GeoPost selects Neopost for all its internet parcel shipping services
Neopost – Europe's leading supplier of
mailing solutions and logistics systems – and GeoPost – a holding company
for the French and European parcels subsidiaries of La Poste (France's
national postal service) – have signed an agreement under which Neopost will
supply its Cyberstation© system to GeoPost's operational units (Chronopost
International, DPD, Tat Express etc.). The system has been developed by
Neopost Logistics Systems, and the first service to use it is Chronopost
International's ChronoShip OnLine.
Cyberstation© will enable customers of GeoPost's operational units to
prepare shipments, print the corresponding consignment notes and manage
their address book over the Internet. This Internet technology has been
developed over the last few years by Neopost, principally in its Neopost
Loop One subsidiary based in Austin (Texas). The system checks the
consistency of postcodes and cities in 14 European countries, and enables
multiple users working in multi-site organisations to manage shipments via
the network of GeoPost operating units. Senders can access the Track&Trace
database directly from their PCs, in order to track parcels and consult
delivery confirmations. Senders can also consult all past shipments.
Neopost's Cyberstation© system will soon be available to most GeoPost
customers, and will carry the brands of GeoPost's operating units. Once it
has been rolled out across all GeoPost customers, the system will manage
millions of parcels per year. Data will be sent by Neopost's secure servers
to each operating unit's systems. The system will handle all services
offered by each operating unit.
Jean-Paul Coucault, GeoPost's director of IT systems, made the following
comments: 'an Internet connection and a printer are all that is needed to
prepare shipments, without leaving the office. With our new system, all
customers will have a computerised shipment solution that is easier to use,
more reliable and offers full tracking facilities.'
He added that 'this new online system represents a major step forward for
GeoPost, since it makes it easier for customers to access our services, and
will allow us to generate productivity gains and cost savings. Higher
volumes of parcels with computer-generated despatch notes will substantially
reduce customer shipment registration costs, along with IT investment and
technical support costs.'
Jérôme Lievre, managing director of Neopost Logistics Systems, made the
following comments on the project: 'Neopost is at the leading edge of
innovation in terms of applying Internet technology to parcel shipment
management systems. This contract, with one of Europe's largest parcels
firms, is a perfect example of Neopost's success in this area.'
Jean-Paul Coucault concluded that 'after evaluating the various options for
enhancing our systems and the service we provide to customers, we decided to
work with Neopost, due to the availability of its teams, together with the
performance, flexibility and reliability of its Cyberstation© solution.'
About Neopost
Neopost is the European leader and number two worldwide supplier of mailroom
equipment and logistics solutions. Neopost offers the most advanced
solutions for online or off-line postage, large volume mail insertions and
logistics management and traceability. Neopost Logistics systems is a
Neopost worldwide business unit that provides carriers and shippers advanced
information processing tools and services.
Headquartered near Paris, France, Neopost has a direct presence in the
world's top mailing and logistics markets, i.e. the USA, France, Germany,
the UK, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Ireland, Japan and
Norway. Neopost products are sold in 70 countries.
In 2002, Neopost generated sales of euro 761 million and a net profit of
euro 70 million. In 2002, Neopost acquired Ascom Hasler, the world number
three supplier of mailing solutions, and Stielow, Germany's leading supplier
of folder/inserters.
Neopost is listed on the Premier Marché of Euronext Paris and is a
constituent of the SBF 120 and Next 150 indices.
La Poste's parcels activities
La Poste operates in the parcels market in two ways. The parent company's
parcels activities are mainly in the mail order and consumer segments, via
ColiPoste. The GeoPost holding company, which ranks third in the European
parcels market, controls La Poste's subsidiaries and investments in express
and rapid parcel services in France and abroad, through its operating units
Chronopost International, Tat Express, DPD, Parceline and Interlink.
La Poste's parcels business in 2002:
– Sales of ?3.07bn
– 645 million parcels carried
– 60 hubs and transit centres
– 1,000 branches and depots in 23 countries
– 200,000 m² of warehouse space
About GeoPost
GeoPost is Europe's third-largest provider of express and rapid parcel
services. Through its Chronopost International, Tat Express, DPD, Parceline
and Interlink subsidiaries, GeoPost delivers parcels throughout the world.
GeoPost in 2002:
· Sales*: ?2.085bn
* excluding intra-group billings
· More than 370 million parcels carried
· 18,500 employees
· More than 50 hubs and transit centres
· More than 750 branches and depots
· More than 21,000 vehicles (including franchisees)
For any additional information please contact:
Neopost
Gaële Chagnaud, Investor relations
Tel: +33 (0)1 45 36 31 39
Fax: +33 (0)1 45 36 30 30
E-mail: [email protected]
Thomas Sorrentino, Gavin Anderson & Company
Tel: +33 (0)1 45 22 22 81
Fax: +33(0)1 45 22 23 98
E-mail: [email protected]
www.neopost.com
