The European Courier, Express and Parcel sector, a strategic and dynamic sector involved in globalization, has
undergone significant changes during the past fifteen years. CEP players are “co-evolving” (evolving together),
the sector is consolidating itself, strategy and logistics organizations are converging and a new segment dedicated
to urban parcel deliveries has emerged. Thanks to a literature review, interviews of the players of the French CEP
sector and urban parcel delivery sector, as well as comparisons with other European countries, this article
analyzes the sector's changes, its drivers, and provides an accurate picture, based on examples and figures, of
an under-studied sector. The article also highlights some future prospects for the new segment such as the
segment's consolidation and the rise of cross-border e-commerce.