Relais Colis tracking

Delivery to relay points in France since 1969

Founded in 1969 under the name SOGEP, Relais Colis was initially created on behalf of La Redoute to bypass the disruptions of the postal service at the time. The company was thus born to ensure the delivery of parcels for the famous mail-order company, offering a reliable alternative to traditional postal distribution. In 1973, SOGEP was acquired by La Redoute and fully integrated into the group.

Relais Colis innovated from the early 1980s by inventing the concept of delivery to pick-up points. In 1983, the delivery service in local shops was launched, allowing customers to collect their parcels from partner merchants rather than at home. This innovative formula offers more flexibility to individuals, who can pick up their parcels according to their availability, and reduces logistical costs. Relais Colis thus established itself as the first parcel delivery network to individuals via merchant pick-up points in France.

Over the decades, the company has diversified and improved its services. In 2006, Relais Colis launched the delivery of heavy or bulky items to homes carried out by two delivery personnel, introducing on this occasion the appointment scheduling at the order to agree on a delivery slot with the customer. From 2011, the network opened more to the general public: Relais Colis implemented the "Relais to Relais" offer, which allows individuals and small e-merchants to send a parcel from one pick-up point to another, at competitive rates.

The company continued its expansion in the 2010s. In 2014, Relais Colis extended its network internationally by establishing itself in Belgium through a partnership with the Kariboo network, and experimented with new distribution methods such as automated lockers (Packcity project). The same year marked a major transition: Relais Colis left the fold of La Redoute and was taken over by new entrepreneurial shareholders, with the company then being 100% employee-owned. In 2015, an ambitious five-year transformation plan was launched to modernize the network and services. The DHL group entered the capital in January 2016 to support this development plan. In 2016, Relais Colis unveiled a new website and expanded its offer to target not only large online sales accounts but also individuals and small to medium-sized e-merchants.

Today, with over fifty years of existence, Relais Colis is an independent company still at the forefront of parcel delivery. Its historical experience with La Redoute and its pioneering role in pick-up points have enabled it to become a recognized player in e-commerce logistics in France.

Network and coverage

Relais Colis has a dense logistics network covering the entire metropolitan French territory. The infrastructure relies on several national sorting centers and a network of regional agencies spread across the country. These central and local platforms allow for efficient parcel flow processing and rapid delivery to the destination area.

The distribution network is mainly organized around thousands of local pick-up points. Relais Colis collaborates with neighborhood shops (tobacco shops, convenience stores, dry cleaners, etc.) that serve as drop-off and pick-up locations for parcels. Today, there are more than 5,000 partner merchant pick-up points nationwide, ensuring that the majority of recipients have a pick-up point located at a reasonable distance from their home or workplace. In parallel, the carrier relies on about twenty regional agencies and several main sorting centers (notably in Île-de-France, the Lyon, Lille, and Bordeaux regions) to organize the transit of parcels between the sender and the final pick-up point.

Relais Colis has also extended its coverage beyond French borders. Since 2014, the network has included Belgium through local agreements, allowing Belgian customers to benefit from the same pick-up point delivery service. This cross-border expansion remains limited for now but illustrates Relais Colis's willingness to offer its service in new markets when relevant.

Delivery services offered

As a parcel transport provider, Relais Colis offers a range of services tailored to the needs of e-merchants and individuals. The main shipping and delivery options include:

• Standard pick-up point delivery Basic service where the parcel is shipped to a chosen pick-up point. The recipient is notified as soon as their parcel is available and can collect it from the partner merchant. This formula prioritizes cost-effectiveness and convenience for the customer.
• Express delivery Accelerated delivery options allow for shorter transit times. Depending on the subscribed offer, the parcel can be delivered to a pick-up point much faster (for example, the day after shipment under the best conditions). This express service is intended for urgent shipments requiring rapid distribution.
• Delivery of bulky parcels Relais Colis handles large or heavy shipments. Through its dedicated offers (such as Relais Colis Max, Home+, or Home++), the carrier can deliver bulky parcels either to suitable pick-up points (Drive pick-up network accessible by car) or directly to the recipient's home. Home delivery of furniture or bulky items is done by appointment, usually with two delivery personnel to handle the item to the chosen room.
• Relais Colis "Relais to Relais" service This service allows an individual or a small professional to send a parcel using the network. The sender drops off the package at a nearby Relais Colis, and it will be transported to another pick-up point chosen by the recipient. This service opens the Relais Colis network to personal shipments, particularly for sales between individuals or order returns.

