Tag: Asia

Where is Asia’s Express Market going?

Posted by | Dec 19, 2006 | |

There’s only one way to go and that is UP. In 2007 we will see more new players entering the market as Asia’s economies continue to grow. Courier industry is characterized by high entry barriers. It needs huge investment in infrastructure and technology and there is intense competition in the industry. The market for courier industry can be divided into individual, corporate and small and medium enterprises. On the basis of type of delivery, it can also be divided into overnight delivery and same day delivery services.

Courier companies are using information technology to enhance the quality of their customer service and obtain competitive edge. There are only a few global courier companies like Fed Ex, DHL, UPS and TNT and there is intense competition among them with each one trying to establish its superiority. In India, presently, DHL, Blue Dart and Elbee are the major players contributing to 70% of industry’s revenues. An interesting observation in the past three years , is that the big Four are now entering the domestic market, an area that they have been relatively weak in. This could also result to a backlash on their main core international businesss. Asia’s domestic courier market has always been the strength of the home-grown operators with intimate familiarity of the terrain.

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Qatar and China keen on boosting postal ties

Posted by | Dec 19, 2006 | |

Qatar and China would soon explore the possibility of enhancing co-operation between the two countries in the postal sector, a Q-Post communique said yesterday.
This was decided after a meeting between the Chinese Ambassador to Qatar Li Jian Ying and Chairman of Q-Post Ali Mohamed al-Ali yesterday at the latter’s office.
While thanking Qatar for launching a customised stamp dedicated to the next Asian Games, the ambassador praised the efforts being made by the postal corporation in revamping the sector in Qatar.
The ambassador congratulated the postal authorities for setting up temporary offices at some major Games venues for the benefit of the visitors. He appreciated Q-Post’s gesture in releasing over 1,000 sheets of customised stamps on the next Asian Games that Guangzhou in China would host.

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Sagawa Express and China Postal Bureau tie up for delivery service

Posted by | Dec 18, 2006 | |

The Sagawa Express Co. group, a Japanese delivery company, announced Monday that it has signed an agreement with a subsidiary of China Post to launch a parcel delivery service covering the entire Chinese market.
Sagawa Global Express Co. the international courier arm of Sagawa’s holding company, SG Holdings Co. will join forces with China Courier Service Corp., a subsidiary of State Postal Bureau, Sagawa said in a statement. The companies signed an agreement Dec. 7, according to the release.
The tie-up will enable the companies to share their delivery and pickup networks in China and Japan and the service will target corporate customers, it said.
The partners will start a trial service for parcels to Japan in late December in Shanghai and expanding it to Beijing and Guangzhou later, according to Sagawa. As for parcels to China, the companies plan to formally begin delivery next spring following a trial, it said.
The partnership would be the first between a foreign courier company and China’s state postal service, Japanese daily Nihon Keizai Shimbun said.

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Postal department to unveil franchising plans

Posted by | Dec 16, 2006 | |

To cut losses and increase its reach, the Department of Posts has recently unveiled plans for franchising postal services. For this, the Department will soon launch a pilot project in 100 cities across India. The franchises will be tested for financial viability, i.e., whether they can be self-supporting if not profit-generating, without affecting the Department’s existing network. Ten of the cities earmarked for the project are in Gujarat, said Chief Postmaster General of Gujarat Circle Vijayalaxmi Sheth. ‘‘We have identified ten spots for franchises and will be inviting applications for the same shortly,’’ she said.

‘‘Parties who apply for a franchise will be required to have passed Class XII. Postal pensioners who own a computer and have a premise in place would be given preference. There are also some mandatory requirements like a character certificate, a bank guarantee of Rs 10,000 and a ready business plan. Those who meet the specified requirements will then be imparted training before the open their postal franchise outlet,’’ she said.

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ATMs may open a/c in post offices

Posted by | Dec 11, 2006 | |

In a move that is sure to bring smiles to millions of postal savings account holders, the government is proposing to set up ATMs in all major post offices in the country in a phased manner.

This means consumers will no longer have to depend on the manual process of withdrawal during office hours, but can carry out transactions through use of debit cards on a 24×7 basis. The ATM facility will also come as a big relief for customers who receive money from loved ones abroad through Western Union Money transfer.

Postal Department’s services currently span five areas such as mail (letters and parcels), express (SpeedPost), financial services, postal life insurance and philately. The Department has identified Speedpost and financial services as its engines of growth.

The DoP is currently working on a plan to hive off its financial department arm into a stand-alone bank. This is because, the DoP currently passes off its entire collections to the finance ministry in return for a fixed commission, but a stand-alone banking arm will enable the it to make independent investment decisions.

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