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GLS Germany uses parcel shops as alternative delivery points

Posted by | Jul 2, 2008 | |

GLS has started to use its network of 5,000 parcel shops in Germany as alternative delivery points when private customers are not at home to receive their shipments. The new service responds to the boom in online orders from e-commerce.

In case there are no neighbors available to receive a parcel during the absence of the recipient, the GLS driver leaves a delivery note at the recipient’s home, takes the parcel to the nearest GLS parcel shop, and transfers the delivery information into the GLS IT system immediately after dropping off the parcel.

The customer can check that the parcel has arrived in the shop by using the Track-ID to make an online query on the GLS website, or via SMS or phone. He or she can then pick up the shipment in the GLS parcel shop by showing the delivery note and an ID card. The shipment can be picked up from the parcel shop within nine days of its delivery there.

If none of the 5,000 parcel shops in Germany is located close to the recipient’s address, GLS makes a second delivery attempt to the home address.

GLS said the alternative delivery to parcel shops was tested in a regional pilot scheme and was widely accepted by customers. The first experiences in nationwide operations from April onwards were also positive. Hardly any parcel stays longer than two days in the parcel shop before being collected, according to GLS.

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New owners at the helm of the UPS Store Canadian Network

Posted by | Jul 2, 2008 | |

MBEC Communications Inc. (MBEC), the privately held Canadian company that owns The UPS Store and Mail Boxes Etc. master license in Canada, announced new owners of the company. David Druker, who has been a centre owner and area franchisee in Quebec since 2005, and Larry Plotnick, a seasoned business executive, have acquired the company. This comes as Ralph Askar announces his move into semi-retirement and away from his current role as president and chief executive officer and major shareholder of The UPS Store and Mail Boxes Etc. franchise network in Canada.
“Over the past 10 years,” notes Plotnick, “The UPS Store and Mail Boxes Etc. network has doubled its footprint in Canada, growing to over 330 franchises and truly becoming the leader of our industry. Over the coming decade we are committed to continuing our growth. We believe very strongly in the company and the role The UPS Store brand plays within the small-business market.”
The UPS Store and Mail Boxes Etc. is Canada’s largest franchise network of business service centres in addition to being recognized as the country’s largest chain of franchised print and document centres. The network has been ranked in Entrepreneur magazine’s “Franchise 500” as the number one franchise opportunity in the business services category for 18 consecutive years.
“Our focus and our business strategy will not change,” states Druker, “We will continue to cater to the small and medium-size business sector, adapting our products and services to their changing needs, while at the same time looking at traditional and non-traditional venues such as airports, university campuses and hotels for our expansion. We are also convinced that using our centres as mini-offices for corporate sales reps, and as distribution hubs for many e-commerce and catalogue companies, has strong appeal for larger, national clients.”

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New GLS network partner in Turkey

Posted by | Jul 1, 2008 | |

Istanbul-based MNG Kargo Co Inc is a new GLS network partner in Turkey, carrying out national parcel distribution for all GLS companies since May. It will start feeding packages from Turkey into GLS’ pan-European network in July. The new partnership will reduce projected transit times for parcels from GLS’ European hub in Neuenstein (Germany) to Turkey by a day. MNG Kargo is the third-largest player in the Turkish CEP market, with 2,000 vehicles, 6,000 employees, 26 hubs, 600 branch offices and 1,150 mobile service stations, all of which enable it to serve even the most remote regions of the country.

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USPS restructures major functions

Posted by | Jul 1, 2008 | |

In a dramatic realignment of several of its core functions, the Postal Service moved to position the organization to capitalize on new competitive opportunities and significantly enhance the vision of its customer outreach.
The realignment creates two new strategic focal points, the first grouping all major shipping and mailing products in one division, and the other, representing the voice of the customer, giving priority to the interests of business and individual mailers. The realignment also consolidates all Intelligent Mail Barcode activities under the chief operating officer to focus on execution in the year ahead.
A law enacted in the closing days of 2006 (the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006) streamlined the way the Postal Service sets prices and added certain flexibilities in the pricing of its shipping (package) services enabling it to become more competitive with private shipping companies.
With the changes, Potter today announced the following senior executive appointments:
• A corporate leader with more than 30 years of private sector experience, Robert F. Bernstock, has been brought on to be President of the newly created Shipping and Mailing Services Division. He will serve as Division President. Reporting to him will be a newly created position, Senior Vice President of Mailing Services, as well as the current Vice Presidents of Expedited Shipping, Ground Shipping and Sales.
• Supporting Bernstock will be a new senior Vice President for mailing services, David Shoenfeld, who formerly served as senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing for Federal Express.
• Stephen Kearney, a current officer, will lead Customer Relations as a senior Vice President. This group will centralize the key consumer and business customer relationships, external and internal communications, as well as integrating pricing into a single unit.

