Tag: Europe

Bartolini opens new depots in Italy

Posted by | Jun 11, 2008 | |

Leading Italian express delivery company Bartolini is continuing to extend its network with the opening of several new depots.

On June 16, the company will open its new Roma Fiano 2 branch. The new facility covers approximately 6,000 sqm and is located 3 km from the Fiano Romano motorway exit and 38 km from the town centre. “The opening of the new branch, which is equipped with an automatic parcel sorting system, will allow us to serve the whole area to the north-west of Rome,” Bartolini said.

On the same day, the express company will open a 9,000 sqm branch at Termoli, south of Pescara on the Adriatic coast, located 3 km from the Vasto motorway exit and 20 km from the town centre. The depot, equipped with an automatic parcel sorting system, will allow the company to serve the southern area of Chieti province and part of Campobasso province.

In May, Bartolini opened a 9,000 sqm depot at Teramo, north of Pescara. The new facility, which is equipped with an automatic parcel sorting system, will allow the company to serve the bulk of the Teramo province.

In April, the company transferred its Turin South branch to a new and more modern facility covering approximately 5,000 sqm. Located right next to the “Interporto Sito” exit from the by-pass, it is 7 km from the city centre. “The opening of the new branch, which is equipped with an automatic parcel sorting system, will allow us to serve the whole southern area of Turin city and province,” the company said.

Bartolini, with 14,000 employees and over 6,500 vehicles, has some 160 branches across Italy and handles about 90 million parcels a year.

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German CEP operators expect moderate growth

Posted by | Jun 11, 2008 | |

Express and parcel delivery companies in Germany expect only moderate growth this year after 5 pct growth in 2007, according to an industry association.

Gunnar Uldall, former Hamburg economics senator and new president of the German International Express and Courier Services Association (BIEK), said that the CEP sector generated volume growth of nearly 5 pct and revenue growth of over 5 pct last year. Further moderate growth is expected for 2008. The association represents DPD, FedEx, Go!, Hermes, TNT and UPS.

The CEP industry was a key services sector with growing importance for the German economy, with its strong export focus, Uldall told a news conference. BIEK members had taken on about 3,000 more employees last year, and there is currently a need for qualified drivers, he noted. BIEK members employ about 65,000 staff directly or as self-employed drivers. There are about 173,500 people working in the German CEP sector as a whole.

Addressing key issues for the association, Uldall criticised Deutsche Post’s VAT exemption for letters up to 2kg and parcels up to 20kg which was a competitive distortion in the formally liberalised German mail market.

Since neither option was likely, however, BIEK proposed a compromise, with deliveries of up to 50 letters, including individual private letters, remaining VAT-exempt, and all other items, including bulk mail, parcels and added-value mail, being VAT-chargeable. This would not lead to a price increase for customers due to intense competition between Deutsche Post and private operators, Uldall said.

BIEK will also hold talks with Deutsche Bahn over opportunities to transport more express and parcel shipments by rail, and continue to promote the use of alternative fuels and motors to reduce CO2 emissions, he added.

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NetDespatch makes express firms into e-traders

Posted by | Jun 11, 2008 | |

The British technology firm NetDespatch has announced Velocity eTrader, a new service for courier and distribution companies, based on its Velocity web shipping and tracking platform.

The new Velocity eTrader website will allow shippers to book any services online, without having an account, and pay for them by credit or debit card. After entering all details, customers receive a quote based on mileage or weight from the Velocity eTrader pricing engine. Online payment is made through PayPal.

To help run an eTrader business, there is also an administration area that provides reports of both successful and failed transactions. With the new website, the company aims at capturing new business from eBay traders, cottage industries and business start-ups.

“eTrader opens up important new business opportunities for our courier and distribution customers, as more and more goods are bought and sold online and the number of local Post Offices dwindles. With payment by credit card, a formal account does not need to be opened, helping to attract a broad range of new customers, some of whom will undoubtedly eventually open a credit account,” said Becky Clark, CEO of NetDespatch.

As part of the NetDespatch Velocity “on demand” applications platform, eTrader adds to the wide range of NetDespatch web services that courier and distribution companies can provide to their customers, depots and suppliers. These include intuitive web booking, systems integration, pre-labelling, address management, mileage and weight based pricing, manifests, event tracking, management reporting, POD management, mobile data and eCommerce solutions. The services are all provided in real-time and fully integrated with other systems such as sales order processing, warehouse management and e-shopping cards.

The main courier partners of NetDespatch are TNT, Amtrak, APC Overnight, Priority Express and Expressair International.

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Royal Mail seeks to axe senior marketing roles (UK)

Posted by | Jun 11, 2008 | |

Royal Mail is understood to be asking senior marketers to re-apply for their jobs as part of major review of its marketing team.

It is believed that the postal operator is reassessing its structure and is looking at senior roles, which will include brand marketing director Tom Hings and senior campaigns development manager Andrew Hammond.

One source says: “It is just the marketing department as far as I know, but it may include other areas aligned to that function, such as market research.”

While it is believed the review is starting at the top, many say it is likely to progress down to middle management.

Another source says it would be logical to conclude that any changes will be aimed at cutting costs and improving efficiencies as part of an attempt to streamline the organisation.

“There is nothing to say at this stage,” according to a Royal Mail spokesman, who refused to comment further.

The development comes just after Royal Mail reported an operating loss of GBP 279m for last year. It continues to battle with a negative perception of the brand over its poor delivery record.

The review is just weeks after marketing director Alex Batchelor announced he is leaving the postal
operator.

It also follows the promotion of Alex Smith from Group Strategy Director to Strategy and Commercial Director in March this year.

Industry experts say that the restructure effectively sidelined Batchelor who then had to report to Smith.

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