Portman signs up with Royal Mail UK
Regional building society Portman has signed a deal with Royal Mail to develop a more efficient and cost effective distribution system.
Portman expects significant cost savings and improved productivity levels through the streamlining of internal mail deliveries and stationery between its 113 branches.
The service has been specially designed by Royal Mail’s logistics solutions experts to meet the specific needs of Portman – intergrating daily deliveries into its branches in a planned and ordered manner, reducing the amount of staff disruption.
The intergrated system is a further development of Royal Mail’s discrete closed user network, Branch Direct. Royal Mail can pick up directly from Portman’s offices and suppliers, and make a single, combined delivery to each branch on a daily, at a time specified by Portman employees.
From the initial trial, Portman found that intergrating its distribution network has increased productivity levels at each branch. Branches know, within a small time-window, when their main delivery and collection is due, enabling them to plan their day more effectively.
Kevin Hofmann, group procurement manager at the building society, says: “Streamlining deliveries to once a day has allowed our staff to work more efficiently and to focus on serving our customers.”
He adds: “Ultimately, working with Royal Mail has helped improve our overall branch network performance leading to indirect, but inevitable, cost savings.”