-man" service guarantees a complete delivery experience for large items requiring professional handling. For more complex freight transport needs, Hermes Transport Logistics (HTL) offers tailor-made solutions: transportation of heavy or bulky cargo, temperature-controlled transport, industrial logistics, etc. Finally, the Hermes International division handles shipments beyond national borders, coordinating the sending of parcels abroad and managing export and import formalities to facilitate delivery to over 220 destinations worldwide.

Organization and subsidiaries

Hermes is organized into several operational units and subsidiaries, each specializing in a particular area of logistics. These entities work together to ensure a smooth service throughout the shipping chain:

• Hermes Einrichtungs Service (HES): unit dedicated to the delivery of furniture and bulky items, including two-man transport and home assembly. This subsidiary, very present in Germany and certain European markets, handles the entire process from warehouse pickup to installation at the customer's home, offering a turnkey experience.
• Hermes Fulfilment: division specializing in end-to-end e-commerce. It manages on behalf of e-merchants the storage of products in logistics centers, order preparation and execution, parcel shipping, and returns management. Hermes Fulfilment operates large automated warehouses allowing the processing of large volumes of orders quickly and efficiently.
• Hermes International: entity focused on global logistics and cross-border shipments. Hermes International organizes the transportation of parcels to over 220 countries and territories, relying on its expertise in customs regulations and local partnerships. This branch connects businesses and customers worldwide, ensuring tracking of international shipments and reliable delivery beyond national borders.
• Hermes Logistik Gruppe (HLG): name of the central unit in charge of parcel delivery in Germany. With a dense network of sorting centers and regional depots throughout the country, HLG manages the processing of millions of parcels per day for German shippers and recipients. This structure handles the collection of parcels from shippers, distribution to local agencies, and final delivery to residential or commercial addresses in Germany.
• Hermes Transport Logistics (HTL): branch dedicated to advanced transport and logistics services. HTL offers customized logistics solutions for specific needs such as international freight transport, goods requiring special handling (pharmaceutical products, high-value cargo, etc.), or supply chain optimization. It also coordinates, in conjunction with Hermes International, the flow of parcels between different countries and continents.

In addition to these internal units, the Hermes Group operates through several national subsidiaries and commercial brands. Hermes Germany GmbH remains the flagship entity for the German market, while in the UK the subsidiary Hermes UK (known to the general public as Evri since 2022) is a major player in the parcel delivery sector on British territory. Hermes is also directly present in Austria (via Hermes Logistik Austria) and in Russia (Hermes Russia), as well as in Italy. In other European markets, the group favors strategic collaborations: for example, in France, Hermes relies on the network of its partner Mondial Relay for parcel distribution. Mondial Relay, one of the leaders in parcel delivery to pickup points in France, ensures local delivery of shipments on behalf of Hermes, allowing Hermes to offer its services on the French market without owning a subsidiary there. Similarly, in Spain, Belgium, or the Scandinavian countries, Hermes collaborates with local carriers to expand its coverage. All these subsidiaries and partnerships form the Hermes Europe network, a specialized B2C network that offers delivery options adapted to the specificities of more than 20 European countries while maintaining homogeneous quality standards.

Geographical coverage

On a European scale, Hermes has a strong presence and a network covering most key markets. The carrier operates on its own or through its partners in more than twenty countries in Europe, including Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland, Denmark, Sweden, and Russia. Depending on the countries, Hermes can adapt its offers: for example, home deliveries coexist with a dense network of parcel pickup points or automated lockers facilitating the collection of shipments by customers. The group claims more than 40,000 parcel collection and drop-off points across Europe, integrated into local merchants or in the form of lockers, offering great flexibility to recipients.

Beyond Europe, Hermes relies on its Hermes International entity and cooperation agreements to transport parcels to a very large number of destinations. The group is capable of delivering to over 220 countries and territories worldwide by coordinating transfers with local carriers or postal networks. Hermes has, for example, established shipping platforms to North America and Asia: in China, the group has set up logistics solutions to support the export of parcels from Chinese e-merchants to Europe (notably via its subsidiary BorderGuru, specializing in the management of international orders and last-mile logistics for imports). Similarly, Hermes operates an office in the United States that serves as a relay for the needs of its European customers shipping across the Atlantic. Thanks to these infrastructures and alliances, Hermes ensures global geographical coverage, allowing client companies to develop their international sales while relying on a single logistics partner.

