Author: Archive

Hermes introduces international parcel size XS

Posted by | Mar 4, 2008 | |

German parcels operator Hermes Logistik has launched a new parcel category XS for parcels sent from Germany to European countries, except for Romania, Bulgaria and Greece.

With the launch of the new XS parcel, Hermes completes its international parcel categories Small, Medium and Large.

The XS parcel weighs up to 25 kg with a size no longer than 30 cm, calculated with the longest and the shortest side of the parcel.

The price for the XS parcel is EUR 8.50 for customers filling in the packing slip online, and EUR 9.50 for those completing the slip manually at the Hermes parcel shop. The prices include liability up to EUR 500.

For now, the XS parcel has been introduced to Germany only and is being tested within a period of three months.

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GLS inaugurated a new hub in France

Posted by | Mar 4, 2008 | |

GLS opened its EUR 4,5 million parcels distribution hub at Roquemaure, near Avignon, South-East France, to finalise its transport plan for southern France. With the new hub, the company expects to optimize its service quality to better cope with the rising parcel volumes in the region.

Built on a surface of 30,000 sqm, the new 4,000 sqm facility is equipped with the latest technology and has the capacity to sort 45,000 parcels a day. The site has 100 quays, 40 for HGVs and 60 for smaller vehicles. It will serve as a hub and as an agency at the same time thanks to a special delivery zone differentiating the two parties and assuring the safety of the parcels.

The new Roquemaure hub will employ 70 local workers. Following the opening of GLS’s hub in Uzerche in January 2007, this is the final part of the EUR 100 million that GLS invested in Europe during 2006-2007 to further expand its network.

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FedEx to expand International Economy service

Posted by | Mar 4, 2008 | |

FedEx Express announced the expansion of its customer portfolio of services with the launch of FedEx International Economy service in 10 Asia-Pacific markets, with another introduction scheduled this March for three more Asian markets -the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam.

FedEx International Economy is an economical, day-definite, customs-cleared, door-to-door service that features a transit time typically one to two days longer than premium FedEx International Priority service, which is designed for more time-sensitive shipments.

The new service effectively addresses the needs of customers who look for reliability and cost efficiency as a top priority in shipping.

FedEx International Economy is specially designed for customers with less urgent shipments of individual packages under 68 kilograms, but who require the reliability they have come to expect with FedEx.

No weight restrictions apply for multi-piece shipments.

Offered on competitive list rates and backed by a money-back guarantee, FedEx International Economy typically delivers intra-Asia packages in two business days, and shipments to the U.S. and major markets in Europe typically in three to four business days.

As with the FedEx International Priority service, customers can use fedex.com for online tracking with proactive e-mail notification in 15 languages.

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PIN Group in talks with 3 possible buyers for whole company

Posted by | Mar 4, 2008 | |

German postal service provider PIN Group is in talks with three possible buyers for the company, which include regional competitors as well as newspaper publishers, chief executive Horst Piepenburg said.

None of the interested parties are foreign financial investors, he said, according to Die Welt newspaper.

The group ran into trouble when Axel Springer AG in December stopped funding PIN after the German government decided to introduce minimum wages to the postal industry. Now 39 of its 91 units have filed for insolvency.

About one quarter of the company’s 11,400 workers have already lost their jobs, while another 500 jobs were saved through the sale of three regional units.

While management is in talks to sell the rest of the company as a whole, it is also pursuing a possible sale of regional or local segments and it in talks with numerous parties including newspaper publishers.

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Deutsche Post World Net strengthens logistics business (GER)

Posted by | Mar 4, 2008 | |

In its meeting on March 4, the Supervisory Board of Deutsche Post AG decided on changes to the Executive Management Board. Effective immediately, Deutsche Post World Net will separate the Logistics corporate division into two operating units. Supply Chain will be led by Bruce Edwards (52), while Hermann Ude (46) will run the Global Forwarding and Freight business unit.

Both new business units have annual revenues exceeding 13 billion euros. As the Group’s biggest division both in terms of revenue and number of employees, Logistics from now on will be represented by two members on the Executive Board. Before being named Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Deutsche Post World Net, Frank Appel (46) was in charge of the Logistics corporate division.

