Author: Archive

Postcomm welcomes extensions of commissioners' terms

Posted by | Mar 6, 2007 | |

Nigel Stapleton, chairman of Postcomm, the independent postal regulator, today welcomed the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry’s decision to extend the terms during which Simone Bos and Tony Cooper will serve as Postcomm commissioners.

Mr Cooper’s term of office has been extended by two years and Ms Bos’ appointment has been extended by six months so that she can participate in finalising Postcomm’s Strategy Review.

Tony Cooper was appointed a commissioner on 1 June 2000. He combines his work for Postcomm with roles as non-executive director of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority; chairman of the Board of the Combined Nuclear Pension Trustees Ltd and as a Forestry Commissioner. Mr Cooper is the former joint general secretary of Prospect, the union for engineers, scientists, managers, professionals and specialists. He is also a former member of the General Council of the TUC.

Simone Bos has been a commissioner since March 2004, when she was appointed for a three-year term. Based in the Netherlands, Ms Bos works as an independent consultant in business strategy and European affairs. She combines her role as Postcomm commissioner with memberships of the supervisory board of the state-owned Holland Casino, the Board of the Female Cancer Program Foundation, the External Advisory Board IBMS/INHOLLAND (University of Applied Sciences) and a regional UNICEF management committee.

Ms Bos’ extension will run from 1 April 2007 until 30 September 2007, and Mr Cooper’s extension will start from 1 June 2007 and end on 31 May 2009.

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Direct Group Launches Postal Optimizer

Posted by | Mar 6, 2007 | |

Direct Group announced the launch of its Postal Optimizer® product line, which can provide cost savings to direct mail marketers facing the postal rate increase expected to take effect May 6.

Postal Optimizer will deliver savings impact on mail campaigns processed through the United States Postal Service Bulk Mail Centers (BMC) and Sectional Center Facilities (SCF). Direct Group’s use of “intelligent mail” technologies – in collaboration with the USPS – will play an important role in achieving these cost reductions.

Postal Optimizer provides multiple opportunities to secure cost savings for direct mail marketers, whose postage expenses can represent up to 75 percent of total project costs. Postal Optimizer features proprietary software that analyzes customer data and generates comprehensive solutions for entry-point deliveries, commingling and other logistics strategies including optimal packaging, targeted in-home delivery dates, load planning, reporting, and standardized interfaces that determine the most efficient trucking and transport options.

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American Shipper – MergeGlobal Reports

Posted by | Mar 6, 2007 | |

Dear Advertiser,
For the second year American Shipper has partnered with MergeGlobal Inc. to provide our readers with comprehensive analysis of cargo volumes and capacity across numerous modes and trade lanes. The key decision makers we reach use these reports – rich with facts, figures, and graphs – to benchmark their transportation activities against the global marketplace.
Building on last year’s theme, “The case for caution,” we will take the 2007 edition a step further by dissecting the multi-modal transportation network and trends around global network shift. In addition this year’s coverage will have a tighter focus on the North American marketplace and the international trade lanes impacting the domestic network.
For your reference we’ve provided the content schedule below and attached a more detailed overview of each report.
June – Network Shift: Impact of Internationalization of Domestic Freight Flows and North American Supply Chain Geography
July – North America Intercontinental Ocean Freight Market Dynamics
August – North America Intercontinental Air Express and Freight Market Dynamics
November – Intra North America Freight Market Dynamics
MergeGlobal provides clients a continuum of services ranging from financial advisory to strategic consulting based on a highly quantitative and hypothesis-driven approach. MergeGlobal has completed over 200 engagements for clients in North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America and their experience spans all modes of transportation, logistics and suppliers to the industry.
Clearly this series will present an outstanding opportunity for you and your company to get your message in the hands of the key decision makers driving your business.
The deadline for print advertising in the June issue is May 1. Feel free to contact me at any time for assistance. I’m looking forward to working with you in the near future.
Sincerely,
Jim Blaeser
Associate Publisher
American Shipper
Office Phone: (212) 422-2420
Cell Phone: (212) 464-8394
[email protected]

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Correos implements the ‘Mercury' track & trace system

Posted by | Mar 6, 2007 | |

Correos has established its new information system, ‘Mercury’. Based on ‘Track & Trace’ technology, the new system allows Correos to track the 220 million registered shipments it manages every year.
‘Mercury’ allows Correos’ customers to check the status of any shipments sent. Customers can check their shipment status online or by contacting either the call centre or the post office involved. Correos customers will soon be able to access their shipping information via mobile phone.

‘Mercury’ is a part of the Integra Plan, an initiative that encompasses all the projects and development plans promoted by Correos in order to equip itself with the most modern and efficient TIC, information technology and communications equipment and strategies.

