Author: Archive

U.S. Postal Service selects NCR for hardware technology refresh

Posted by | Jul 7, 2008 | |

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has selected NCR Corporation as the exclusive provider of retail point-of-service (POS) hardware for thousands of postal counters across the United States.

Under the three-year, multimillion-dollar contract, the USPS will install NCR RealPOS 80XRT workstations at larger, high-traffic post office locations currently running the NCR POS ONE postal software solution. This comprehensive solution from NCR, designed to deliver improved operational efficiencies and streamlined customer service, is expected to be installed beginning in the second half of 2008. NCR will also provide services, including help desk, project management and maintenance.

The NCR RealPOS 80XRT is NCR’s most advanced workstation. Employing next-generation architecture, this device delivers industry-leading power, scalability and systems management capabilities to the point of service. Coupled with the NCR POS ONE software, NCR’s solution allows the USPS to focus on accommodating customers with faster service and better information during visits to local post offices.

Read More

Electronic bill payments show marginal growth (U.S)

Posted by | Jul 7, 2008 | |

The share of bills consumers pay the old-fashioned way via the regular mail continues to decline, according to the U.S. Postal Service’s most recent annual study about what goes through the mails. But despite the gains of electronic bill payments, the availability of free bill-pay service at most banks may be slowing what had been a rapid run-up in the volume of electronically processed bill payments as banks dropped their fees. As a result, billers likely will continue to send many paper bills and consumers will pay them by mail for the foreseeable future.
Results from the Postal Service’s recently released Household Diary Study for fiscal year 2007 show the percentage of bills paid by electronic methods primarily automatic deductions from checking accounts, and the Internet increased from 19 pct in 2003 to 32 pct in 2007. In contrast, bills paid by mail decreased from 74 pct to 62 pct of total payments during the same time.
Looked at another way, paper bill payments now account for less than a quarter of what the Postal Service calls “transactions mail” a category that includes bills, statements, confirmations, orders, and rebates. “Electronic diversion continues to erode the volume of mail payments in favor of online payments, automatic deductions from bank accounts, and other electronic methods of bill payment,” says the survey report. “As a result, the share of bills paid by mail dropped from 25.3 pct of total mail transactions in 2005 to 23.6 pct in 2007.”

Read More

DHL Germany delivers 88pct of parcels next-day

Posted by | Jul 7, 2008 | |

DHL Parcel Germany delivers 88 pct of its domestic parcels next-day, according to a new certification of its parcel transit times.

DHL said that it is the first parcel delivery company in Germany to have its transit times certified by one of the country’s main technical inspection organisations, TÜV Rheinland. The new measurement process is similar to that already used for letters for many years.

The certified transit time starts with the collection of the shipment from the customer and ends with delivery to the recipient. As well as the national averages, individual transit times are also calculated for routes and regions.

The current ratio of next-day parcel deliveries is 88 pct, DHL said. “This puts us among the market leaders, but that’s not enough. Our target is 90 pct+,” declared Uwe Brinks, Head of DHL Parcel Germany. “In contrast to competitors, we now have a reliable instrument with which we can guarantee the accuracy of transit times to our customers,” he added.

Read More

For the first half of 2008 strong growth marks turnaround

Posted by | Jul 7, 2008 | |

The Half-Year Results of 2008 mark the turnaround of HayPost from an ailing soviet dinosaur into an increasingly competitive and innovative postal operator. HayPost enjoys an increasing interest from foreign and financial private sector to build public-private partnerships. In compliance with the Trust Management Program, HayPost has made significant progress in its transformation from a classical functional process oriented organization towards a market focused company.

On a year-to-year basis total revenues increased by 16pct to AMD 2.6 bln ( USD 8.4 mln) for the first half year while operational expenditures grew by 8pct to AMD 1.7 bln ( USD 5.5 mln) , particularly impacted by the world petrol price hikes, leading to net revenues (operational result) of AMD 0.9 bln (USD 2.9 mln). From the net revenues AMD 0.6 bln (USD 1.9 mln) have been used for expenditures for post office modernization, new technology, product and organization development, transformation management and building human capital. Depreciation of fixed assets amounted to AMD 0.5 bln (USD 1.6 mln) and lead to net negative result of AMD 0.2 bln (USD 0.65 mln).