The decision to split Logistics into two business units is a structural move without any immediate costs or gains associated with it and there will be no changes to the Group’s reporting structures for the time being. Supply Chain and Corporate Information Solutions has annual proforma revenue of more than 13 billion euros and focuses on long-term, complex outsourcing agreements with large customers. Global Forwarding and Freight is an asset-light business with annual.

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TNT Romania’ s profit rises faster than turnover

Posted by | Mar 4, 2008 | |

In 2007, TNT saw its net income rise by over 40 pct on 2006, after turnover increased by around 30 pct.

In 2006, TNT Romania’s net income reached 4m euros, therefore against an increase of over 40 pct the final figure could top 5.6m euros, while against a 30 pct advance, turnover could exceed 30m euros.

“The results are in line with TNT’s international strategy of focusing on the operations where solid performances are achieved, and where TNT has gained a leading position,” said Bogdan Enache, general manager of TNT Romania.

With regard to TNT’s revenues, international deliveries account for the largest percentage, with DHL and UPS as the company’s main rivals on this segment, while on the segment of internal delivery services, the main competitors are Cargus, Fan Courier, Curiero and TCE Logistica.

Last year, the overall value of the courier services market was estimated at 180m euros, while forecasts for 2008 point to 200m euros, according to TNT representatives.

“We don’t suggest a slowdown on the courier market, but rather a maturing market. This year, we expect a positive, balanced trend, and an average growth rate of 20-25 pct,” Enache explained.

Such a stable trend, he added, is a characteristic of neighbouring countries that joined the EU in 2004, and depends on the sustained development of the business environment.

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International Direct Marketing Fair

Posted by | Mar 4, 2008 | |

Postcomm is to hold a Post Theatre at this year International Direct Marketing Fair.

With one in five business customers exploring alternatives to mail, many have already moved their mail to other media and Postcomm intends to make the most of the event.

The International Direct Marketing Fair, held at Earls Court, is where strategy makers and decision takers responsible for marketing, direct marketing, data, digital, CRM and research come to find new and more innovative ways to generate a better response to their direct marketing campaigns.

Currently the UKs largest attended exhibition for the direct marketing industry, focus areas will include; helping the environment, electronic substitution, the innovation of hybrid mail and the way that Postcomm, the regulator for postal services, sees the future of the postal market, will be discussed at a series of seminars in London.

The three days of seminars make up a Post Theatre that Postcomm is hosting at this years International Direct Marketing Fair which opens from 29 April 1 May at Earls Court 2, London. Entrance is free.

The liberalisation of the UK postal market has brought about significant changes in the way business postal services are handled. But in parallel with liberalisation, other influences have developed, such as the rise in electronic communication and concerns about the environment.

While electronic communication has led to substitution, digital technology provides further opportunities for innovation in the mails market. Consumer spending on online shopping grew 50 pct last year and all mail operators are seeking innovative ways to fulfill these orders. Hybrid mail is now available: this is an electronic-to-physical service which allows businesses and individuals to send letters electronically from personal computers directly to a print facility near its destination where it is printed, enveloped and delivered locally.

As well as reducing staff time and the need for paper, envelopes and franking machines for the sender, hybrid mail has a reduced carbon footprint compared with traditional delivery networks because it cuts out the need to carry mail over a long distance. Many of the major companies offering hybrid systems will have speakers at the seminar.

Companies entering the liberalised postal market initially targeted large customers, but now we are seeing more special services being offered to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Royal Mail will be explaining its special services aimed at SMEs.

Other topics include choosing the right mail provider, the future of direct marketing, and the views of customers.

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Japan Post and Sankyu to form Joint Venture

Posted by | Mar 4, 2008 | |

Japan Post has announced that it will establish an international air cargo joint venture with Sankyu Inc.

The as yet unnamed joint venture, which will be owned by Japan Post Service (60%) and by Sankyu (40%), is expected to begin operations in July.

Sankyu will transfer its international air cargo operations to the joint venture.

The JV partners also plan to set up subsidiaries overseas.

Japan Post and Sankyu have co-operated on parcel services between Japan and the rest of Asia since 2004, with Sankyu collecting parcels overseas and Japan Post delivering in Japan.

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