Author: Archive

Red letter day as An Post rings the changes

Posted by | Nov 14, 2007 | |

Changes in the An Post delivery system mean homeowners could be losing their familiar postman who arrives at the same time every day.

The post office is overhauling the way in which it delivers the post and has redesigned routes for greater efficiency.

It announced the changes yesterday as An Post got a financial boost with an EU ruling on the EUR 52m social welfare payments contract.

A spokeswoman for An Post said the delivery overhaul may result in people getting a different postman and their deliveries arriving at a different time in the day.

“There has been massive change in terms of population movement and development in these areas,” said the spokeswoman.

Technology

“All mail delivery routes are redesigned using logistical planning technology, which takes into account new residential and business developments, new roadways as well as customers’ mail volumes and the composition of that mail. The new routes also allow for easier division of work at times when staffing is limited.”

General secretary of the Communications Workers Union (CWU), Steve Fitzpatrick, said postmen were working through the problems that were being encountered with the changes.

An Post got its financial boost when the EU said the Government was allowed to award it the contract to pay out social welfare benefits. The contract is worth EUR 52m to the postal service this year.

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U.S. domestic mailing and shipping prices return for two Pacific Island nations

Posted by | Nov 14, 2007 | |

Businesses and consumers will soon be able to ship to the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) at U.S. domestic prices.

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) will reinstate ZIP Codes and domestic-rate services for nearly 170,000 people in these two Pacific Island nations effective Nov. 19, 2007.

“This change will expand the Asia-Pacific market for U.S. mailers and shippers,” said USPS Global Business Managing Director and Senior Vice President Paul Vogel. “At the same time, it will help these two island nations grow their economies.”

As former Trust Territories of the United States, the FSM and RMI were served by USPS with domestic prices and mailing standards through Jan. 8, 2006. International rates were being phased in, as the two nations took steps to become more self-sufficient. However, technological and other challenges have presented obstacles for the countries — which together encompass more than 630 small islands across 1 million square miles in the Pacific.

“The two governments will continue to pursue long-term solutions,” said Vogel. “In the meantime we are returning domestic prices and services to help keep their residents and businesses connected to the wider global economy.”

Vogel noted that developing trade and tourism is a top priority for the region, particularly in aquaculture and agriculture. “The FSM and RMI have excellent opportunities to pursue,” Vogel said. “Offering dependable and affordable USPS mailing and shipping services will help them develop their economies.”

The FSM and RMI are located just above the equator, extending some 4,500 miles southwest from Hawaii.

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Catalogue browsing boosts online shopping spend (UK)

Posted by | Nov 14, 2007 | |

Shoppers who browse a catalogue before making purchases online spend on average 25 per cent more than those who do not, new research revealed today.

Royal Mail’s Home Shopping Tracker Study 2007 revealed that on average online shoppers spend GBP 1,221 every year. But this figure jumps to GBP 1,526 for online shoppers who consult catalogues before making an internet purchase.

The study also revealed that catalogues received through the post have a stronger influence than those picked up in store. Four out of ten (39 per cent) of online shoppers browse for at least one purchase from a posted catalogue compared with 24 per cent who said they use catalogues they picked up in a store.

The research, unveiled after IMRG* predicted online sales in the run up to Christmas this year would increase 42 per cent to GBP 13.8 billion, also revealed that:

– In the past year, 47 per cent of online shoppers consulted a paper catalogue prior to an online purchase
– 61 per cent of consumers now shop from home – the highest ever recorded level, representing a 15 per cent growth since 2006
– Over 70 per cent of home shoppers say that they recycle their catalogues
– An average online shopper now purchases over 27 times a year, up 12 per cent from 2006
– 1 in 5 online shoppers are now over the age of 55 – that is double the number of two years ago

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Western Union and Deutsche Postbank extend Multi-Year Agreement

Posted by | Nov 14, 2007 | |

The Western Union Company and Deutsche Postbank announced the successful completion of a multi-year agreement that will extend availability of Western Union(R) services to Deutsche Postbank customers. Western Union Executive Vice President Hikmet Ersek and Deutsche Postbank’s Dr. Michael Meyer celebrated the agreement at a signing ceremony Friday in Bonn.

