Tag: Europe

Austrian Post and trans-o-flex set course for expansion in Europe

Posted by | Dec 3, 2007 | |

Austrian Post and its German logistics subsidiary trans-o-flex will continue pursuing an expansion course in Germany and Europe, with the intention of acquiring additional companies. This was announced by Anton Wais, Chairman of the Management Board of Austrian Post, and Klaus J. Heinz, Speaker of the Management Board of trans-o-flex, speaking at a joint press conference in Frankfurt today.

Enhancement in the value of the trans-o-flex brand
“trans-o-flex offers an ideal strategic platform for the further international expansion of Austrian Post”, Anton Wais says in commenting on the joint strategy. “We will further exploit the success of trans-o-flex as a brand and increase its value. We affirm our complete support for the company and its management in their efforts to continue pursuing the business strategy which has been mapped out, attracting customers through innovative industry solutions and quality leadership”, he adds. As a consequence of the acquisition of a 74,9 % stake in trans-o-flex at the end of 2006, Austrian Post has been able to considerably strengthen its Parcel & Logistics Division, promote the market entry into the B2B parcels segment in Austria (shipments among companies), and accelerate its international expansion efforts. The formal closing of the transaction involving the acquisition of the companies “Van Osselaer Pieters Colli Service” (VOP) in Belgium and “Dedicated Distribution Services” (DDS) in the Netherlands first took place on October 1, 2007. “These firms will be integrated into EURODIS, the European distribution network of trans-o-flex, as soon as possible, as a step towards strengthening the network”, Anton Wais says. VOP and DDS are former trans-o-flex subsidiaries, which had been acquired by DHL in the interim.

Unique selling proposition: clear-cut sectoral focus and combined freight
“With these partners, trans-o-flex will be able to decisively expand its market position in the Benelux region, which is very important for our customers”, adds trans-o-flex CEO Klaus Heinz. “Together we will profit from the above-average growth in international mail volumes”. In the light of tough competition in the European logistics market, trans-o-flex will continue its strategy of achieving “controlled, profitable growth”, consistently taking advantage of the company’s distinguishing features. trans-o-flex is the only large logistics provider with a clear-cut focus on particular branches. In addition, as a provider of “combi-freight” services, it is able to offer customers extremely flexible service under one roof, through the combined transport of good either as parcels or pallets. The company’s core branches are the pharmaceutical, health care, cosmetic, consumer electronics and home entertainment industries with special logistics requirements. “We are the undisputed market leader for the pharmaceutical and health care sectors, and want to stay the number one”, Heinz says. “With our latest innovations, we clearly demonstrated how we even intend to expand our market position”.

Innovation on behalf of the pharmaceutical industry
trans-o-flex recently launched a new service which makes it the very first logistics company enabling its customers to meet the increasingly stringent legal requirements pertaining to the transportation and storage of medical products. The “ThermoControl” premium service, available starting in November, will enable drug manufacturers for the first time to fulfil the stipulations contained in the new German Ordinance on the Production of Pharmaceuticals and Active Substances (AMWHV), requiring the ongoing monitoring and documentation of critical parameters. Specially-designed equipment measures and records temperature and air humidity throughout the entire transport process. Two light emitting diodes optically indicate whether or not the selected temperature range has been kept. If, for example, the temperature range has been exceeded or fallen below, the goods will

Read More

Postal Market liberalised in 2011

Posted by | Dec 1, 2007 | |

Member states have reached a compromise deal to liberalise postal services in the EU by 2011, following more than 20 years of Commission-led negotiations to open up the sector.

The deal includes the following main elements:

1) Full postal liberalisation by 2011 (instead of the Commission’s preferred date of 2009), including for letters under 50 grammes;
2) The possibility of delaying opening markets until 2013 for Cyprus, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Romania and Slovakia;
3) Under a so-called reciprocity clause, member states that open their markets by 2011 can deny market access until 2013 to those member states that choose to delay liberalisation;
4) Minimum pay provisions and postal workers’ right to strike will not be affected by the law;
5) Universal Service Obligation (USO) – member states can dictate uniform tariffs between rural and urban areas, sufficient access to post offices and minimum delivery requirements.

Financing provisions for USO will be decided by member states, who can either fund the service with monies from state coffers or oblige operators to pay into a common fund. The Commission, which reserves the right to scrutinise the financing plans, will be required to help member states to calculate the cost of universal services.

The UK, Swedish and Finnish postal market have been opened entirely already. The German market will be opened by 1 January 2008. The German government has indicated several times to stick to that date.

