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DHL launches next day 'direct to pharmacy' distribution service across Australia

Posted by | Nov 14, 2006 | |

DHL Exel Supply Chain, part of the world’s leading logistics company, has recently launched in Australia DHL Pharmacy Supply, the ‘direct to pharmacy’ pharmaceutical distribution business. Supported by a five-year contract DHL Pharmacy Supply will offer a 24 hour pharmaceutical distribution service to community pharmacies across the nation. Using its comprehensive distribution network, DHL Pharmacy Supply is contracted to deliver Government-subsidized Prescription Benefit Scheme (PBS) medicines from pharmaceutical manufacturers to approximately 5,000 pharmacies throughout metropolitan, regional and rural areas of Australia.

DHL Exel Supply Chain will deliver the ‘direct to pharmacy’ service by leveraging its existing pre-wholesale network capability and its storage and material handling systems in its new 20,000 sq m pharmaceutical distribution facility at Greystanes, Sydney. DHL has invested heavily in developing a national capability at Greystanes in order to deliver a more efficient order fulfillment pre-wholesale operation to the pharmaceutical sector, enabling direct to market business. The project will utilize approximately 7,150 square meters for order picking from seven distribution facilities around the country.

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Online shoppers get the one o’clock Friday feeling

Posted by | Nov 14, 2006 | |

Friday lunchtime is the most popular time of the week for online “Work shopping” as people take advantage of Internet access in the office and start the weekend early, Royal Mail research revealed today.

Nearly two thirds (65 per cent) of online shoppers who have access to the Internet at work admitted they are likely to buy during the week – and 1pm Fridays is the most popular time with one in eight placing an order.

The research also revealed that ‘Work shoppers’ tend to spend more online, with an average of GBP725 spent on goods bought via the Internet in the first eight months of the year, compared to the national average of GBP609.

The research is released as IMRG (Interactive Media in Retail Group), the industry body for online retailing, today launched its Internet Shopping is Safe campaign, which includes a guide to effective, convenient and safe Internet shopping.

Royal Mail’s study also found that other popular weekdays for ‘Work shopping’ are Mondays and Wednesdays, as employees use online shopping to deal with the post-weekend and mid-week blues. This reflects additional research findings that show 60 per cent of Internet shoppers work full-time with 51 per cent having Internet access at work.

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French postal workers strike over draft EU directive

Posted by | Nov 14, 2006 | |

The Paris-based LCI TV in French at 1500 GMT on 14 November reports that between 15 and 30 percent of French postal workers are on strike today to protest against a draft EU directive on the complete opening of the European postal market to competition from 2009.

LCI added that the postal workers were holding more than 50 rallies. A spokeswoman for the French postal service, La Poste, told the French news agency AFP that this morning fewer than 1 percent of post offices were closed.

Thierry Breton, economy and finance minister, told Assembly deputies that France remained committed to

The Paris-based LCI TV in French at 1500 GMT on 14 November reports that between 15 and 30 percent of French postal workers are on strike today to protest against a draft EU directive on the complete opening of the European postal market to competition fr

a universal postal service. In remarks made in the National Assembly in reply to a question and broadcast live by France 3 TV, he said that he wanted to reassure postal workers over the draft EU directive, as it took account of most of the government’s concerns. He added: “I wish to reiterate very clearly here that France is and will remain committed to maintaining a high-quality universal postal service at an affordable price across the entire territory.”

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India: Postal dept gets capitalist mail

Posted by | Nov 13, 2006 | |

It was one department which withstood privatisation in the public sector for years. But now, the Government is planning to experiment with the franchisee system in the postal services.

About 100 licenses are being given out to private players willing to run post offices in the country.

“The Bill to amend the Postal Act will come in the winter session,” says Minister of State, Communications, Dr Shakeel Ahmed.

The franchisees will provide all the counter services including speed posts and money orders. They will also be allowed to execute a number of banking services done across the counter in post offices like cheque collection, delivery (for the moment) and transmission facilities will be carried out only by the postal department.

So while the Government wants to review this scheme after six months, trade unions say this could mark the entry of private players in the oldest service provider in the country.

“It certainly is moving towards privatisation,” says Secretary General, National Federation of Postal Employees, C C Pillai.

However, despite these objections the Government has asked its 19 postal circles to identify suitable locations. Initially big cities and towns are being considered and the scheme could start from the early next year.

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Postal Service's shipping and mailing guide reaches 110 million households

Posted by | Nov 13, 2006 | |

Running out of time? Running out of patience? Check the mailbox this week and open the Postal Service’s Holiday Shipping and Mailing Guide for helpful solutions to some of the season’s challenges.

The guide is filled with customer-friendly information on the Postal Service’s most popular products, services and time-saving features, including free package pickup, Click-N-Ship labels and desktop postage, options for mailing across the country and overseas and recommended mailing deadlines.

The Postal Service issued its first guide in 2004. Independent consumer research showed that nearly 40 percent of those surveyed remembered receiving and seeing the guide and that more than two-thirds of those consumers used the information in the guide.

More than 110 million copies will be delivered to every residential household this week.

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Hermes offers Europe-wide parcel delivery for small shippers

Posted by | Nov 13, 2006 | |

German parcel firm Hermes Logistik has extended its B2C domestic parcel service for small and medium-sized companies by offering deliveries throughout Europe. The fast-growing company said that its ProfiPaket Service launched in February this year was now available for deliveries throughout its European network.

The product is targeted at small and medium-sized companies with relatively low parcel volumes starting from just 1,000 shipments a year. Customer segments include traditional mail-order firms, eBay Powersellers or retailers aiming to increase their cross-border sales. Customers can use a special Profi Paket Service web portal to place orders, track shipments or return unwanted items.

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Launch of senior debt syndication by Apollo Management VI, L.P. for TNT Logistics

Posted by | Nov 13, 2006 | |

Louis No. 1 Plc, an affiliate of an investor group led by Apollo Management VI, L.P., announces the launch of the syndication process for its and its subsidiaries’ euro805 million senior debt facilities in connection with the recent acquisition of the logistics business of TNT N.V. by subsidiaries of Louis No. 1 Plc. The euro805 million senior debt facilities comprise a euro500 million senior secured term loan facility, a euro150 million senior secured revolving facility and a euro155 million senior secured synthetic L/C facility. Meetings with prospective lenders have been scheduled for Tuesday 14 November and Wednesday 15 November in New York and London, respectively.”

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NESDB says local logistics firms must fight together against global giants

Posted by | Nov 13, 2006 | |

Local logistics service providers need to seek strategic alliances if they want to survive in face of tougher competition, according to the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB).

Most of the 2,000 Thai logistics service providers are small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) whose budgets for overseas network expansion are limited, according to Suriyon Thunkijjanukij, director of the NESDB’s Logistics Strategy Division.

As such, it is difficult for them to provide door-to-door services in other countries like global players DHL, FedEx and UPS.
In seeking foreign partners, local logistics operators should look for SMEs whose businesses can complement their expertise in niche areas. For example, if one company already has a good reputation for reliable sea shipments from Thailand to China, its business partner could be someone who are keen on providing door-to-door service in China, instead of someone based in Europe with little knowledge about East Asia, said Mr Suriyon.

Although Thai logistics companies may find it hard to survive overseas, they could be the service providers of choice for local shipments.

While international operators may enjoy several advantages, Thai logistics companies know better how to deal with traffic conditions and authorities on highways, said Mr Suriyon. Mr Suriyon also suggested the private sector to form a cluster of logistics service providers with the support from various ministries, like transport, industry and commerce, to enhance competitiveness.

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