Author: Archive

Post offices may be given freedom to take on rivals

Posted by | Nov 10, 2006 | |

The Government hinted yesterday that Britain’s post offices should be allowed to take on competitors’ business to help put the network on a sure financial footing. Ministers will soon set the level of the annual pounds 150 million subsidy for the post office network after 2008. If it is cut heavily, thousands of post offices will have to close.

Mr Fitzpatrick said part of the solution was for the post offices, which are losing between pounds 2 million and pounds 4 million a week, to be allowed to look for new business. Under the current arrangement sub-post offices, which are private businesses, can only handle post for Royal Mail under an exclusive contract, rather than for other carriers such as DHL.

They are also not allowed to have alternative payment terminals in their shops, such as Pay Point terminals, which are now needed to sell TV licences.

Mr Fitzpatrick suggested that this sort of deal was likely to have to change. “We are doing all we can to help Post Office Limited provide new financial products.

“They are the biggest supplier of personal insurance, the biggest supplier of foreign currency, they have recently launched products like a new saver account and they are migrating people from post office card to other bank accounts.”

The National Federation of Subpostmasters has asked for a range of financial products including a student account, for them to sell.

Read More

Lost line-haul business impacts ABX in 3Q

Posted by | Nov 10, 2006 | |

Losing a contract to manage over-the-road freight operations of DHL Network Operations Inc. took a bite out of ABX Air Inc.’s third-quarter profit
The company said late Thursday it earned USD6.6 million, or 11 cents a share, for the quarter ended Sept. 30, down 10.8 percent from USD7.4 million, or 13 cents a share for the same quarter a year ago. Revenue dropped 24 percent to USD281.3 million from USD369.9 million in third-quarter 2005.
DHL, a subsidiary of Deutsche Post World Net of Germany, assumed management of its line-haul business in May, which ABX previously managed, pulling the Wilmington-based company’s profit down, ABX said. This year’s third quarter includes a USD257,000 impairment charge related to the loss of that contract.
DHL’s line-haul business contributed USD74.8 million revenue for ABX during last year’s third quarter.
For the first nine months of the year, ABX reported income of USD21.1 million, or 36 cents per share, which was flat compared to last year’s earnings of USD21.2 million. Revenue fell to USD954.1 million from USD1.1 billion a year ago.

Read More

DHL plans to spend USD50 mln on facility expansion in S. Korea.

Posted by | Nov 10, 2006 | |

DHL, the logistics unit of Germany’s Deutsche Post AG, said Thursday it plans to invest USD50 million in South Korea to expand facilities. The investment is mainly aimed at increasing DHL’s logistics facilities at Incheon International Airport, 40 kilometers west of Seoul, which is the main gateway to South Korea, the company said in a statement. DHL’s head of Asia-Pacific operations, Scott Price, said in the statement that part of the investment will be used to upgrade its service center in the nation’s southern port of Busan.

Read More

Indian postal service, Western Union to expand joint operation

Posted by | Nov 10, 2006 | |

Indian Postal Services and the Western Union plan to expand their joint operations aiming at a bigger slice of the hundreds of thousands dollars that are transferred by Indian diaspora to their loved ones every year.

The two had entered into agreement in 2001 to provide Western Union branded money transfer service to consumers via 900 post offices across the country but since then the services have vastly expanded and now 8,500 post offices serve Western Union customers.

Read More

Study: Our lives in digital times

Posted by | Nov 10, 2006 | |

Digital technology did not create “the paperless society” that many had predicted, at least not yet, but it does have people communicating more than ever, according to a new assessment of the impact of information and communications technologies (ICTs).

The study, published today in the Connectedness Series, examines some of the expected outcomes expressed about the widespread use of ICTs in everyday life when these technologies were introduced, and shows that some of them have so far not materialized.

It finds that some of the key outcomes of ICTs are manifested in shifting behavioural patterns, including communication and spending. For example, patterns of communication are changing and people are talking on the phone and using email more than they ever have.

