Tag: Courier/Express/Parcels

Chronopost launches new next-day express service and eBay partnership

Posted by | Mar 6, 2008 | |

Chronopost has launched a new express shipping solution “Prêt-à-Expédier” (“Ready to ship”) and improved the shipping service of express parcels on eBay France to better respond to customer needs.

The new shipping solution “Prêt-à-Expédier”, offered in post offices, provides next-day delivery before 13:00 within France, including packaging and transportation. It will be extended to international destinations by end-2008.

Chronopost said the new service targets small- and medium-sized enterprises. A survey last November found that 63 pct of SMEs used next morning express delivery services. In future, its “Chrono 18”, with delivery by the end of the next working day, will be reserved for contract customers.

The new “Prêt-à-Expédier” product range offers five packaging sizes (for weights up to 500g, 1kg, 2kg, 3kg and 6kg) and includes insurance, track-and-trace and POD. The minimum price is EUR 17.56.

Meanwhile, Chronopost has signed a partnership with eBay in France to enable customers to buy and to prepay online their express shipments saving time and ensuring traceability. Customers also receive a 7 pct discount off the delivery price.

EBay users can select transportation by Chronopost and are redirected to the express company’s website. There they can enter their shipment details and print off an airway bill to affix to the shipment. This can then be taken to a post office, Chronopost agency or Chrono Relais service points for pick-up and delivery.

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FedEx Recognizes Diverse Staff in Honor of International Women’s Day

Posted by | Mar 6, 2008 | |

FedEx Express in honor of International Women’s Day on March 8, underlines its commitment to foster a positive work environment in which all its employees have an opportunity to achieve their personal career aspirations.

FedEx is committed to supporting all their employees and has won recognition across the world for its ongoing drive to hire the right people for the right jobs irrespective of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation or creed.

The logistics industry has traditionally been perceived as male-orientated. FedEx has implemented a number of schemes across Europe, the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Asia to hire and retain a diverse range of staff. FedEx employees play a central role in helping the company fulfil the needs of its diverse customer base.

FedEx Express in the UK caters for all its staff by offering flexible working arrangements beyond the statutory requirement which states that parents with children under the age of six must be offered flexible working opportunities. Additionally new mums receive a welcome bonus on returning to work from maternity leave.

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U.S. Postal Service – Declining Mail Volume

Posted by | Mar 6, 2008 | |

A fight back on Junk Mail by some 18 states in the US, as well as declining mail volumes has created a GBP 1 billion deficit for the U.S. postal service.

A decline in mail volume, particularly from domestic mail users, has seen postal operators increasingly reliant on Junk Mail but with real concerns over the quantity of paper being used that stretches the recycling capability of many towns and cities, many see the Junk Mail era as a short-lived one.

The U.S. could see more post offices located in other outlets to reduce costs, a trend already being established in the UK.

Increased competition in the U.S. is also putting pressure on the U.S. postal service. Rivals such as German-based DHL, FedEx, UPS and others are all contributing to a gradual decline in profitability and the U.S. postal service is urgently looking at ways to curb spending including reduced overtime and using more part-time workers.

Steve Lawson, editor of Hellmail.co.uk said:

“Whilst the internet age has transformed the way we all communicate and do business, it has undermined the role of postal services to such an extent that few of us actually post many letters now. The problem is a global one, not made easier by deregulated postal markets and greater competition for what were once public-sector services.”

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FedEx, UPS look to gain if DHL scales back

Posted by | Mar 6, 2008 | |

Analysts expect money-losing DHL will scale back in the United States and could make the announcement as early as today, handing FedEx Corp. and UPS a boon.

If DHL closes terminals and hubs, analysts say FedEx could get 35 percent of the lost business in the air and another 25 percent on the ground.

If the restructuring costs DHL 2 percent of revenue, FedEx stands to gain USD 45 million in business, according to a research note published Wednesday by Edward Wolfe. UPS, which has a more powerful ground network, stands to realize USD 71 million.

DHL is the fourth-largest player in the U.S. overnight package business, with revenues in the Americas for 2008 estimated at USD 2.3 billion.

With 9 percent market share, DHL trails the U.S. Postal Service, (32 percent) FedEx (31 percent) and UPS (25 percent).

DHL joined the competitive U.S. overnight business in 2003 when it purchased Airborne Freight for about USD 1 billion, rankling FedEx and UPS, which accused the monopoly Deutsche Post of investing in a U.S. carrier to fight them on their own turf.

Both pressed the issue in lawsuits, which Airborne eventually won.

Airborne was the low-cost alternative to the big players, claiming about 10 percent of the domestic air express market and 2 percent on the ground.

DHL came in promising a threat to the established carriers, but in reality has kicked little sand in their faces, mostly because it has made a series of integration and operational errors that shook customer confidence.

Analysts estimate DHL has lost USD 2.8 billion in North America, including a recent USD 748 million write-down in the United States alone, where it has also announced 600 layoffs.

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