Year: 2008

Belgian Post improves profits in 2007

Posted by | Feb 1, 2008 | |

Belgian Post has announced a significant improvement in its profits for 2007 thanks to higher revenues, better mail quality and successful modernisation of its operations.
According to provisional figures, the company’s turnover increased by 1.9pct to EUR 2.2 billion, which represents a 3pct organic increase taking the sale of French subsidiary Asterion in September 2007 into account. The structural drop in volumes in 2007 was limited to 0.1pct, while successes included an increased market share in direct mail and international mail. On the other hand, La Poste was forced to terminate its PubliPack pilot scheme for unaddressed mail in the second half of the year due to inadequate margins.
Belgian Post said that although its operating profit (Ebitda) dropped by 17pct from EUR 229 million last year, this was largely due to non-recurring costs. The underlying operating profit rose by 10pct, and the net profit showed a similar trend. The fully audited consolidated results will be submitted to the Board and shareholders for approval in mid-April.
CEO Johnny Thijs stressed that the group had succeeded in implementing a considerable number of change and modernisation projects in 2007. “La Poste is keeping to the schedule set for its preparation for full liberalisation of the postal market in 2011,” he commented. Among the main achievements, Belgian Post improved mail delivery quality to 92.4pct next-day delivery, and continued the post office network restructuring with the closure of 250 full post offices and opening of 267 PostPoint agencies.
In 2008, Belgian Post will focus on several major projects, including the launch of a new parcels and express service, further post office network restructuring and a continued mail reorganisation.

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Swiss Post integrates in-night express units into PostLogistics

Posted by | Feb 1, 2008 | |

Swiss Post has merged its two in-night express subsidiaries PostLogistics Innight AG and NES AG into its PostLogistics AG division in order to expand its offer within the growth markets of overnight express and maintenance logistics as well as in courier services.

Swiss Post has operated in the overnight express market through PostLogistics Innight AG since 1999. Last year’s buy of NES AG enabled it to strengthen its leading position in overnight express and maintenance logistics. The legal structure has now been simplified by merging both subsidiaries into PostLogistics AG.

Reto Baumgartner, a member of the Post Logistics’ management board, will be responsible for the in-night business as well as for courier services and systems solutions. He will also lead the further expansion of the product portfolio.

Post Logistics is the market leader for courier services, overnight express and maintenance logistics in Switzerland. In particular, the overnight express market is growing at an above-average rate due to the significant competitive advantages for customers. Shipments that are collected in the late afternoon are delivered during the same night until 6 a.m. at the latest throughout Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

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Hermes Logistik builds new hub in central Germany

Posted by | Feb 1, 2008 | |

Hermes Logistik started construction of its EUR 45 million new regional hub in Friedewald, Hessen, in central Germany, this week. The new depot is due to go into service in early 2009, creating up to 150 new jobs.

The 100,000 sqm facility will have capacity to sort 20,000 parcels per hour. The new location is situated close to the strategic North-South/East-West junction of the A4, A5 and A7 motorways.

Hermes is investing EUR 25 million in the sorting centre handling technology, while acquisition of the major new hub and construction of the building cost a further EUR 20 million. The Hamburg-based property developer ECE is responsible for constructing the distribution centre.

“Through the expansion of our logistics network and the startup of further Hermes distribution centres we will become even more efficient and continue to optimise the service quality of Hermes. It’s primarily our customers who will benefit from it”, Harmtut Ilek, Hermes Logistik director, who is also responsible for the hub in Friedewald, was quoted as saying.

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GLS France to open six model depots

Posted by | Feb 1, 2008 | |

GLS France has announced plans to open six “model depots” in Metz, Roissy, Bordeaux, Vitrolles, Lyon and Rennes equipped with the latest sorting technology and which will go into operation in the first half of 2008.

These sites will serve as a model for other GLS subsidiaries in each region. The parcel operator plans to roll out the new technology in all its French subsidiaries and depots.

GLS said it will invest EUR 10 million in the acquisition of new sorting machines and IT tools to optimize the delivery and distribution of its freight and to maintain the quality.

After installing new technology in the distribution hub in Fleury, GLS has developed a new generation of modular conveyors destined for agencies and depots to handle single parcels in the same way like pallets.

One of the innovations is telescopic handles that connect the lorries directly to the sorting chain and thus reduce the times of loading and unloading considerably.

In addition, the video monitoring system and the new scanning technology recently implemented in the depots will ensure traceability of the parcels from pick-up until delivery to the recipient. This new equipment will enhance the transparency and the security of GLS services, the company said.

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Latest ‘Future of Mail’ paper: “Mail Trends Update” by Fouad Nader (Adrenale Corp.) and Michael Lintell (Pitney Bowes)

Posted by | Feb 1, 2008 | |

In recent years there has been an increase in the number of press articles and statements from posts predicting that mail volumes would decline. New technologies and process innovations have been introduced, preoccupying researchers and managers in the postal and mailing industries with the impact of accelerating electronic substitution and changing customer behaviors. What are the actual trends that emerge from examining in detail the best information available from key countries? What historical perspectives, trends and emerging patterns may be useful in understanding how mail volumes may evolve in the future? The purpose of this paper is to provide further insight into the key trends identified and discussed in the previous Mail Trends Analyses by comprehensively examining the evolution of mail and analyzing postal volumes along key variables that influence mail demand. This paper builds on the considerable research that followed the original mail trends analysis and was documented in the Background Papers published at www.postinsight.pb.com for the project: “Electronic Substitution for Mail: Models and Results, Myth and Reality.” The paper also takes advantage of recent work in the study of the “Future of Mail”, also on postinsight.pb.com.