The arrival of the personal computer gave much talk to the “paperless office”. However, between 1983 and 2003, consumption of paper for printing and writing alone more than doubled, according to the study, entitled “Our lives in digital times”.

Read More

USPS launches re-designed desktop Shipping Assistant

Posted by | Nov 9, 2006 | |

The Postal Service’s popular desktop Shipping Assistant application has been re-designed with new features to save customers time and money. The free and easy-to-use application combines label printing and package management in one program that customers can download at their convenience from www.usps.com.

The new edition, Shipping Assistant 3.0, adds the ability to print customs forms and international mail labels, enhanced address book management tools, more user preferences and an integrated help component. Another new feature allows customers to schedule and manage Carrier Pickup requests right from the desktop application.

“Shipping Assistant is for all mailers, but particularly small- to mid-sized business customers who ship 50 to 200 packages a day,” said Vice President for Product Development Nicholas Barranca. “These customers need a powerful online shipping environment and Shipping Assistant provides it — in a new, cleaner and more user-friendly design.”

Read More

DHL to expand in Korea

Posted by | Nov 9, 2006 | |

DHL plans to invest about USD50 million to boost capacity and improve service in South Korea.

The bulk of the investment will go toward expanding its current DHL Express facility at the Incheon International Airport, said Scott Price, chief executive for DHL Express in the Asia-Pacific region.

“DHL will also invest in the upgrading and expansion of its service centers, including technological innovation and more than 100 new vehicles, in Korea,” the Korea Times quoted Price as saying. Price was in Inchon to participate in the International Transport & Logistics Fair 2006 at BEXCO.

DHL’s investment plan complements the South Korean government’s vision of establishing Inchon as a preferred logistics hub to serve the region, he said.

According to the Ministry of Construction and Transportation, air-cargo volumes between Korea and the neighboring region has increased by an average annual rate of 30 percent, led by freight traffic between Korea and China.

“Our commitment in Korea is largely driven by customer needs arising from the steady flow of trade volumes into and out of South Korea,” Price said.

The existing DHL Express facility in Inchon is operating beyond capacity. DHL has to expand its existing 2,000 square meter facility to meet projected growth estimated by Incheon International Airport Corp. 7 million tons of air cargo by 2020.

DHL’s infrastructure development plans involve the consolidation of existing service centers and upgrading of other facilities to offer customers enhanced operational and service capabilities.

Read More

USPS launches re-designed desktop shipping assistant – customs forms, international labels among new features

Posted by | Nov 9, 2006 | |

The Postal Service’s popular desktop Shipping Assistant application has been re-designed with new features to save customers time and money. The free and easy-to-use application combines label printing and package management in one program that customers can download at their convenience from http://www.usps.com.

The new edition, Shipping Assistant 3.0, adds the ability to print customs forms and international mail labels, enhanced address book management tools, more user preferences and an integrated help component. Another new feature allows customers to schedule and manage Carrier Pickup requests right from the desktop application.

“Shipping Assistant is for all mailers, but particularly small- to mid- sized business customers who ship 50 to 200 packages a day,” said Vice President for Product Development Nicholas Barranca. “These customers need a powerful online shipping environment and Shipping Assistant provides it — in a new, cleaner and more user-friendly design.” Other new Shipping Assistant features include: * The addition of Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes and large Global Priority Mail Flat Rate envelopes, for a total of four flat-rate shipping options. * The ability to compare postage rates and estimated delivery times, including Express Mail commitments. * Domestic address verification. * The option for customers to review their mailing records and confirm shipment delivery status.

Read More

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

P&P Poll

Loading

Have you noticed a decrease of non-EU inbound parcel volumes since the implementation of the new €3 charge?

Thank you for voting
You have already voted on this poll!
Please select an option!


View ResultsHide Results

Post & Parcel Magazine


Post & Parcel Magazine is our print publication, released 3 times a year. Packed with original content and thought-provoking features, Post & Parcel Magazine is a must-read for those who want the inside track on the industry.

Subscribe to the Magazine

 

Pin It on Pinterest