CEP service provider DPD has now expanded its network in Russia to thirty locations. The three recently opened depots in Novokuznetsk, Orenburg and Astrakhan enable DPD to serve all of Russia’s regions with a comprehensive service portfolio, ranging from DPD CLASSIC to Express shipping. As is the case in Germany, this means that in Russia, too, DPD remains true to its strategy of operating close to the customer on a regional basis.
Read MoreDeutsche Post will start expanding its points of sale for stamps and prepaid Paketmarken in the coming weeks across Germany.
Overall some 1,500 further points of sale are to be set up by the end of the year at locations which experience high customer traffic in addition to the existing 300 points of sale of this kind. Deutsche Post is working in cooperation with retailers to provide these points of sale.
Additionally to some 14,000 retail outlets already in existence the new points of sale will give Deutsche Post customers a supplementary source to obtain stamps and DHL Paketmarken. Stamps will continue to be available around the clock at 3,700 stamp vending machines and DHL Paketmarken at some 1,000 Packstations, set to rise to 2,500 by 2009.
Pre-franked packages and parcels can be taken to Packstations independently of retail outlet opening hours. Shipments with DHL Paketmarken can also be sent at any time of day or night via the 1,000 DHL Paketboxes across Germany in the same way that franked letters are posted in collection boxes.
With the new point of sale format the company hopes to further expand its service to customers, strengthen its own business and better position itself with regard to its competitors. Through cooperation with local businesses Deutsche Post customers who are simply buying stamps will benefit from the favorable opening hours at local retailers and can thus make use of additional contact points for two of the most frequently requested mail products.
Read MoreDHL and METRO Group are starting the first national rollout of radio frequency identification (RFID) in France.
Beginning in the fall of 2008, DHL will equip all shipments to the 89 Metro Cash & Carry self-service wholesale stores in France with RFID transponders and read them out along the entire supply chain.
Some 1.3 million pallets per year will be fitted with the RFID tags to facilitate contactless and automated monitoring of the supply chain. In taking this step, DHL and METRO Group are initiating the largest RFID rollout in French retail logistics.
METRO Group is also the first retail company to join the DHL Innovation Initiative, whose members as yet are primarily technology companies.
DHL expects the major project to send a signal to the entire area of retail logistics as well as to other segments of the logistics industry.
With this project METRO Group continues to drive forward the international deployment of the technology.
In the RFID project, five DHL food logistics centers will equip all shipments to the self-service wholesale stores with RFID tags. These RFID transponders are read out during the loading process, and the data are electronically transmitted to the individual stores.
When the shipments arrive at the recipient’s facilities, the tags are read out again and the data are automatically checked against the order.
Read MoreFedEx Express has enhanced its Web-based shipping tool, FedEx Ship Manager at fedex.com, and its online service portal, fedex.com, creating a more simplified user-interface to make shipping faster and even more convenient for FedEx customers across the Asia-Pacific region.
The redesigned FedEx Ship Manager at fedex.com streamlines all required shipping information input into a single shipment process form, and includes a direct access to Microsoft Outlook address book and predictive typing feature. In addition, it supports FedEx International Economy (IE) service. Hence IE customers can enjoy the convenience of tracking the status of their shipment online. The customer experience is further enhanced with the introduction of a new “Pending Shipment” function, which allows customers to save their yet–to-be-completed shipment information for use at a later time.
The new FedEx Ship Manager is available in Cambodia, Laos, Brunei, Guam, Macau, Vietnam, Singapore, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, mainland China and Hong Kong.
Freightways Limited has been able to shrug off a challenging domestic market to achieve record revenues and earnings for the year ended 30 June 2008.
Managing Director Dean Bracewell reports that the successful execution of Freightways’ growth strategy in the Australian market, a sound result from its core express package division in a challenging local market and outstanding performance from the information management division, all combined to help the company continue its run of consecutive record annual results since listing on the NZX in September 2003.
Consolidated operating revenue for the year (to 30 June) of USD 324 million – topping USD 300 million for the first time – was 14pct up on the previous year, with earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and goodwill amortisation (EBITDA) of USD 68.5 million, 9pct ahead of the previous year. Earnings before interest, tax and goodwill amortisation (EBITA) of USD 60.5 million for the year were up 7pct on the previous year.
Cash generated from operations for the year before interest and tax was USD 67.5 million, 8pct higher than the previous year, while consolidated net profit after tax (NPAT) of USD 32.3 million was 5pct higher than the previous year.
FedEx Express, committed to the development of small and medium businesses in Puerto Rico, announced efforts to help local artisans to export their art globally.
Starting in July, in celebration of Artisan’s Month, FedEx will provide shipping discounts to certified artisans that join the FedEx PyMEx Membership Program. This is the first complete program offered by a transportation company to facilitate access to the global market for small and medium businesses in Latin America and the Caribbean. Among the main benefits provided by the program are: technology for their shipments, specialized consultancy in global trade and direct advice with no additional cost to members.
Artisans should access www.fedexpymex.com and register for the Program free of charge. The only thing need to participate is a FedEx account number.
FedEx Express Latin America and Caribbean Division services more than 50 countries and territories throughout Latin America and the Caribbean and employs more than 3,400 people committed to total customer satisfaction each business day.
Read MoreUPS announced significant enhancements to its UPS On-Call Pickup service in the United States for air packages, providing customers even more options for urgent business demands.
UPS has made On-Call Pickup service for air packages available for the first time in more than 4,000 ZIP codes, and air pickup times have been extended in nearly 6,000 ZIP codes. Together, the enhancements represent improved service for 26 percent of all U.S. businesses.
The enhancements were completed last month and provide customers without a daily scheduled pickup even more flexibility to meet critical deadlines. UPS On-Call Pickup now is available for same-day pickup in most parts of the country. A driver also can be called to make a pickup later in the day even after a regularly scheduled daily pickup.
In addition to more on-call pickup options, there are more than 4,400 The UPS Store and Mail Boxes Etc. locations in the United States offering packaging expertise along with access to the global UPS network.
Read MoreThe decision by postal services regulator Postcomm to exempt Royal Mail from paying compensation for industrial action taken during 2007-08 has been greeted with disappointment by ISBA’s bulk mailer members.
Royal Mail had requested that the Bulk Mail Compensation Scheme be suspended and Postcomm have now agreed to this request. The regulator agreed that the strike action in 2007-08 had been caused by Royal Mail’s efforts to re-organise and streamline its business.
However, the Incorporated Society of British Advertisers (ISBA), which represents the interests of major bulk mailers has reacted with dismay and called on Postcomm to ensure that Royal Mail offers fair compensation to bulk mailers on an individual basis in the future.
Marketing Services Manager David Ellison said that they were most concerned that Postcomm not only gave Royal Mail an effective exemption over the strike action during 2007-08 but also for potential strikes in 2008-09.
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