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UPU celebrates 60 years as a UN specialized agency

Posted by | Jul 1, 2008 | |

The Universal Postal Union is officially celebrating its 60th anniversary today as a specialized agency of the United Nations.
Indeed, it was on 1 July 1948 that the UPU became a member of the United Nations Organization. Since then, our organization has contributed to worldwide efforts to improve communication between people, promote development, reduce poverty, improve health and access to education for all, and make our world more safe and stable, among many other things.

“Communication, which the UPU develops between peoples through the efficient operation of postal services as part of its mission, is at the heart of efforts to maintain peace, promote health and education and provide humanitarian aid where needed,” says UPU Director General Edouard Dayan. “In addition to its legal commitments under the agreement and its participation in UN conferences, the UPU has become involved in activities and specific projects to help achieve UN objectives, particularly the Millennium Development Goals.”

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also marked the anniversary during a visit to the UPU International Bureau in Berne, last 28 April. In a speech to staff, he said: “The UPU may be one of the smallest specialized agencies of the UN, “but its work is key to the broader mission of our Organization.”

2008 is an important year for the UPU, as the organization prepares for its 24th Universal Postal Congress, which is being held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 23 July to 12 August.

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DHL and TNT boost association of European airlines’ membership to 35

Posted by | Jul 1, 2008 | |

From 1st July 2008, the Association of European Airlines expands its horizons, following the decision of the AEA Presidents’ Assembly in May to welcome the express cargo carriers TNT and DHL, as AEA’s 34th and 35th airline members.

The accession of DHL’s European airlines (European Air Transport and DHL Air UK) and TNT Airways to AEA membership will bring still one more dimension to the Association. The express air carriers’ business model integrates different modes of transport into one system; it is based on network planning and coordination centred around one or more hub airports to which express freight is forwarded either by road or by air.

DHL traces its origins to the early 1970s in the US, but with expanding worldwide operations, Deutsche Post World Net bought the company in 2002. DHL has its main European operating hub at Leipzig in Germany, from where it operates regular direct daily services to 30 European destinations, as well as services to Africa and the

Middle East. DHL airlines operate 33 Boeing 757s and 18 Airbus A300s for the DHL Express network to every major city in Europe.

TNT Airways, founded in 1999, is a Belgian licenced air carrier based in Liège. Its parent company, TNT n.v. has its headquarters in the Netherlands. From its Liège hub, TNT operates 47 aircraft (B747s, A300s, B757s, B737s, BAe146s) to more than 70 European destinations and has traffic rights to 12 intercontinental destinations. For long haul transport, the company also has agreements with commercial passenger airlines.

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GLS launches new delivery services in Belgium and Slovenia

Posted by | Jul 1, 2008 | |

GLS has introduced new delivery services in Belgium and Slovenia to extend its product range and improve its customer service.
In Belgium, GLS launched the new Express-Parcel service providing nationwide delivery the next day by 17:00. Shippers receive a free of charge delivery confirmation either via sms or e-mail. In addition, customers can choose between several time-definite options including 10:00-Service, 12:00-Service, Saturday 12:00-Service and 9:00-Service for some regions.
The new express service is integrated into the GLS Belgian standard delivery system of parcels strengthened through a few additional drivers and vehicles.
In Slovenia, GLS has expanded its service portfolio with two new additional services, the DayDefinite-Service and Addressee Only-Service.
With the day-definite service, the customer can choose a date for the shipment to be delivered. The Adressee Only-Service ensures that a parcel will be handed over to the indicated recipient only by verifying the person’s identity. This is to avoid, for example, that pharmaceuticals or important documents fall into wrong hands. If the recipient is not available, the driver will try to deliver the parcel again the next day.
It is also possible to combine the additional services with the basic delivery products including Express-Parcel, Business-Parcel or Business Small-Parcel comprising a total of 13 different options.

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