The group is also pursuing its expansion and strengthening of its network. In recent years, Hermes has invested in new ultra-modern logistics centers to increase its parcel processing capacity, for example with the opening of additional regional sorting centers in Germany and the UK. It is also exploring new markets and segments while consolidating its position in its existing territories. This controlled expansion strategy aims to support the growth of global online commerce while maintaining high local service standards in each country served.

Operational model

Hermes operates primarily on an integrated model combining its own network and partnerships, with particular attention paid to the efficiency of the last mile of delivery. The group relies on a dense network of central warehouses, sorting centers, and local depots where parcels are sorted and then distributed for final delivery. In its main markets (such as Germany or the UK), Hermes operates its own logistics infrastructures and employs or mandates a large number of couriers to ensure daily rounds. The Hermes model favors flexibility: thus, in the UK, for example, the company uses independent couriers working under a micro-franchise or subcontracting status to make deliveries to end customers. This operation allows for adjusting resources according to volume fluctuations (sales periods, end-of-year holidays, etc.) while offering couriers some autonomy in organizing their rounds. Hermes was also a pioneer in implementing an "independent couriers +" model including guaranteed pay, flexible hours, and, more recently, enhanced social rights (paid leave, retirement contributions) for its couriers in the UK.

The network of pickup points is another pillar of Hermes' operational model. In Europe, more than 40,000 parcel pickup points and lockers are integrated into the system: these are local businesses (bookstores, convenience stores, dry cleaners, etc.) or self-service automatic lockers, where parcels can be dropped off or collected. This network offers a practical alternative to home delivery, reducing delivery failures in the absence of the recipient and optimizing couriers' rounds. Hermes organizes its flows to supply these collection points daily and informs recipients by SMS/email as soon as a parcel is available at the selected pickup point. Parcels are kept there for a determined period (usually 10 to 14 days) to allow customers to collect them.

Hermes also works closely with other logistics operators when necessary. In some countries where the group does not have its own last-mile network, it hands over parcels to a local partner (for example, a national carrier) for final distribution, while maintaining unified tracking of the shipment. This collaborative model is illustrated by the agreement with Mondial Relay in France, or by partnerships in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe. Moreover, the group does not hesitate to use external means when conditions require: it can charter a third-party carrier if an exceptional parcel surplus occurs, or delegate a delivery to a specialized colleague (for example, for an isolated geographical area or a delivery requiring a particular vehicle). This operational flexibility is an integral part of Hermes' expertise and allows it to meet its service commitments even in complex situations.

Shareholding and ownership structure

Hermes Europe GmbH, the parent company of the Hermes group, is majority-owned by the Otto Group, a German retail and services conglomerate. Historically, Hermes has always been linked to Otto since its creation - Werner Otto, founder of the Otto group, himself initiated the launch of the Hermes parcel service in the 1970s. For several decades, Hermes remained a 100% subsidiary of the Otto Group, significantly contributing to the logistics of the group's various mail-order subsidiaries.

In 2020, to support its expansion and accelerate its digital transformation, Hermes welcomed an external investor: the international private equity firm Advent International. As part of an agreement concluded in August 2020, Advent acquired a 75% stake in Hermes UK (the British subsidiary) and a 25% stake in Hermes Germany (the German division and certain European subsidiaries), with Otto Group retaining the rest of the capital of these entities. This operation valued the whole constituted by Hermes UK and Hermes Germany at around one billion euros and aimed to inject fresh funds for network development, infrastructure improvement, and technological innovation at Hermes.

The current ownership structure thus reflects this partnership: Otto Group remains the majority and strategically involved shareholder, while Advent International is an important co-shareholder, particularly for activities in the UK. Nevertheless, Otto Group has expressed its desire to maintain long-term control of the logistics activity, considered crucial for its e-commerce subsidiaries. In 2021, the group thus confirmed the maintenance of its commitment and, in 2025, announced a project to buy back Advent's shares in Hermes Germany to become the sole owner of the German branch again. This capital rebalancing is intended to allow Otto to directly steer the restructuring and strategic direction of Hermes Germany, after a period of losses and logistical challenges. Meanwhile, Hermes UK (Evri) remains majority-owned by Advent, which ensures its operational and financial growth alongside Otto (minority shareholder at 25%). The Hermes group as a whole thus continues to be backed by the Otto Group, while benefiting from the support of a private investor to support its growth in certain markets.