Read More

Indian carriers get ready to launch cargo flights abroad

Posted by | Jul 7, 2008 | |

With competition hotting up from big-time players such as FedEx and UPS as well as the established international cargo airlines, two of India’s top express players have chalked out plans to go overseas.

Over the past few years, the number of cargo carriers has gone up significantly. From the lone Blue Dart, the only Indian cargo carrier, there are today at least half a dozen more players.

Blue Dart Aviation, a subsidiary of express cargo carrier Blue Dart Express, has drafted a plan to start flying abroad. The plan, said Tulsi Mirchandaney, formerly senior vice-president, marketing and projects, and now managing director of Blue Dart Aviation, is in
the initial stage.

Mirchandaney should know because she was not only instrumental in marketing air cargo products but also involved in route planning and space allocation.

The decision to fly abroad has been prompted by the under-utilisation of Blue Dart’s fleet. Blue Dart has seven planes – four Boeing 737s and three Boeing 757s – that fly around the country for only eight hours at night.

In 2005, DHL Express completed the acquisition of 81.03 per cent of the equity capital of Blue Dart Express. Under the deal, Blue Dart continues to operate as an independent brand and provides a complete spectrum of domestic services through synergies with DHL.

The company is currently in talks with its parent DHL to find out ways in which the two could work together and ensure that Blue Dart planes can be used for international operations.

While Blue Dart firms up its plan, GATI, an express cargo delivery major with experience in distribution and supply chain management solutions, has started its foreign air cargo operations with Air India.

GATI’s managing director and chief executive officer Mahendra Agarwal said that his company had an agreement with Air India to take cargo overseas. This would be a follow-up to GATI’s tie-up late last year with the national carrier.

According to that tie-up, three of AI’s Boeing 727-200 freighters operate with the GATI logo within the country.

Keen to establish its presence globally, GATI has set up offices in China, Japan, Dubai, Hong Kong Thailand, Nepal and Sri Lanka and has plans to foray into other markets. The express major’s revenues have grown from USD 1 46 million to USD 7.04 million over the past three years.

Read More

UK parcels firm APC Overnight invests in hub extension

Posted by | Jul 7, 2008 | |

APC Overnight has invested over GBP 250,000 (EUR 316,000) in extending its facilities and purchasing additional high-tech equipment for its National Sortation Centre at Essington in the north of Birmingham.

Following a sustainable construction approach, the new hub developments boast a new 2,400 sqm mezzanine floor giving a 50 pct larger sorting area, with five specially designed lifts that transport parcel cages to the mezzanine in less than 40 seconds. APC says that the investment has boosted its capability and will offer significant improvements in customer service during peak times. In addition, a 1,400 sqm weatherproof canopy has been installed over the company’s unloading bays offering maximum protection for parcels and staff in all weather conditions.

With the additional resources, APC is able to streamline and accelerate its sorting processes by allocating distinct areas for each type of business. This includes a dedicated section called “M Sort area” for 10,000 parcels a night hub handles for local Midlands destinations. This streamlined method of specialised sortation also improves the capacity of the main sorting systems.

APC Overnight, with more than 125 local depots, transports and delivers more than one million parcels each month, and provides a better-than-99.8 pct on-time delivery record.

Read More

Speed Post & Express Parcel to cost 20 pct more (India)

Posted by | Jul 7, 2008 | |

India Post is planning across-the-board hike in the rates of its mailing, courier and freight services. The rate hike, which comes after nine years, would be applicable to services like speed post, express parcel post and logistics post, and would be in the range of 15-20 pct.

Read More

DHL boosts operations by appointing senior marketing professional

Posted by | Jul 6, 2008 | |

DHL Express Saudi Arabia announced the appointment of a National Marketing Manager for The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), further consolidating the company’s position as the region’s leading express freight provider.

Ali Thabet will lead a specialised, KSA focused marketing team, to develop and implement a strategy aimed at enhancing DHL’s unique position as a one stop, multi-modal transportation network across the Middle East.

Prior to this appointment, Ali Thabet has spent 15 years in the industry and has operated in many business roles, and within culturally diverse environments. Having developed strategies for several well known global brands, Thabet is well placed to drive the KSA marketing effort for the global express freight leader.

Read More

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

P&P Poll

Loading

How ready do you feel for the de minimis changes coming in July?

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