TNT offers express services at 7-Eleven

TNT Express Worldwide (Thailand) is set to compete with the state postal operator with the launch of around-the-clock domestic and international express document delivery services at 7-Eleven convenience stores.

The Dutch-based company yesterday introduced the international version of its 24-hour air express document service. Called EZY Express, it will be carried out by a joint venture with CP Seven Eleven Plc, part of the Charoen Pokphand Group. The domestic version of the service is scheduled to be launched in April.”The idea behind the EZY Express service is the considerable business potential of daily express mail services for convenience store customers,” said Narongrid Galaputh, the sales and marketing director of TNT Thailand.

Mr Narongrid said that the service was now available at 35 7-Eleven stores in prime locations in Bangkok, offering two sizes of envelopes for express delivery of documents to international destinations. Weight limits were 500 and 1,000 grammes and charges ranged from 390 to 890 baht.

In addition to convenience store customers, the service targets small and medium-sized business operators, expatriates, tourists and students.

Mr Narongrid said the company initially planned to expand the services to 7-Eleven stores in busy communities upcountry by April, at which time the domestic service would be launched. As well, he said, the service would be available in CP Seven Eleven’s 7-Today bookstore chain.

TNT plans to offer a free pickup and delivery service at home for customers using the domestic service in the future.

Mr Narongrid said the new services were expected to generate 10% of the company’s revenue.

“With the strong retail expertise and the nationwide network of the convenience store chain, we see strong potential for the business,” he said.

Acknowledging that the services were expected to generate relatively small revenue for the TNT group, Mr Narongrid said they would help create TNT brand awareness within specific market sectors and establish a new international express selling channel.

He also acknowledged that the charges, especially for domestic service, were about 10-15% higher than the Communications Authority of Thailand’s Express Mail Service.

“The main draw for our service is faster delivery time,” he said.