Author: Archive

Hermes makes good start in Austria

Posted by | Oct 26, 2007 | |

Hermes Logistik said it has made a good start in Austria following its entry into the country’s domestic consumer parcels market in July this year.

Oliver Klingbeil, managing director of Hermes Logistik Austria, told media representatives that the company has so far handled about 1.4 million parcels and was “very satisfied” with its market entry. About 90 pct of the parcels had been generated from parent company Otto Group, which has switched its parcels business away from Austrian Post.

Klingbeil reiterated the aim of achieving a 20 pct share of the Austrian B2C market. It has been reported that Quelle plans to switch part of its Austrian parcels business to Hermes.

Hermes Logistik is currently operating with six hubs, 29 depots and 1,200 parcel shops in Austria. Handling and sorting is provided by DPD Austria, the B2B parcels company in which Austrian Post had a minority share until 2005.

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Homeserve deals Royal Mail another blow

Posted by | Oct 26, 2007 | |

Homeserve, the emergency policy and repair business, has handed TNT Post its mailing contract, signaling another blow to Royal Mail.

The deal, which will see Homeserve move its business from Royal Mail to TNT, is due to competitive prices and TNT’s clearer view of its business delivery service.

The move will cause another blow to Royal Mail – already in the midst of internal turmoil – as Homeserve is just one of the many businesses that has moved its business out of the postal operator in the past year. Royal Mail lost out to TNT for Emap’s GBP 1.6m subscriptions contract in August and BT’s delivery of The Phone Book contract in April.

The repeated loss of business and necessity to keep up with competition is one of the main reasons why Royal Mail wants to modernise its business, which has resulted in weeks of postal strikes recently.

TNT also handles contracts from customers including Centrica, Lloyds TSB, HBOS and Barclays.

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Royal Mail opts for SAP to cut sourcing costs

Posted by | Oct 26, 2007 | |

Royal Mail is aiming to save GBP 300m on procurement costs by 2009 with the help of a hosted e-sourcing application from SAP.

The SAP application went live in June after a relatively short two-phase implementation of just over three months and is being used by more than 100 Royal Mail staff.

The SAP-hosted software will help the procurement team manage £2.3bn of annual expenditure by Royal Mail. It replaces disparate systems and gives staff greater visibility across the contracting process.

Daniel Cameron, Royal Mail procurement director of performance and transformation, told silicon.com: “What’s become very evident is the technology gives us more bandwidth and shortens the procurement process.”

The application being used is from SAP’s 2006 acquisition of Frictionless Commerce.

Cameron said going for the hosted option represented a change in approach by Royal Mail.

Royal Mail is working with SAP on extra functionality for the future, including features such as vendor management.

His advice to other companies is to take a phased, rather than a big-bang, approach and do plenty of road testing to ensure it is fit-for-purpose from day one.

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PalletFORCE sponsors Transport Award

Posted by | Oct 26, 2007 | |

PalletFORCE has sponsored the Transport Policy and Planning Award at the recent CILT Annual Awards for Excellence.

CILT, the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in the UK, is the pre-eminent independent professional body for individuals associated with logistics, supply chains and all transport throughout their careers. The Annual Awards presented to individuals and organisations that can demonstrate achievement in logistics and transport that encourage best practice and the highest standards of excellence in the industry

PalletFORCE selected its chosen category because it chimes with the Network’s commitment to sound transport planning, as Business Development Director Alan Cooke explains. “The whole ethos of a palletised distribution network is to deliver greater efficiencies into the supply chain. The Transport Policy and Planning Award is geared towards rewarding initiatives that demonstrate similar thinking, so it was a natural fit.”

Alan Cooke joined PalletFORCE Shareholder Members and customers at the awards dinner held on the 11th October 2007 at the London Marriott Hotel. He also presented the Award to the winner, PD Ports, for its proposal to develop a new £300m deep sea container terminal on the south side of the River Tees, an ambitious project which will bring significant benefits to the UK economy. The terminal known as The Northern Gateway Container Terminal will provide quicker access to the North and Scotland, reducing lorry miles per container by an average of 70 miles equating to 70 million lorry miles in the UK by 2020.

“This plan represents a comprehensive means of improving the UK’s logistical efficiency and will be a real boon to the transport industry,” comments Alan Cooke. “We are sure that PalletFORCE’s Members will be amongst the many hauliers who will benefit from it.”

