TNT Post launches e-commerce parcel service in UK

TNT Post UK has launched a new packet and parcel service for the United Kingdom, particularly geared towards shipping products from online retailers. The company, part of the PostNL Group which split off from the TNT express and parcels business this summer, said today that its new service should improve the customer service for online retailers.

Reliability and value will be key to TNT Post’s effort to attract online retailers to use its new service, with the pledge that ecommerce firms will see less “product attrition” caused by difficult consumer shipping experiences.

TNT Post UK cited this year’s annual consumer delivery survey from ecommerce industry association IMRG as suggesting 31.5% of consumers experiencing delivery problems were discouraged from making repeat purchases from websites.

The company said it was the second year in a row where bad delivery services influenced choice of online purchase, “proving that positive delivery is paramount”.

As well as the promise of real-time information allowing consumers to track their purchases, via a special bar code, TNT Post said its new e-commerce offering will also provide flexible collection times for online retailers.

In terms of value for money, TNT Post said its service should be 5% to 10% cheaper than Royal Mail.

Growing trend

Nick Wells, CEO at TNT Post, said expansion into packets and parcels was a “key part” of his company’s strategic growth plan for the UK, with ecommerce particularly driving that move.

He said: “Online vendors will now benefit from enhanced management information which will enable them to improve customer satisfaction and reduce costs. Online retail packets and parcel delivery is a growing trend within the postal sector and our aim is to be the main provider in this sector.”

As it launched its new service today, TNT Post revealed that Guernsey Post will be its first major client, which will mean well-known high street brands using TNT Post to handle deliveries for the Channel Island.

It is expecting about 17m items in the first year of operating the new service with Guernsey Post. TNT Post UK, which describes itself as the second largest postal company operating in the UK, currently handles about 200m items a month in its other mail services.

Shaun Lihou, Head of Bulk Mail, Guernsey Post endorsed the service commented: “We have to ensure that our clients receive an efficient and quality service and working with TNT Post will enable us to fulfil that promise.”