Tag: Europe

DHL & Home Retail Group win European Retail Solutions Award

Posted by | Jul 2, 2007 | |

DHL Exel Supply Chain and Home Retail Group (Argos/Homebase) have been awarded the Project Implementation of the Year title at the European Retail Solutions Awards 2007 in a joint submission for the implementation of Manhattan Associates’ PkMS (Pick Ticket Management System) Warehouse Management Solution.

The implementation at the Argos Direct site in Marsh Leys, Bedfordshire, was the second phase of a long term collaborative project between Home Retail Group and DHL. The purpose of the project was to replace the older paper based warehouse management system for ’two man’ deliveries, with a modern radio frequency one.

The warehouse at Marsh Leys, Bedford, is a 670,000 sq ft facility that can hold the equivalent of 70,000 UK pallets of stock. Every day, DHL make around 6,000 deliveries of large items such as beds, white goods, upholstery, furniture, TVs and gym equipment from this site.

Changing to the Manhattan Associates solution has increased the accuracy of stock management through the ‘two man’ delivery supply chain from receipt of supplier stock to the point of delivery (and of subsequent returns) and has significantly improved productivity.

The implementation was planned over an eight-month preparation period and two-months of phased transition. Transition problems would have impacted customers and incurred significant expense so an approach was devised that would allow the two systems to run parallel.

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Royal Mail in negotiations with postal union leaders for guaranteed deliveries of Harry Poter

Posted by | Jul 1, 2007 | |

Royal Mail in negotiations with postal union leaders to appeal to them not to disrupt deliveries of J.K. Rowling’s latest novel.

Royal Mail chiefs are using Harry in negotiations with postal union leaders to appeal to them not to disrupt deliveries of J.K. Rowling’s latest novel.

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows, the seventh and last in the series, is due to be published on July 20 and Royal Mail has promised next-day delivery to thousands of retailers across the country.

But with postal workers threatening a series of walkouts in a dispute over pay, bosses have asked the Communication Workers Union to ensure that millions of children are not disappointed.

In a letter seen by The Mail on Sunday, Royal Mail human resources director Kevin Green has pleaded with CWU deputy general secretary Dave Ward to abandon any plans for industrial action in the week of the book launch.

Mr Green’s letter says: “J.K. Rowling’s book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, is due to be released on Friday, July 20, for delivery on July 21, and we will be providing a next-day delivery service for many major book retailers.

Royal Mail has not heard back from the union. But when asked if the CWU would give an assurance that it would not strike on a certain day, a union spokesman replied: “No.”

Royal Mail is also concerned about the launch of millions of Harry Potter stamps on July 17.

On last Friday the union’s 180,000 workers were called out, bringing chaos to the postal service.

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Deutsche Post: Nationwide PR campaign

Posted by | Jul 1, 2007 | |

This recognition for its mailmen supports Deutsche Post in its plans to launch its latest initiative. As a way of acknowledging the sterling work done by its delivery staff, the company will be launching a campaign on July 2, 2007 under the slogan “Vote for your mailman”.

This will give every member of the German public the opportunity to help find the “1,000 mailmen of the year”. The mailshot containing the voting card is being sent out to all households in Germany in the coming days.

Anyone happy with the service provided by their mailman can give him their vote. Voting is also possible in Deutsche Post retail outlets and on the Internet at www.ihr-postbote.de.

And if they choose people can also give the reasons for their vote. Everyone taking part will be entered in a prize draw. Prizes include 50 Smart fortwo cars, 200 TomTom navigation systems, 100 bicycles and 1,000 mailbags. Entries must be received by August 31, 2007. The mailmen receiving the most votes will be invited to a grand prizegiving event in Berlin in October.

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Ciblex: “H Proximity” service

Posted by | Jul 1, 2007 | |

Ciblex structured the “H Proximity” network in 2006. “H Proximity” involves 3,400 local computerized branches where packages are available by 8:00 a.m. the next day: 3000 tobacco shops, 300 PartSpeed Sites with 3,200 locked boxes, 100 PUDO2 points (network made up of Ciblex branches and partner drop-off points).

With 80 pct of the French population less than 15 minutes from a point of delivery, this network offers unique geographical coverage. It has a wide range of business hours (some branches are open on Sundays) and even 24/7 access for PartSpeed sites (locked boxes).

The computer system makes real time tracking possible with verification of the correct allocation of the correct package at the correct local branch.

In addition, secured package pick-up by the recipient is controlled by a personalized badge system.

Recipients (technicians, traveling sales representatives, medical visitors, traveling professionals, artisans, or individuals) are informed of the availability of their packages in real time by SMS. They can pick up the package at their chosen day and time, within the time limit determined by each package shipper.

The innovation lies in the proximity and accessibility of the network, but especially and above all in the feedback.

The order can be tracked online directly on the merchant’s Web site. Each month, 40,000 packages pass through the “H Proximity” network, which is now used by more than 40 Ciblex customer companies, for example Nextiraone (telephony), Fujitsu Siemens, (information technology), Diagnostica Stago (medical), etc.

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Wales’s minister looks to ban junk mail

Posted by | Jul 1, 2007 | |

Wales’ minister is looking to ban junk mail as part of the Assembly’s commitment to green issues.

The move to boot unwanted competitions, loan offers and credit card applications off our doormats forever would rank alongside the smoking ban as another bold piece of legislation introduced here in the wake of devolution.

The Environment Agency estimates junk mail from households and businesses helps to create 4.6 million tonnes of landfill in Wales every year. In 2004 a National Audit Office report predicted Wales will run out of space for dumping rubbish by 2010.

Ms Davidson’s words echo her proposal last month to ban or enforce a levy on plastic bags in Wales. It is a reflection of the rising importance of environmental concerns among voters.

But any such move would face opposition from Royal Mail, which makes millions every year from contracts with private firms to deliver junk mail.

Responding to the Welsh Minister’s idea, a Royal Mail spokesman spelled out how vital junk mail is to its business.

“Our future depends on it competing effectively in all parts of the market and that includes unaddressed mail. The revenue from unaddressed mail helps keep Royal Mail’s stamp prices among the very lowest in Europe and we believe our customers would prefer our uniformed postmen and women to deliver this mail rather than someone else,” he said.

Figures from industry body the Direct Marketing Association claim junk mail accounts for 814,000 jobs in the UK. In 2005 alone, it generated business worth GBP 107bn.

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