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FedEx Express to increase net average shipping rates 4.9 percent in 2008

Posted by | Oct 26, 2007 | |

FedEx Corp. will increase the net average shipping rate for FedEx Express by 4.9 percent, which is composed of a 6.9 percent increase in standard list rates, offset by a 2.0 percent reduction in the fuel surcharge. The new rates will be effective Jan. 7, 2008 and apply to U.S. and U.S. export express package and freight shipments.

Rates and surcharges for FedEx Ground also will increase for 2008. These changes will be announced later this year.

New in 2008, FedEx Express customers importing goods to the U.S. will pay U.S. dollar rates. This provides a consolidated set of U.S. import rates to U.S. customers allowing them to avoid uncertainties caused by currency fluctuations. Increases in rates for shipments inbound to the U.S. from certain international locations will also be effective Jan. 7, 2008.

“FedEx continues to provide market leading express services,” said T. Michael Glenn, FedEx executive vice president, Market Development and Corporate Communications. “These rate adjustments will allow FedEx to continue making the necessary investments in our business so we can continue to give our customers a superior shipping experience.”

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“DHL Express Logistics Strategy Seminar” addresses trends in global logistics centering on Japan-U.S. trade lane

Posted by | Oct 26, 2007 | |

DHL hosted customers from a broad selection of industries at the “DHL Express Logistics Strategy Seminar”, where they participated in a series of lively discussions on the current and future trends for global logistics, with a focus on trade between Japan and the United States.

Demand for sophisticated logistics strategies is on the rise among businesses pursuing growth in the increasingly competitive global marketplace. The “DHL Express Logistics Strategy Seminar” featured a keynote speech by famed management consultant Kenichi Ohmae, who discussed critical logistics solutions for companies seeking a sharper competitive edge, especially in the United States, which continues to be one of Japan’s most important trading partners.

The seminar also featured experts from logistics magazine publisher discussing the logistics challenges facing key industries in Japan, and they presented case studies on the impact of strategic logistics solutions provided by DHL Japan on the Japan-U.S. trade lane.

In recent years, DHL has been reinforcing its infrastructure in the U.S. market, investing USD 1.2 billion in upgrades such as the opening of new air and ground hubs and expanding existing facilities. In June this year, DHL also reached an agreement on a strategic partnership with Polar Air Cargo Worldwide, a wholly-owned subsidiary of global air cargo services provider Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings (AAWW).

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USPS says California mail delivery returns to normal

Posted by | Oct 26, 2007 | |

San Diego District Manager John E. Platt said today that virtually all residents and businesses in San Diego County can receive mail delivery last Friday 26th October, either from their letter carrier, in their Post Office Box or at temporary Post Offices established for evacuated communities.

Express Mail, Priority Mail and First-Class Mail started to be delivered as usual. Customers are requested to pick up their mail daily, including from their Post Office Boxes, as volumes will be heavy for a few days.

“Thanks to the tremendous efforts of our management staff, our employees and with the support of our labor organizations, we are pleased that mail delivery and Postal Service operations in virtually all locations have returned to normal today, just four delivery days after feeling the impact of Southern California’s most devastating wildfires,” said Platt.

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Healthy demand continues across Itella’s businesses

Posted by | Oct 26, 2007 | |

– Net sales in January–September rose by 10 per cent, to EUR 1,230.9 million.
– All business groups showed growth. Net sales increased in Finland by 6 per cent and 24 per cent in other countries. Organic growth accounted for 6 per cent. The share of international operations was 26 per cent.
– In January–September, operating profit grew by 18 per cent, amounting to EUR 79.7 million, accounting for 6.5 per cent of net sales. Profitability increased in Itella Mail Communication and Itella Information.
– A development and investment project concerning mail sorting and delivery in Finland was launched in Itella Mail Communication. Consequently, the decision was taken to build a new post centre in Oulu and to extend those located in Tampere and Kuopio. In Helsinki post centre sorting machines are currently being renewed.
– Itella Logistics acquired PS Logistics AB in Sweden.
– Itella Mail Communication sold the office services business of the Inhouse unit to ISS Palvelut Oy.
– The EU reached a consensus on the schedule for the entry into force of the new Postal Directive. Accordingly, the European postal markets will be opened up to competition, at the latest by 2011–2013. The new directive allows the member states to define more flexibly how basic delivery and other universal services are to be secured and financed. The impact of the directive in Finland will depend on how Finnish legislation governs its implementation.

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