2008 Competitive Market Review L13983
2008 Competitive Market Review
Read MoreTag: Royal Mail
Postcomm reports: Business Customer Survey and Competitive Market Review
The importance of mail to business users features strongly in the 2008 Business Customer Survey published by Postcomm.
Almost half of the survey’s respondents regard mail as a ‘core activity’ of their business, and a further 31 per cent say it is critical for communication with their customers. Only 17 per cent report that mail is used simply for administrative purposes. This year almost a quarter of respondents said they were using more than one provider of mail services.
The effect of electronic communication on the postal market – and ways in which the internet and mail complement each other – are clearly demonstrated in Postcomm’s annual review of the postal market, the 2008 Competitive Market Review, also published.
The Business Customer Survey collected information from more than 1,800 businesses, ranging from ‘super top’ users spending GBP 2 million a year or more on mail, to very small companies with an annual mail budget of GBP 5000 – GBP 10,000.
Royal Mail adds 40 MAN TGS tractors to fleet (UK)
Royal Mail has added 40 MAN TGS tractor units to its fleet – the first time a MAN tractor has appeared in the distinctive red. The TGS 18.400 4×2 BLS units are already in operation, running out of Royal Mail’s Birmingham mail centre.
Steve Walker, Head of Distribution at Royal Mail, says the potential reduction in running costs offered by MAN’s EGR ‘Add Nothing’ engine technology ticked all his boxes.
“Fuel economy has always been the largest running cost and, with today’s price of fuel at an all-time high, we’ll take a look at any potential improvement in consumption. With no costs and complexities of AdBlue to worry about, MAN’s a simpler solution.”
New body created after Energywatch and Postwatch merge (UK)
The formation of the new Consumer Focus organisation happens on 1st October – but some MPs remain to be convinced over its effectiveness.
Energywatch joined forces with two other campaigning groups to form a new, merged, watchdog today.
The gas and electricity consumers’ group, the National Consumer Council and Postwatch (which supervised the postal service) have now formed the new Consumer Focus organisation. It will function primarily as a voice for British people, lobbying the government for fairer treatment.
Around GBP 15 million a year in public money will go towards funding the organisation and the creation of a new ombudsman scheme – which is set to rule on customer complaints regarding both the energy and the postal sectors.
Business secretary John Hutton said: “These changes will help consumers get a better deal. One single body, rather than three, means a stronger voice holding business and government to account. It means a more joined up approach to tackling problems.”
He added: “Energy companies will have to take greater responsibility for handling complaints or face significant fines. And where complaints can’t be resolved voluntarily, new redress schemes give the system teeth.”
Read MoreRoyal Mail offers ‘green’ discount (UK)
Royal Mail’s wholesale division is launching a new service that gives its customers a discounted price for direct mail campaigns that meet criteria designed to reduce their environmental impact.
To qualify for discounts of up to 0.7 pence per item on downstream access prices, businesses will have to meet a range of standards to reduce unnecessary direct mail production through improved use of data services, including suppression of addressees who do not wish to receive direct mail. The responsible sourcing of materials and action to encourage the recycling of the mail piece also form part of the scheme’s specification.
The new service is based on two levels of participation – entry level receives a price discount of 0.3 pence per item, while companies who meet the intermediate criteria receive an additional 0.4 pence per item reduction.
Royal Mail has also identified further criteria that it will consider implementing as a third phase, benefiting the most advanced direct mail users through further discounts. The full specification can be found on Royal Mail Wholesale’s website at royalmailwholesale.com
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