DHL Parcel has expanded the shipment notifications with a multilingual option. Since September 22, 2025, the company informs customers not only about the planned delivery date but also about status changes and the designated delivery location in multiple languages.
Translation via Google Cloud
According to the description, recipients can activate Google Translate via an icon in the email. This enables the contents of the package notification as well as further links, for example to the DHL website, to be translated directly into other languages. At launch, English, Turkish,
Arabic and Polish are available.
"Language should never be a barrier to essential services," says Marianne Janic, Vice President EMEA North, Google Cloud. "By integrating the advanced AI of Google Translate into DHL's package notification, we enable a more seamless and inclusive delivery experience for customers across Germany. Our pilot has shown that this simple yet powerful solution not only reduces logistical challenges but also increases customer satisfaction, and we look forward to expanding this service in the future to new languages and to more people."
Results from
the pilot test
Already in February 2025, DHL and Google Cloud started a pilot in around 190 postcode areas. According to the company, the multilingual communication led to packages being delivered more often on the first delivery attempt. In addition, the offered services for rerouting shipments were used more. From April 2025, the test was expanded to additional regions, and since September the service has been available nationwide.
Outlook on additional languages
DHL announced that it intends to expand the service in the future to additional languages, for
example Hebrew, Ukrainian and French. The aim is to further reduce language barriers and thus increase the first-attempt delivery rate.
Implications for operational practice
According to its own statements, DHL sends more than ten million emails daily for package notifications. Recipients have the option to redirect their shipments at short notice, for example to a Packstation, to neighbors, or to a delivery location. The multilingual design is intended to facilitate the use of these options, which at the same time supports the work of the delivery staff. (av)
