Author: Archive

La Poste Bank launches SwifNet

Posted by | Jul 17, 2007 | |

La Poste Bank has launched a new service for the exchange of information with its corporate clients through a service called SwiftNet. This service has been available since June.

SwiftNet Companies will facilitate the following services:
Services client-bank: transmission of bank orders, money transfers
Services bank- client: transmission of bank account, reports, etc.

Swift is the standard system for international bank-to-bank payments. Bank customers instruct their bank to make a Swift payment, and the bank makes it on their behalf, direct to the receiver’s bank account, via a purpose built secure bank network which spans the globe.

The SwifNet service is a priority for companies which have international operations but it also has a potential market for individual users.

From 2008, Swifnet will allow to exchange the SCT (SEPA credit transfer). The SEPA Credit Transfer Scheme will enable payment services providers to offer a core credit transfer service whether for single, bulk and/or repetitive payments. As of 1st January 2008, it is intended that the SEPA Credit Transfer Scheme will replace Credeuro.

La Poste Bank, a subsidiary of La Poste Group was created the 1st January 2006. Last year, it reported:
– 29 million of clients
– EUR 4.613 billion contribution to the GDP
– EUR 372.4 million of net results
– 570,000 corporate clients
– 17,043 contact points

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Pitney Bowes receives USPS CASS certification on SmartMailer and AddressRight Pro software solutions

Posted by | Jul 17, 2007 | |

Pitney Bowes Inc. announced that its SmartMailer 7 and AddressRight Pro mail management software solutions have received U.S. Postal Service CASS certification for the upcoming Cycle L requirements, scheduled for release on August 1, 2007.

The U.S. Postal Service estimates it spends nearly USD 2 billion each year handling mail that cannot be delivered as addressed. In an effort to cut this cost in half by 2010, the Postal Service is becoming much more stringent on discounts offered to mailers designed to encourage greater accuracy of their address lists. Starting on August 1, 2007, postal automation discounts will only be applicable to mail pieces with a confirmed primary address through the DPV and LACSLink products. Pitney Bowes’ CASS Certified SmartMailer 7 and AddressRight Pro software will include both capabilities.

The DPV™ product verifies that an address is recognized as a valid delivery point by the Postal Service and helps identify inaccurate, incomplete or erroneous addresses. LACSLink™ processing provides mailers with a converted physical address when a 911 emergency system has changed a rural-style address to a city-style address.

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U.S. Postal Service is investigating the possibility of closing Waco’s mail sorting plant

Posted by | Jul 17, 2007 | |

Waco leaders, residents and veterans spent several years trying to convince Veterans Affairs officials to not close the Waco VA Medical Center.

Now the U.S. Postal Service is investigating the possibility of closing Waco’s mail sorting plant, a move that could cost the jobs of up to 240 processing clerks while worsening local mail service.

Postal officials must not allow a deterioration of local mail service.

It’s difficult to imagine how trucking the daily average of 326,000 pieces of mail in the Waco processing plant to Austin and Fort Worth could improve pickup and delivery services for Waco customers.

If a Waco resident or business simply wanted to mail a bill or letter across town, the USPS consolidation plan being studied would have all local mail taken first to Austin or Fort Worth for processing before being trucked back to Waco for local delivery.
Postal service officials announced they had begun a study to maximize mail delivery efficiency and cost savings by consolidating the Waco plant’s operations in January 2006.

The postal service has conducted 52 similar consolidation studies across the country since 2004. Nine of those studies resulted in consolidations, 30 were canceled and 13 are ongoing.

Earlier this year, consolidation studies in Bryan and McAllen were halted after postal officials determined it would negatively impact service quality.

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Africa gears up to host the next Universal Postal Congress

Posted by | Jul 17, 2007 | |

Edouard Dayan Director General of the Universal Postal Union (UPU), and the Honourable Mutahi Kagwe, Kenya’s Minister for Information and Communication, today signed an agreement which marks another milestone in the preparations for the 24th Universal Postal Congress, to be hosted by the Kenyan Government and Posta Kenya in Nairobi from 13 August to 3 September 2008. The agreement defines the detailed requirements for Congress.

The Universal Postal Congress, held every four years, is the supreme authority of the Union, bringing together the UPU’s 191 member countries.

A UPU regional round table on the future world postal strategy will also take place in Nairobi starting tomorrow. It is being held with the help of the Pan African Postal Union (PAPU), which brings together 43 countries from across the African continent. The round table – the second in a series of seven being organized by the UPU in collaboration with different regional postal bodies – is designed to gather regional views on the 2009-2012 World Postal Strategy, to be adopted next year in Nairobi.

