Correos pilots ‘urgent’ parcel services

Spanish operator Correos has launched two new urgent parcel services in partnership with its subsidiary Chronoexprés. The services – Chrono 10 and Chrono 14 – are being piloted across 18 post offices around the country, including locations in Madrid.

If successful, the services could be rolled out on a large scale within the next three months.

Geared towards individuals and SMEs, Chrono 10 is a shipping service for documents and packages. The operator will deliver the mail by 10am the day after submission.

Meanwhile, Chrono 14 guarantees delivery within 14 hours.

Correos praised the “reliability” of the new services and company’s “commitment to quality”, whilst maintaining “affordable prices”.

The services join the wide range of products and offered throughout the group’s 2,300 post office network.

The move forms a part of the operator’s 2011-2014 Business Plan that shifts the business’ focus from products to customers.

The Plan will attempt to leverage the strengths of the Group by exploiting the synergies of its comprising four companies: parent company Correos, and also its subsidiaries: Chronoexprés, Correos Telecom, and NEXEA (the new name for its hybrid mail service).

Correos Group president Alberto Lafuente Félez said the strategy “is a plan with a clear business and technology approach, designed to serve the interests of customers and the future of the post and its employees.

“We will be a competitive company offering comprehensive and effective solutions, and a postal service of the highest quality to businesses and citizens, without compromising our dedication to public service.”

The operator said that the plan was put in place to ensure the viability of the company and the universal postal service.

“Our goal is to implement the Plan without incurring losses, despite negative forecasts and a drop of 20% in registered mail traffic during the last three years,” added Lafuente.