Tag: Courier/Express/Parcels

TNT Express Bahrain facility awarded prestigious TAPA-A security certification

Posted by | Jan 8, 2008 | |

TNT Express has been awarded a TAPA-A security certification for its Bahrain operations. The certification is the latest in TNT’s continued efforts to further improve its business operations within the Gulf.

TAPA – the Transported Asset Protection Association – is an association of professional high-tech companies promoting higher security standards in the international shipping and air cargo industry. Security of transported assets is a major customer concern and TAPA certification assures the customer of the security precautions adopted by the TNT as standard practise.

TAPA certifications are awarded after stringent evaluation of facilities, ensuring that they comply with set global security standards. Grade A is awarded only to those facilities that meet the highest possible standard requirements.

“We continuously endeavour to progress all aspects of our business practices. Over the last couple of years, we have also achieved the OHSAS 18001 standard for occupational health and safety, ISO 9001 for operational excellence, ISO 14001 for environmental management and SA 8000 for social accountability,” said Ahmed Gamal, TNT’s Country Manager, Bahrain. “Adopting TAPA standards across our network in the region will greatly contribute to the extensive growth of our business in the global high tech market.”

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Rural post offices to be closed in Scotland

Posted by | Jan 8, 2008 | |

Proposals for the Highlands would see 18 branches closed and 11 replaced by reduced services.

The Post office said most residents in the area would see no change to their current service, or would be within a mile from an alternative branch.

The public has been asked for their views on the plans, which would see 180 Highland branches remain open.

Highland MSPs offered their support to communities which want to fight the proposals.

Proposals to axe 44 post offices in Glasgow, Argyll and Central Scotland have already been unveiled.

Plans for other parts of Scotland will be announced later in 2008.

Under the Highland plans, 11 outlets would be replaced by “outreach” operations which would see them become a mobile post office, or based in a shop, cafe or other business.

Another option would see a telephone service provide facilities such as parcel collection.

Labour Highlands and Islands MSP Peter Peacock said he was disappointed at the closure plans.

Sally Buchanan, the Post Office’s network development manager for Scotland, said: “Taking the decision to close any post office branch is always very difficult and we know will cause concern to many of our customers.

“We want to ensure that everyone who uses, relies on or has any concern with post office services is both fully aware of the changes we are proposing to meet UK Government requirements, and able to give views on how accessible services will be in the future.”

Up to 2,500 post offices will be axed across the UK, to put the network on a more viable footing.

The Highland proposals are open for consultation until 18 February.

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USPS plans to save USD 1B this year with automation

Posted by | Jan 8, 2008 | |

The U.S. Postal Service starts 2008 with ambitious goals for cost-cutting and modernization.

The agency last month unveiled a series of changes to its “road map,” the plan aimed at boosting its revenues over the next few years. The changes are driven, in part, by the 2006 Postal Accountability Enhancement Act, the first postal reform law in 36 years.
The plan sets an annual goal of USD 1 billion in cost reductions that the agency plans to achieve primarily by increasing automation. The cost reductions are necessary, said postal executive Linda Kingsley, even though the new law gives the Postal Service the flexibility to raise revenue by developing new products and raising prices for competitive services, such as package delivery.

“The competitive products are 10 percent of our revenue pie. Even if we double that, it still won’t do it,” said Kingsley, senior vice president for strategy and transformation. “And the likelihood of doubling our market share is pretty thin.”

The law also limits the Postal Service’s profits in market areas it dominates, such as first-class mail. The law caps postal rate increases for those products by tying them to the Consumer Price Index. The change is a benefit to consumers, particularly large mailers, but a challenge for USPS.

So the Postal Service hopes to lower costs by using automation to work smarter.
It has aggressively pursued a high-tech system called Intelligent Mail for tracking all classes of mail and identifying bad addresses. The program is in limited use by large mailers, and the Postal Service hopes it will be widespread by January 2009.

It also hopes to unveil the Flats Sequencing System in 2008. The equipment will sequence “flat mail” — magazines and large envelopes — much like letters, which are already automatically sequenced. That means mail carriers won’t have to spend time manually sequencing those items. Kingsley called it “the biggest thing we’re investing in” for the near future.

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Business Direct Group sign International Licence with DHL (UK)

Posted by | Jan 8, 2008 | |

Business Direct Group plc has signed its first international licence of the ParcelXchange, with DHL Same Day Ireland.

The licence, which is for a six year term and with territorial exclusivity, is
for 40 ParcelXchanges in the newly-developed modular configuration of both box
sizes and number of columns, thereby addressing the specific needs of individual
locations. DHL Same Day will initially be supplied with 10 ParcelXchanges to be
located in major towns and cities throughout the Republic of Ireland, with the
roll-out beginning in the first quarter of 2008.

DHL Same Day plans to use the ParcelXchanges for in-night deliveries for field
service engineers and B2B sameday solutions. The ParcelXchanges will offer
higher levels of customer service whilst permitting consolidation of deliveries
and cost reduction in the supply chain.

Sean Moran, Director of DHL Same Day Ireland, stated, “The intelligent
ParcelXchange is the most exciting opportunity to happen in the in-night
real-time inventory management sector in Ireland for a long time.

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Business Direct Issues its First International ParcelXchange

Posted by | Jan 8, 2008 | |

Business Direct Group plc, the UK’s leading in-night distribution provider and operator of the ParcelXchange intelligent “drop-box” logistics solution, has signed its first international licence of the ParcelXchange, with DHL Same Day Ireland.

The licence, which is for a six year term and with territorial exclusivity, is for 40 ParcelXchanges in the newly-developed modular configuration of both box sizes and number of columns, thereby addressing the specific needs of individual locations. DHL Same Day will initially be supplied with 10 ParcelXchanges to be located in major towns and cities throughout the Republic of Ireland, with the roll-out beginning in the first quarter of 2008.

DHL Same Day plans to use the ParcelXchanges for in-night deliveries for field service engineers and B2B sameday solutions. The ParcelXchanges will offer higher levels of customer service whilst permitting consolidation of deliveries and cost reduction in the supply chain.

Sean Moran, Director of DHL Same Day Ireland, stated, “The intelligent ParcelXchange is the most exciting opportunity to happen in the in-night real-time inventory management sector in Ireland for a long time. “This is another example of DHL Same Day’s continuous investment in the business and this new service will ensure we are well positioned to constantly meet the growing needs of our customers”.

Business Direct’s worldwide ParcelXchange licensing business has been under development since February 2007, under the direction of Tim Houstoun, and was launched officially in October 2007 at the Post-Expo Exhibition in Barcelona. Considerable interest has been expressed by national Post Offices and major logistics companies in many countries around the world. Trials are currently taking place in mainland Europe and East Asia and discussions are being held with regard to several other territories.

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