At Congress, member countries will be invited to sign up to this four-year roadmap, designed to pave the future direction of the postal sector as a whole. It is built around three key strands: improving postal systems’ interoperability through solid UPU international standards, thus strengthening the physical, electronic and financial dimensions of the worldwide postal network, reinforcing postal sector governance, and developing markets and economies.

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Postmaster General Discusses 'Vote By Mail' at Conference

Posted by | Jul 17, 2007 | |

Mail can play an important role in helping citizens chose their elected officials and the U.S. Postal Service has resources officials need to create Vote by Mail programs.

Those were the two main points shared by Postmaster General John E. Potter during a keynote address at the National the Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) summer meeting here. Stressing proven experience, commitment and available resources, Potter said the Postal Service is a ready partner in states’ efforts to reach voters and conduct elections through the mail.

Founded in 1904, NASS is the nation’s oldest, nonpartisan, professional organization for state officials. The summer meeting, “A First-Class Experience,” is hosted by Bill Bradbury, Oregon’s Secretary of State. Oregon is the only state in the nation to vote exclusively by mail. Twenty six additional states are considering Vote By Mail initiatives.

The Postal Service plays no role in how elections are carried out in the United States, although it is fully authorized to inform and educate election officials about available USPS products and services.

Those services were put to the test last year when the Postal Service worked closely with the Louisiana Secretary of State and other officials to help locate and deliver election and voting information to tens of thousands of residents displaced by hurricanes Katrina and Rita in time for statewide elections as well as the New Orleans mayoral race.

The Louisiana legislature declared June 2, 2006, “United States Postal Service Day,” recognizing the dedication and commitment Postal Service employees showed after the hurricanes and specifically acknowledging successful efforts in the elections.

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UK post strike action to be escalated

Posted by | Jul 17, 2007 | |

Strikes by postal workers in a bitter row over pay and jobs are to be escalated, it has been announced.

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) will this Wednesday unveil a fresh programme of industrial action following two nationwide walk-outs in recent weeks.

The union’s executive met on Tuesday and said it had decided to escalate the level of strike action following the lack of progress during recent talks with the Royal Mail.

A spokesman for the Royal Mail said: “We are disappointed that the CWU has again failed to understand the realities of the tough commercial market in which Royal Mail now operates and the damage that further strike action will do to the business, its people and customers.

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DHL opens office in Novosibirsk – Russia

Posted by | Jul 17, 2007 | |

Further expansion of the Service Point network is part of DHL continued business development strategy in Russia. Late in 2006, the company announced its plans to open 21 additional offices in the country’ s biggest cities, investing over USD 15 million in the next 3 years.

In May, the carrier opened two new offices in Moscow and one in St. Petersburg and is expanded services at a fast rate.

The expansion is part of a USD 250 million investment in the country over the next 3-4 years, announced by parent company DPWN last June.

The investments are focused on infrastructure and facilities, further expansion of the product portfolio, introduction of the latest technologies and staff training.

DHL Russia is also expanding its domestic road network, which includes purpose-built new cross-docking terminals in key locations that will connect the key economic centres of the country.

All four DHL businesses in Russia, DHL Express, DHL Freight, DHL Global Forwarding and DHL Exel Supply Chain will benefit from the investment, the company said.

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Postal bill not to deliver FDI cut to couriers

Posted by | Jul 17, 2007 | |

Much to the relief of multinational courier giants interested in India, the controversial plan to restrict foreign direct investment (FDI) in courier services has been quietly put on the backburner. Following change of guard at the telecom ministry, the draft Indian Post Office (Amendment) Bill of 2006 –– which contained provisions to curtail FDI in courier and express cargo services to 49 pct –– has gone into cold storage, according to senior government officials.

The move comes as a shot in the arm for major players like Federal Express, TNT and DHL Express with substantial interest in India. Other foreign investors in the sector include UPS which runs a joint venture with Jetair and Temasek which recently picked up stake in First Flight.

FDI in courier services now stands at 100 pct and companies engaged in the business were apprehensive of the postal department’s proposal. The draft bill was posted for comments when Mr Dayanidhi Maran was communications & IT minister. After Mr Raja took over the portfolio recently following a rift within DMK’s first family, not much has been heard about the bill. Officials say that current indications are that FDI ceiling for the sector would not be rolled back.

The feeling within the government is that it is not desirable to disturb a sector which has been attracting FDI in a big way. DHL recently took over Blue Dart which Fedex bought Prakash Air Frieght. Marking the first private equity (PE) investment in the sector, Temasek recently picked up stake in First Flight while TNT bought Speedage.

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