The new application, uses self-adhesive bar coded labels and radio frequency identification tags to provide information on the shipment route. This gives shippers precise information allowing staff to pin point the exact location of any item as it is processed.

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Mail Fullfillment Services & P-DM Direct Marketing Solutions

Posted by | Mar 6, 2007 | |

we are a provider of Direct Marketing, Mailing Fullfillment Services and new Digital Marketing Solutions, and have just moved our production facilities to purpose built premises in Cambridgeshire.

In addition to our envelope inserting and polywrapping facilities, we are also able to offer design and print services, offering you a complete solution for your mailing requirements.

We are also a provider of new technologies and are a Sony solutions provider, our latest product “p-DM” is set to revolutionise the way that companies communicate with and manage their customers.

We recently completed a project with Audi on the launch of their new 4×4 the Audi Q7, the first ever in the UK.

p-DM has proved very successful, with it’s unique “Track & Trace Facilities”, increased response rates and full usage reporting and customisation. It is a brand new product to the UK so holds many opportunities.

Full details of our services are available on our website: www.firstmailing.co.uk

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South African Post Office still needs state subsidy

Posted by | Mar 5, 2007 | |

The South African Post Office would continue to need state subsidies for a number of years despite its increasing profitability because of its obligation to roll out infrastructure in underserviced areas, chief financial officer Nick Buick told Parliament last week.

Buick noted that in the past the cash-strapped Post Office had dramatically underinvested in infrastructure.

To redress this as well as to fulfil the institution’s universal service obligations, it would continue to need a subsidy for the next few years.

In terms of its licence, the Post Office was obliged to open a specified number of retail outlets in rural areas, which were not always profitable. In the 2006-07 year, the Post Office received a subsidy of R351,4m.

It has been allocated R364m for 2007-08 and is projected to receive R1,1bn in total from the state in the next three years.

Acting CEO Motshoanetsi Lefoka, told the committee capital investment of R755m was planned for 2007-08, with the bulk of this (R263m) targeted for new retail outlets, relocations and upgrades of existing post offices.

A further R150m was earmarked for the mail business.

One of the organisation’s aims in future, Lefoka said, would be to strengthen the logistics and courier business in order to bring in an equity partner.

The Post Office is projecting an increase in total revenue of 8% to R5bn (R4,6bn) in the current year to end-March and a net profit of R295m (R486m).

Postal services contributed 65% to total revenue and non-traditional income 35%, a split that Lefoka wants to correct by achieving greater diversification into financial services and other non-traditional sources of income.

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U.S. Postal Service’s proposed rate increases surprise industry

Posted by | Mar 5, 2007 | |

Some mailers and industry stakeholders have expressed alarm following the Postal Regulatory Commission’s recommendation of a rate hike while delivering its opinion on U.S. Postal Service rate increases to the Postal Service’s Governors last week.

Although the average rate increase will be 7.6%, many industry watchers say that number is deceptive. Rather than a straightforward hike, the proposed changes are so complicated this time that in some cases rates could be raised as high as 40%, according to some in the catalog industry.

On Friday, DMA revised the measured reaction to the hike it had conveyed to members earlier in the week with a much stronger response, calling the recommended hike “exorbitant,” “outrageous” and “unexpected.”

DMA President-CEO John A. Greco Jr. claimed that the new increases could cause a serious decline in mail volumes.

Another issue is the need for publishers, fulfillment houses and printers to modify their systems to comply with the new and uniquely complex rate structure. Implementation will take time, but the new rates, if approved, could take effect as early as May. There is some indication that the Postal Service could delay that implementation, especially for periodicals.

The case now shifts back to the Postal Service, which will decide whether to accept or reject the recommendation. The Postal Service’s Governors will be accepting comments on the proposed rates until March 8, and new rates—if approved—could take effect as early as May.

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DHL Slovakia turnover up 18%

Posted by | Mar 5, 2007 | |

DHL Express Slovakia has reported turnover up 18% to over SKK 1 billion (EUR 29 million) last year, with the number of international shipments increasing by 12% to around 200,000.

Laurenc Svitok, DHL Express Slovakia CEO, told the Sita news agency the growth was due to the carrier offering a broader range of services, as well as a stronger Slovak economy and higher foreign investment.

Last year, DHL opened three new facilities in the country at Banska Bystrica, Ruzomberok and Kosice, Sita said.

According to a CEP-Research study last year, the Slovakian courier, express and postal market was worth EUR 65 million, which would make DHL the clear market leader among foreign carriers.

Slovakia is yet to realise its potential as an express market, however, despite its location between neighbouring Austria and the larger Czech and Hungarian economies, the study said.

Driven by EU accession, central and eastern Europe markets are now achieving above-average GDP growth rates, attracting international investors and generating new flows of imports and exports.

Annual express market growth rates of 30% or more are not uncommon in many countries in the region.

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