Business Post integrates its mail

Express Parcels and Mail is to become the brand name for Business Post’s express parcels and mail service. Previously the name only covered the group’s thriving postal business, but the decision has been taken to merge its parcels service under the UK Mail umbrella, as part of its integration strategy. Chief executive Guy Buswell is quick to explain that the firm is not dropping its parcels business: “Mail can mean anything these days. We think we can do better in parcels by changing…

Head of group marketing Nigel Proctor explains that the change links in with the company’s integration strategy, but without substantial cost: “We’re a private organization – the money has to be invested in the customer,” he says, adding that the group also wanted to “seize the opportunity” to remove the FedEx logo embossed on Business Post vehicles – a hangover from the FedEx contract Business Post lost after the US parcels giant purchased ANC late last year. “We don’t want to start the confusion [that it’s a rebranding]. The change is more around the integration,” Proctor says.

“We’re keen on the [UK] part and we have the strength of understanding the UK market – we’re not trying to be a global player,” he adds. The UK Mail livery is in the process of being put on the group’s truck and van fleet, with all trucks expected to be reliveried by the end of the year. The group’s other businesses, including UK Pallets and courier service UK Today, will retain their current identities. Proctor says the firm’s integration process is underway, but he acknowledges it is a big project.

Subtle changes already in place, including single invoices and group tender processes, are helping the group to present a more integrated front, he adds. Business Post is also looking to relaunch the group website next month. But Proctor adds that while the intention is to “appear more joined up to the customer; it is going to be a long exercise”. The next step is to look more closely at group operations, he adds.