Tag: North America

Survey indicates DHL is closing the gap on U.S. competitors

Posted by | Sep 15, 2006 | |

Express and logistics services provider DHL is taking measured steps to gauge its performance in the United States in comparison to its two biggest competitors-UPS and FedEx.
In a media conference call held on September 14, John Mullen, CEO of DHL Americas, shared the results of an independent study commissioned by DHL. The study focused on how DHL matched up to UPS and FedEx on transit times throughout various regions of the United States.
The study, which was conducted in July, measured the three companies on 10:30 a.m. overnight express delivery, which Mullen described as the most critical to business and most difficult to perform to and is recognized as the flagship product for all three carriers. It focused on 14,400 shipments that were sent between 44 major U.S. cities across 480 traffic lanes during the month of July.
The purpose of the survey, which was overseen by PA consulting, was to provide data that would independently validate DHL’s internal and external performance levels. All data used in the study was collected and delivered to PA’s data center on a daily basis. , and PA checked delivery times and late deliveries against the carriers Web sites.
And the survey’s final delivery reliability tally indicated that DHL’s U.S. performance of 90.66 was nearly identical to UPS’ 90.83, with FedEx registering a rating of 88.02.

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USPS rate proposal shifts more costs from major mailers to individual customers

Posted by | Sep 14, 2006 | |

Analyzing the Postal Service’s own data, APWU testimony before the Postal Rate Commission has demonstrated that proposed increases in the price of postage would expand a controversial USPS policy – shifting costs from large corporate mailers to small businesses and individual citizens.

Testimony submitted on Sept. 6 shows that new rates requested by the Postal Service would increase excessive discounts to major mailers who presort their mail, and, as a result, force small businesses and individual customers who do not presort their mail to pay more.

The report, prepared by economist Kathryn Kobe, the director of Price, Wage and Productivity Analysis for Economic Consulting Services, found that the suggested presort discounts are considerably larger than the costs the Postal Service would avoid as a result of worksharing. The testimony was submitted in response to the postage rate proposal filed by the USPS on May 3.

If discounts were properly set, Kobe asserts, postage for patrons who do not presort their mail could be increased to only 41 cents per first-class letter instead of 42 cents, as the USPS has proposed.

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Closing the deal over the web; DHL web site has what it takes to connect with customers

Posted by | Sep 14, 2006 | |

What’s the secret to building a web site that actually helps customers and keeps them coming back for more? In a story that ran in this week’s issue of BtoB Magazine, DHL’s U.S. web site, http://www.dhl-usa.com, was featured as one of the “10 Great Websites” of 2006 for its focus on the customer. It’s no secret that an on-line presence is the price of entry for almost any business, but a close partnership with current and potential users of your web site during every step of the design process is the catalyst for online success.

BtoB Magazine put DHL’s U.S. web site to the test with leading online marketing experts and usability consultants. According to these experts, the DHL site was chosen as a top web site due to its ease of navigation, embodiment of the corporate brand, and ease of accomplishing business-oriented tasks.

“In just the first year since the launch of the site, DHL has seen a 7 per cent increase in online shipping transactions,” said Mike Heilman, VP of eCommerce for DHL. “Smart web site development isn’t about creating slick features and posting marketing material. We’re able to consistently win customers based on a superior customer web experience that focuses on customers’ transactional needs and exceeds the expectations of visitors to the site,” noted Heilman.

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Postal Service cuts USD1.1B from budget

Posted by | Sep 13, 2006 | |

The U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors has approved a fiscal 2007 financial plan that includes USD1.1 billion in cost reductions, including a planned decrease of 40 million work-hours and a 0.5 percent dip in overall mail volume.
The Postal Service said it will still provide universal service to an expanding delivery network, and that savings will come from automation improvements. The plan, announced late Tuesday, assumes continued slower growth in the U.S. economy and implementation of postage price adjustments in May that based rates on the shape of packages versus only the weight.

The plan also calls for a 3.2 percent increase in revenue and a 2.6 percent increase in expenses over the current year’s forecast, resulting in USD1.7 billion in net income. But an estimated USD3.3 billion escrow requirement results in a loss after escrow of USD1.6 billion.

H. Glen Walker, the Postal Service’s chief financial officer, said the plan carried greater risk than previous years’ forecasts because of the pending rate change, labor negotiations with its four largest unions, ‘and uncertainties with the economy, including fuel prices.’

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