Environmental commitments and sustainable development

Aware of the environmental impact of parcel transport, Hermes has committed in recent years to sustainable development and green logistics. The group has set ambitious goals to reduce its carbon footprint, notably by investing in the electrification of its fleet and alternative fuels. In Germany, Hermes has deployed innovative electric vehicles for urban delivery: as early as 2017, the German subsidiary was testing the TRIPL electric cargo tricycle in the city center of Göttingen to ensure emission-free deliveries in restricted traffic areas. Building on these successful experiments, Hermes Germany has set itself the goal of ensuring 100% CO2-neutral deliveries in the city centers of all major German metropolises by 2025. The strategic partnership established with Mercedes-Benz thus provides for the gradual integration of 1,500 electric utility vehicles into the German fleet, to replace diesel vans on the last mile in sensitive urban areas.

In the UK, the Evri subsidiary also stands out for concrete measures in favor of the environment. Hermes UK was the first parcel carrier across the Channel to deploy fully electric trucks for its transport links and invested in biomethane vehicles (renewable natural gas) to reduce CO2 emissions from its long-distance transport. In 2021, Hermes UK ordered 168 Mercedes eSprinter electric vans to green its delivery fleet. Furthermore, all Evri facilities (sorting centers, depots, offices) now operate 100% with renewable electricity, as part of a comprehensive sustainability plan. A signatory of the international "Race To Zero" initiative led by the UN, Evri has committed to achieving carbon neutrality for all its direct and indirect emissions by 2035 and to reducing its energy consumption by 20% by 2030. These commitments are part of the ESG (environment, social, governance) strategy unveiled in 2021, which also aims to improve the company's social record (diversity and inclusion, employee well-being) while enhancing customer satisfaction.

In general, Hermes relies on innovation to make logistics more sustainable. The group is gradually adopting soft delivery modes (cargo bikes, electric scooters) in urban hypercenters and optimizes its rounds using planning algorithms to reduce kilometers traveled. The new sorting centers built by Hermes integrate high ecological standards, with, for example, solar panels on the roof, energy recovery systems, and waste sorting devices allowing the recycling of cartons and packaging. Hermes also encourages its partners and subcontractors to adopt sustainable practices, thus participating in the ecological transition of the entire logistics chain. These initiatives, combined with technological investments, illustrate Hermes' desire to reconcile business growth and environmental responsibility by gradually reducing the ecological footprint of each delivered parcel.

Shipment tracking and tracking numbers

Hermes provides its customers with real-time tracking tools for each shipment. When a parcel is shipped via the Hermes network, a unique tracking number is generated and communicated to the sender and recipient. A Hermes tracking number generally consists of 16 alphanumeric characters. Often, this code begins with the letters "HE" followed by a series of numbers and letters. For example, a typical number may be presented in the form HE123456789ABCDEF. In some cases, the structure may vary slightly depending on the service or country: dashes or other special characters may be inserted to segment the code, and additional prefixes or suffixes (letters or numbers) may appear if the shipment requires it.

To track a shipment, the recipient or sender can enter the Hermes tracking number on the official Hermes website (or its local subsidiary's site, for example, the Evri site in the UK) or via the Hermes mobile app. The tracking system then displays updated information regarding the parcel's routing: its last known location, the steps already completed (pickup, sorting center, in delivery, etc.), as well as an estimated delivery date. In case of delay or problem, specific tracking notifications are also visible, indicating, for example, that an incident has occurred or that a new delivery attempt will be made. Hermes also offers alternative tracking options, such as using a shipment reference number (provided by the online merchant) or a code associated with a pickup point in the case of a pickup point delivery, allowing the recipient to track the arrival of their parcel at the chosen pickup point.

Hermes tracking messages are standardized and presented in French on tracking interfaces for shipments to France. They concisely describe the status of the parcel at each stage of its journey. Below, a table lists the common tracking statuses used by Hermes and their meaning in French: