Deutsche DHL is set to invest a 27.5 per cent stake in the French e-commerce logistics specialist Relais Colis.

Relais Colis employs around 450 people and has three national hubs around its native France, which currently consist of 22 branches and 4,800 pickup points, reports Logistics Manager.

With DHL's investment, the French e-commerce logistics specialist will be able to further the development of its pickup points and provide better delivery solutions for customers at the end of its supply chain.

An end customer will now be able to specify customised delivery solutions, specific to their own requirements, which creates a more flexible overall service.

It will also allow the DHL Parcel division to open additional channels of logistics service and expand them into the French customer market.

The company said: "Relais Colis will also benefit from additional volumes of the Deutsche Post DHL Group's networks and the knowhow of the innovation leader in the German parcel market."