Thanks to this range of services, Relais Colis is able to handle both standard small shipments and complex deliveries requiring speed or special handling. Partner e-merchants can thus offer their end customers several delivery modes at controlled costs, relying on the Relais Colis infrastructure.

Delivery operation and parcel tracking

The shipping process via Relais Colis follows several key steps, from parcel pick-up to delivery to the recipient. It all starts with the creation of the shipping label and the registration of the shipment in the system. This initial step confirms that the seller or sender has prepared the parcel and transmitted the information to Relais Colis. If the parcel is physically handed over at a shipping pick-up point (drop-off point at a merchant), it is immediately scanned and integrated into the transport network.

Once picked up, the parcel travels through the carrier's logistics network. It usually transits through a main platform and then through a regional agency close to the destination. During this phase, the tracking status indicates that the parcel is in transit or en route. Relais Colis uses its own trucks and those of partners to move shipments between sorting centers and distribution agencies.

Upon arrival at the last agency (local distribution center), the parcel is prepared for final delivery. If it is a pick-up point delivery, the package is loaded into a vehicle heading to the selected merchant pick-up point. The tracking status then changes to "in delivery to your pick-up point." When the parcel actually reaches the pick-up point, it is scanned as "arrived" and then "available" for the recipient. A message (email or SMS) is usually sent to the recipient to inform them that their parcel can be collected.

If the planned delivery is to a home (notably for bulky parcels), the parcel is entrusted to a local delivery team after passing through the agency. The delivery personnel schedule an appointment if necessary, then carry out the distribution to the client. If successful, the parcel is marked as "delivered" in the tracking. If the recipient is absent during a home delivery attempt, Relais Colis may arrange a new attempt or transport the parcel to a nearby pick-up point for later collection.

Shipment tracking is ensured from start to finish with a unique tracking number. At each step completed, the parcel's status is updated on the Relais Colis website (and possibly on the sender's e-merchant portal). The user can thus know the delivery progress in real-time. Several successive statuses are used to inform about the progress, from "parcel announced" to "parcel delivered." This traceability system allows the package to be located at any time and reassures both the sender and the recipient.

It should be noted that Relais Colis retains parcels for a limited time at pick-up points. The recipient must collect their shipment within the allotted time. In practice, the parcel generally remains pending for about a week at the pick-up point. If the package is not collected in time by the client, it is then returned to the sender. This return procedure also applies in case of an invalid delivery address or refusal of the parcel by the recipient. The tracking will indicate in these situations a status of return in progress to the sender.

Commitments and quality of service

As a logistics operator, Relais Colis emphasizes delivery reliability and user satisfaction. The pick-up point network is subject to rigorous monitoring to ensure a good experience when collecting parcels. Partner merchants are trained in parcel management and customer service for those collecting their packages, ensuring a professional and consistent service across the territory.

The company also strives to continuously improve its performance in terms of delivery times and processing capacities. The transformation plan initiated in 2015 has notably modernized IT tools and infrastructures to cope with the rise of online commerce and the increase in parcel volumes to be distributed. Relais Colis now delivers tens of millions of parcels each year, demonstrating the trust of major French e-commerce sites in it.

Relais Colis is also committed to sustainable development. By consolidating deliveries at unique pick-up points rather than multiplying home visits, the model helps reduce the carbon footprint of the last mile. Aware of environmental issues, the carrier has been measuring and managing its CO₂ emissions since 2018 and has joined sectoral initiatives for carbon neutrality. It thus displays the ambitious goal of achieving carbon neutrality for its activities by 2040. This commitment translates into efforts to optimize delivery routes, use less polluting vehicles, and promote eco-responsible practices within its network.

In terms of security and parcel respect, Relais Colis ensures to minimize damage and losses during transport. Each parcel is identified, tracked, and handled according to standard procedures. In case of a problem (damaged parcel, unusual delay, etc.), Relais Colis customer service can be contacted to provide a solution. The carrier is committed to maintaining a high level of service quality, a guarantee of loyalty for its e-merchant partners and trust for final recipients.

Relais Colis tracking statuses