APP ePacket service launched to address needs of Asia Pacific e-commerce market
The Asia Pacific Post Cooperative (APP) and the region’s national postal service providers have announced the launch of the APP ePacket service, which is designed to meet the e-commerce shipping needs of the Asia Pacific market. In a statement issued yesterday (15 September), the APP commented: “With the launch of the APP ePacket, customers, especially e-merchants, industrial and corporate customers, will be offered an economical shipping solution with full regional coverage for sending items of up to 2 kg.
“The APP ePacket provides key features including visibility (trackable), reliability (quality of service monitorable) and affordability (shipping fee affordable). These features are brought together in the offer to customers to address the needs of the fast growing e-commerce market in the Asia Pacific.”
The APP added that the service specifications have been developed with a view to ensuring close alignment with the Universal Postal Union (UPU)’s ECOMPRO service. Furthermore, its reporting platform is being developed by the UPU’s Postal Technology Centre and this, according to the APP, “should facilitate its seamless integration with other UPU products”.
The service provides for a number of tracking events but signature on delivery is not a feature.
A multilateral agreement provides for a per-item per kilogram delivery rate but allows for “flexibility to agree bilateral rates”.
Korea Post hosted a signing ceremony for the APP ePacket during the 2015 Asia Pacific Post CEO Forum, which took place in Seoul on Monday and Tuesday (14-15 September).
Speaking at the ceremony, Kim Kee-deok, President of Korea Post, commented: “The launch of APP ePacket service will lay the foundation for the future growth of the e-commerce market in the Asia Pacific region.”
Most of the signatories to the APP ePacket will begin the service in the final quarter of 2015 while other APP member posts will be providing the service in the first quarter of 2016.
Following the introduction of the APP ePacket, the APP Office will continue to work with APP member posts to promote it to industrial customers.
“Our target is to assist members to acquire customers and new traffic,” said Ms Bui Bang Tam, Head of the APP Office and Business Development.