Overall in the EU, postal services are estimated to handle 135 billion items per year, reflecting a turnover of about € 88 billion or about 1% of the EU Gross Domestic Product (GDP). About two-thirds of this turnover is generated by mail services. The reminder is generated by parcels and express services which are already in the competitive area (i.e., the market is fully open to competing operators).

Read More

Springer mulls exit from postal business

Posted by | Dec 1, 2007 | |

German publisher Axel Springer is considering exiting its postal business after the German government’s decision this week to impose a minimum wage for workers in the sector, a company spokeswoman said.

Springer has been in talks with Dutch mail and parcel group TNT about merging their German mail services companies, TNT Post and Springer’s PIN Group, a personal familiar with the matter has told Reuters.

But German weekly magazine Focus reported on Saturday that the talks had broken down after the government set minimum wages of up to 9.80 euros ($14.45) per hour, depending on the employee’s level of responsibility.

The sum is far more than private competitors to former state monopoly Deutsche Post pay their employees.

The Springer spokeswoman told Reuters: “We are examining all options and currently cannot rule out anything as regards the future of PIN.” She declined to comment on the current state of negotiations with TNT.

Springer bought a majority stake in PIN for 510 million euros earlier this year in anticipation of the liberalisation of the postal market in Germany, where Deutsche Post is set to lose its domestic mail monopoly at the start of next year.

Read More

Dutch DM Barometer: 50% of budget to Internet

Posted by | Dec 1, 2007 | |

In line with earlier forecasts this year Dutch budgets for SM activities will increase this 4th quarter of 2007.

The DM barometer of Adforesult and Mailmedia foresees an increase of 14%.

Biggest increase is Internet: almost half of the budget is expended in that area.
In the use of communication channels is hardly anny difference with respect to the target group.

As well to clients as to target group internet (own website, e-mail, search engine, banners, buttons) is the leading channel ith 50% of exopenditures.

Concerning the effects of e-activities 36% of e-newsletters sent to own addresses are opened and 26% clicked.

There is significant difference if an e-mail is sent to own of thrid parties lists:
1/3 is opened in the case of own adresses, 25% only for external lists.

Respondents had to answer three questions:
1) emailings should be less dull and impersonal: 90% said YES
2) 87% agrees that not enough known about the effects f crossmedia direct marketing
3) 70% shares the opinion that mobile payment is a fact in the Netherlands in the year 2008.

Read More

Prior consent for B2B Email in the Netherlands

Posted by | Dec 1, 2007 | |

The Dutch governement proposed a legislation aiming that B2B email should also be covered by an opt-in regime. This legislation will enter into force in 2008

In 2002 the EU Directive Electronic Communications was launched.

The Directive takes an “opt-in” approach to unsolicited commercial electronic communications, i.e. users must have given their prior consent before such messages are addressed to them. This opt-in system also covers SMS text messages and other electronic messages received on any fixed or mobile terminal.

This Directive primeraly aims at relations between companies and consumers (B2C) but offers Member States also an opportunity to regulate B2B email in the same sense. Some Member States have taken that opportunity:

In October 2007 the Dutch Dialog and Direct Marketing Association (DDMA) adopted the code for business e-mail. The code introduced an almost similar provision of prior consent for B2B email as for B2C email. An important reason for drawing up this code is to reduce in this way spam and to keep the channel open for legitimate business communication. For this reason the recipient of B2B email needs to give prior consent before receiving publicity. There are some points on which the B2B code has been adapted to the practice of businesses. For example no consent needs be asked for supplying addresses to third parties.

A clear communication is sufficient. The same applies to the promotion of own products within the company’s activities.

Diana Janssen, director of DDMA, welcomes the code: “It is a sign from DDMA members that they attach great importance to communication of high quality. By introducing prior consent for B2B e-mail, your database will automatically be much more valuable. Moreover it is an important indicator to our politicians that the sector is very
well capable to take responsability.”

As of 1 October 2007 this Code has already been incorporated within the Dutch Advertising Code.

In other countries of Europe exists already a statutory regulation with respect to B2B e-mail, particularly in France, Germany and Austria. In other countries the opt-out system with respect to e-mail business still applies, in which case the recipient has to state Whether he or she wishes to receive unsolicited emails.

December 2007 – W&P

Read More

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

P&P Poll

Loading

What's the future of the postal USO?

Thank you for voting
You have already voted on this poll!
Please select an option!



View ResultsHide Results

Post & Parcel Magazine


Post & Parcel Magazine is our print publication, released 3 times a year. Packed with original content and thought-provoking features, Post & Parcel Magazine is a must-read for those who want the inside track on the industry.

Subscribe to the Magazine

 

Pin It on Pinterest