Lalamove launches Berlin service in Germany for SMEs

Lalamove has launched operations in Germany, starting in the Berlin metropolitan area as part of its broader expansion across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

The move gives the Hong Kong-founded delivery platform a foothold in one of Europe's largest markets. It is targeting small and medium-sized enterprises that need same-day and scheduled transport without running their own vehicle fleets. Germany has more than 3.4 million SMEs.

Berlin is the first German city where the service is operating. Users can book deliveries on demand or schedule them in advance, while businesses with more complex routes can add up to 20 drop-off points within a single order.

The service is available around the clock and covers both goods and documents. Customers can track deliveries through real-time GPS monitoring and use live chat for delivery queries.

Founded in Hong Kong in 2013, Lalamove now operates in 17 markets across Asia, the Americas and EMEA. Germany expands its European footprint and adds a market with a large base of independent retailers, service firms and professional businesses that often rely on outsourced logistics during busy periods.

Lalamove said it has already built a customer base in Berlin across several sectors, including frozen pet food retailers, bicycle repair shops, universities, research institutions and catering companies. Some use the service every day.

According to the company, one Berlin flower shop has moved away from managing deliveries in-house after facing constraints during peak trading periods, when staff had to balance delivery work with serving customers in store.

SME focus

The Germany launch reflects a wider contest in urban logistics, as platforms compete for business customers seeking flexible access to drivers without fixed contracts. For smaller companies, outsourced delivery can reduce overheads and provide extra capacity during seasonal peaks or sudden surges in orders.

Lalamove says its model is built around that need. Rather than employing a dedicated fleet for each customer, it matches orders through its app with driver partners, who choose when they work and which jobs they accept.

The company says it has a growing network of driver partners in Berlin and argues that the model gives drivers more control over their schedules while helping businesses secure transport when needed.

That structure is common among app-based logistics groups, though it also draws attention to the depth and reliability of the local driver pool. In Berlin, Lalamove says its existing network leaves it well placed to meet demand from local businesses.

Expansion plan

Germany is a key market in Lalamove's broader EMEA push. Berlin is the starting point, and the company plans to expand within Germany before moving further across the region.

Competition in the sector remains intense, with local courier firms, same-day delivery specialists and international platforms all vying for SMEs and independent traders. Speed of service, route density and the size of the driver base are likely to determine how quickly newer entrants can gain share.

For Lalamove, Germany also offers a test of whether the operating model it developed in Asia and other regions can translate effectively to a European market with dense urban centres and varied demand from small businesses. Its proposition in Berlin centres on immediacy and flexibility rather than long-term logistics contracts.

Paul Loo, chief operating officer of Lalamove, outlined the rationale for the launch as the company opened the service in the capital region.

"Germany is home to more than 3.4 million SMEs, and they need logistics that can scale with the realities of day-to-day operations," Loo said.

"Launching in Berlin is an important first step in building our German presence, bringing a flexible, affordable on-demand delivery option that helps businesses move goods and documents quickly, manage peak periods more efficiently, and maintain visibility from pick-up to drop-off. With a growing number of driver partners already supporting operations in Berlin, we are well-positioned to grow with local demand as we expand to more cities across Germany and, over time, the wider EMEA region."