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Snapshots UK Postal Services 2007

Posted by | Feb 1, 2008 | |

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c81390) has announced the addition of “Snapshots UK Postal Services 2007” to their offering.
Snapdatas “Snapshots UK Postal Services 2007” provides 2005 year-end market size data, with 2006 estimates, 4 years of historical data and five-year forecasts. The Snapshots report gives an instant overview of the UK postal service market, and covers government-run postal services mails and parsels and counter services. It does not include courier services. Market value is based on revenues. Market volume is based on the quantity of mail handled. The data is supplied in both graphical and tabular format for ease of interpretation and analysis. The Snapshots UK Postal Services 2007 forms part of Snapdatas Business Services industry coverage.
Snapshots Report Overview:
Executive Summary
The Executive Summary within a Snapshots report outlines the main findings of the report (market size, market shares and market forecasts)
Market size
Market size is the measure of the total value or volume of a particular product sold in a particular length of time. In our case it is the total amount of the market covered by a title in the last whole year, for example, in UK Beer 2005, all the beer consumed in the UK in 2004. The aim of the report is to tell how much of the product was consumed in the country discussed by value and by volume.
Market Segmentation
Market Segmentation is a segmentation of the market by key product categories, ideally by value and volume. For example: the yoghurt market can be segmented into: drinking yoghurt, flavoured yoghurt and natural yoghurt.
Market Share
Market Share is the share of each competitor in the market place and can be expressed in value or volume terms.
Market Share by Volume – each competitor’s share of the total Market Volume
Market Share by Value – each competitor’s share of the total Market Value
Distribution
This measure of the market relates to the different distribution channels to market for each product. The distribution can include the following channels
Consumer Goods example:
• Supermarket
• Hypermarket
• Discount Store
• Corner shop
• Internet
• Etc
Socio-Economic data
The key socio-economic indicators in each report will be:
Size of population
GDP – Gross Domestic Product
Inflation rate
Exchange rate
Forecasts
All market forecasts are based on statistical forecasting techniques based on historic performance (linear extrapolation of the market size, based on the five-year historical growth). These statistical tools are supplemented with qualitative parameters such as: industry expectation/opinion. Socio-economic drivers, new product development, technological advances, expected levels of market saturation etc.
Page 3 – Snapshots Executive Summary
Page 4 – Category Definitions
Page 5 – Market Size by Value (2002-2006)
Page 7 – Market Segmentation by Value
Page 8 – Market Shares by Volume
Page 9 – Company Details (Main Players)
Page 10 – Market Forecast by Value (2006-2011)
Page 11 – Socio-Economic Data for UK
Page 12 – Snapshots Sources for Further Research
For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c81390

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Post Office launches pet insurance (UK)

Posted by | Feb 1, 2008 | |

The Post Office today announces the launch of its new pet insurance policy, designed to meet the real needs faced by cat and dog owners.

Despite the rising costs of veterinary bills, only one in five pet owners insures their pet, leaving millions of pet owners potentially exposed to huge bills.

The Post Office offers comprehensive cover to cat and dog owners that covers vet bills to a maximum of GBP 5,000 per condition. With the majority (96.5 per cent) of claims under GBP 5,000 pet owners therefore need not pay extra for higher cover limits.

Unlike 12-month policies, Post Office Pet Insurance does not stop paying out after a year, ensuring pets can be covered for long-term health conditions. And with no age limit, cats and dogs of all ages can be covered.

Post Office Head of Pet Insurance Emma Baunach said: “In line with the Post Office’s other financial products, our new pet insurance is easy to understand as it offers a single comprehensive level of cover. There is also no upper age limit, meaning older pets are not excluded. And a simple excess payment of GBP 75 makes it easier to plan and budget for any costs.”

In addition, the Post Office’s policy includes an added benefits package at no extra cost. This includes cover when taking pets abroad, emergency kennel and cattery costs and 12 months free PetBack Protect membership to the Missing Pets Bureau, which means the Post Office ensures that everything possible is done to find lost and stolen pets.

Owners with more than one pet can also enjoy a five per cent discount on the additional premium for other pets.

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Wincor World 2008: a successful demonstration of solution expertise

Posted by | Feb 1, 2008 | |

Wincor World 2008, which was staged in Paderborn from January 29 to 31, once again attracted more than 7,000 visitors from all over the world. Immediately after the event, the organizers were able to draw a favorable conclusion in every respect as regards this three-day in-house trade fair: Wincor World has established itself even more as an international get-together for experts from the banking and retail industries. And to an even greater extent than in previous years, the exhibits and presentations succeeded in illustrating how customary processes at bank branches and retail stores can be overhauled and streamlined with cutting-edge information technology.

“Feedback from our customers confirms that it was the right decision to expand our portfolio to include additional and more sophisticated services,” said Andreas Bruck, Head of Corporate Communication at Wincor Nixdorf. He added that IT decision-makers from all around the world had registered the company’s shift from a pure hardware vendor to a provider of integrated solutions for transforming branch and store business. “More and more, our relationships with customers have taken on the quality of a discussion between partners regarding solutions that combine hardware, software and service to make entire processes more customer-friendly and efficient,” continued Bruck.

Wincor Nixdorf and 60 partner exhibitors presented product, software, consulting and other services not just for banks and retail companies, but also for postal companies, operators of restaurant chains or canteens and lottery companies. In all, around 600 different exhibits could be seen across an area of 7,000 square meters. The concept of offering not just an exhibition at the newly designed trade fair center, but also a program of presentations and workshops, once again proved its value.

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