For nearly 13 years, Deutsche Postbank has provided consumers with the ability to quickly, conveniently and reliably send cash to friends and loved ones around the world using the Western Union Money Transfer(R) service. One of Western Union’s largest European Agents, Postbank currently offers money-transfer services in more than 3,200 locations throughout Germany.

“One of Western Union’s key strategies is to align ourselves with trusted local businesses in the markets we serve,” Ersek said. “We work closely with these businesses to explore opportunities that will create even greater convenience for our consumers. For example, Western Union and Postbank have worked cooperatively to launch the Western Union Direkt service. This new service enables Postbank’s online banking customers to easily send cash from the comfort of their own homes by directly debiting their Giro accounts.”

“Western Union has proven to be a valuable service for Postbank customers,” added Meyer. “In addition to the launch of the new Western Union Direkt service, we are working together to implement a new service excellence program. We believe this program will translate into an improved customer experience and will complement the already high level of service consumers have come to expect from Postbank and Western Union.”

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Business Post Group plc Interim Results 2007/08

Posted by | Nov 14, 2007 | |

Business Post Group plc Interim Results 2007/08

Group revenues up 9% to £167m (2006: £153m)
Group revenues excluding Federal Express up 15%
UK Mail Revenues up 59% to £60m (2006: £37m)
Profit before tax (before exceptionals) up 50% to £4.8m (2006: £3.2m)
Profit before tax up 182% to £4.8m (2006: £1.7m)
Interim dividend of 6.4p per share (2006: 6.4p)

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Consumers bank on the post rather than online for managing finances

Posted by | Nov 13, 2007 | |

A new survey investigating the attitudes of UK consumers towards their finances has revealed that nine out of ten people (88 per cent) prefer to receive physical copies of bank statements through the letterbox rather than relying only on online banking.

The research, undertaken by the Henley Centre in conjunction with Royal Mail, has also revealed that when it comes to safe delivery of confidential information, seven out of ten (70 per cent) people trust the post more than email. In a time when consumer concerns about identity theft and the level of personal information held by organisations are running high, the issue of trust and security is a key factor when it comes to communicating confidential financial information.

The survey, “Beyond the Gate: Making a Statement,” provides an insight into household financial organisation and the role of the post in the changing media environment.

Despite the rise in internet banking, even those who do manage their finances online still rely on their posted bank statements to check their finances, with 68 per cent of internet bankers preferring to receive banking details through the door. The study also shows that the most common activity of online bankers is for checking balances with 86 per cent using websites to keep track of their spending.

Two thirds (67 per cent) of respondents say it is easier to read and understand details from a statement than a computer screen. It appears the posted statement plays a role more complex than information provision, as less than a quarter of consumers have printed out details of their financial status from the internet.

Other interesting statistics from the research include:
– 77 per cent like to receive details marketing new financial products and services through the post
– When researching new financial services, 15 per cent prefer to receive information through the post – almost as many as seek details from price comparison websites (16 per cent).

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SteelCloud 'Delivers' for the U.S. Postal Service

Posted by | Nov 13, 2007 | |

SteelCloud, Inc., a manufacturer of embedded integrated computing systems, announced today it successfully completed the October 2007 delivery of more than 1,600 ruggedized systems as part of its approximately USD 8 million contract with the United States Postal Service. The U.S. Postal Service Flats Recognition Improvement Program (FRIP) required SteelCloud to design, manufacture and ship embedded integrated computing systems that incorporate upgraded processing capability as well as active cooling and filtration techniques into the chassis in order to cope with significant industrial environment intrusion such as mail nap, paper dust and heat. In addition, the SteelCloud specialized servers were designed to withstand shock and vibration normally found in industrial automation applications.

“This was a significant accomplishment of our Engineering and Manufacturing Teams over a very short period of time. The recent delivery of our very reliable ruggedized systems is the latest chapter in our ongoing commitment to the U.S. Postal Service. Over the last several years SteelCloud has delivered over 25,000 purpose-built ruggedized servers in support of multiple postal automation applications within the United States Postal Service,” said Robert Frick, SteelCloud president and CEO. “Successful execution of this challenging project is a testament to our ISO certified Quality Management System and our program lifecycle management process which distinguishes SteelCloud from its competitors.”

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