At this stage, the volume of shipments is expected to grow by about 15% across the Iberian Peninsula, potentially surpassing 30% during the busiest week, anticipated in mid-December. The group estimates that more than five million parcels will be processed during this peak period.
As a result, the company has decided to bolster its workforce in operations, distribution, and customer support by hiring 970 people in the Iberian Peninsula. CTT also noted that in Portugal, customer support is enhanced with the ‘Helena’ chatbot, which is available 24 hours a day.
CTT further indicated that they will increase the number of delivery routes during this period, adding over 2,400 supplementary routes.
The company stated there will be a daily processing capacity of 800,000 parcels, and the comprehensive Iberian coverage of CTT operations will be ensured through 80 operational centers, 30 of which are fully automated, and 17 serving both countries.
CTT anticipates that the activity peak will occur in the second week of December when the number of parcels delivered is expected to reach five million, with daily distribution on some days exceeding one million parcels.
In Portugal, the group announced that processing will be enhanced by the inauguration of a new parcel processing center—the Rio de Mouro Operational Center in the Lisbon area—which has the capacity to serve the entire western coastal area of the metropolitan region. In Spain, capacity increases have been secured by installing new automated sorters over the past year in Madrid (Villaverde), Barcelona, Bilbao, and San Fernando de Henares.
Additionally, and as currently done for some clients, distribution will be generally extended to Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, with collections from business clients expedited whenever possible.
“CTT today aggregates in its ‘collectt’ network over 20,000 ‘out of home’ delivery and collection points across the Iberian Peninsula, ensuring greater proximity and convenience,” they reminded.
In Portugal, this network incorporates stores, CTT points, payshop agents, and more than 1,100 ‘locky’ lockers distributed throughout the territory, they noted.
