Tag: Royal Mail

Royal Mail’s performance is slipping (UK)

Posted by | Jul 30, 2008 | |

Postwatch commissioned Ipsos MORI to establish whether customers perceived Royal Mail service had improved, stood still or declined over the past two years.
The results showed that 43 per cent thought it was worse, 42 per cent believed it was the same and only 14 per cent that it was better.
Millie Banerjee, Chair of Postwatch, commenting on the results said: “It is not surprising that the vast majority of customers believe Royal Mail’s performance was either getting worse or was standing still during a two year period which included major disruption caused by industrial action.
“Many deliveries are made later in the day than they used to be. Some customers will consider this to be a worse service even if on average during the two years more 1st class mail was delivered next day than previously. It is important that customer perception is dealt with alongside the hard figures of Royal Mail’s performance.
“Adam Crozier has acknowledged that Royal Mail needs to become more customer-focused. It certainly needs to engage with customers to show it really does care about every item of mail arriving safely and on time. It needs to start to talk up mail as a product. These findings should give Royal Mail food for thought. Royal Mail must both be and be seen to be confident, customer-focused and efficient. Gloomy statements about the poor state of the postal industry damage customer confidence and perceptions and do nothing to improve Royal Mail’s position.”
Ipsos MORI conducted the survey by telephone using random digit dialling from the 2 to 6 July 2008. A representative sample of 2036 adults, across all age and socio-economic groups in England, Scotland and Wales were asked for their opinions.

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Royal Mail selects Intermec CN3 Mobile Computer to improve service to customers

Posted by | Jul 30, 2008 | |

Intermec has announced that Royal Mail has awarded Intermec a contract to provide over 25,000 of its rugged, handheld CN3 mobile computers.

The Intermec CN3 mobile computers have been chosen as part of Royal Mail’s investment in new technology to modernise the business, improve efficiency and customer service while cutting operational costs.

The Intermec CN3 mobile computer will enable Royal Mail to improve on its current paper-based system for collecting signatures for the majority of its tracked products, including Special Delivery and Recorded Signed for services. A signature will be collected on the handheld device which is then sent via GPRS wireless technology to enable sending customers to confirm delivery, and view the signature, within 15 minutes. The CN3 mobile computers will be rolled out to postmen and women who deliver guaranteed delivery items by van from late summer.

As the leader of the class of small, advanced, rugged mobile computers, the CN3, with up to four integrated radios including GPS, enables more expedient processes for the mobile worker through 1D and 2D bar code scanning. The CN3 handheld also runs Windows Mobile which supports direct push wireless email giving the Royal Mail users real-time connectivity with the corporate network.

Pat Byrne, Intermec President and CEO added, “As one of the major trend-setters in European and global postal services, Royal Mail is strengthening its leadership position with the selection of the CN3. As the global supply chain continues to evolve, in-transit visibility will have a significant impact on improving customer service and revenue generation.”

Intermec will provide further commentary regarding the announcement on its upcoming earnings conference call on 31st July.

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Royal Mail workers get mobile computers (UK)

Posted by | Jul 30, 2008 | |

After extensive trials, Royal Mail has finally chosen a supplier for the hand-held computers it wants to introduce to its delivery network. Postal workers across the country will soon become very familiar with the new CN3 units as Royal Mail takes one further step forward on its modernisation plan.

The contract has gone to Intermec which will be providing some 25,000 units. Royal Mail said the CN3 hand-helds were easy to use and had fared well during trials. The units can scan barcodes and log digital signatures, similar to those already being used by other parcel carriers alerting the sender of items like special delivery within 15 minutes. The CN3 is also fitted with GPS.

The Intermec CN3 mobile computer will enable Royal Mail to improve on its current paper-based system for collecting signatures for the majority of its tracked products, including Special Delivery and Recorded Signed for services. A signature will be collected on the handheld device which is then sent via GPRS wireless technology to enable sending customers to confirm delivery, and view the signature, within 15 minutes. The CN3 mobile computers will be rolled out to postmen and women who deliver guaranteed delivery items by van starting late this summer.

The CN3, with up to four integrated radios including GPS, enables more expedient processes for the mobile worker through 1D and 2D bar code scanning. The CN3 handheld also runs Windows Mobile(R) which supports direct push wireless email giving the Royal Mail users real-time connectivity with the corporate network.

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Poste Italiane helps pave the way for the delivery of electronic postmarks

Posted by | Jul 30, 2008 | |

Poste Italiane’s Director General, Massimo Sarmi introduced an application to enable Posts the world over to deliver electronic postal certification marks.

The plug-in developed by Poste Italiane with the help of Microsoft applies an electronic postal certification mark that provides evidential proof of an electronic event, in a certain form, at a certain time, and involving one or more parties. This certification mark can be seen as the electronic equivalent of a registered letter. It brings all the benefits of the traditional paper-based postmark to electronic documents. Features such as date and time stamping, digital identity capture, content verification and encryption prove that the content of an electronic message has not been altered. The electronic postal certification mark acts as evidence of who signed what and when.

The Advanced Electronic Services user group, part of the UPU’s Telematics Cooperative (an association of UPU member countries that work together to develop technical applications for the benefit of the postal world), and countries currently using electronic postmarks also contributed their expertise to the project. These include Belgium, Canada, France, Italy, Portugal and the United States.

With this application, the UPU will work to provide member countries wishing to offer electronic postal certification marks the necessary infrastructure to do so.

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GLS opens new depot in Netherlands

Posted by | Jul 29, 2008 | |

GLS opened a new depot in Alkmaar, Netherlands, replacing its smaller facility.

The new EUR 250,000 depot with 34 staff has the capacity to handle up to 8,000 parcels per day. It is located on a 3,800 sqm plot of land and has 38 docks for vehicles.

Due to the company’s high performance and safety requirements, the reserves of the old facility were exhausted, GLS said. Last year the parcel volumes of GLS Netherlands increased by 5 pct.

“As a start we currently handle 4,000 parcels per day”, says Milo Kars, Director Sales and Operations, GLS Netherlands. “Since we can extend the shipment volumes without difficulty anytime, we will have enough leeway upwards considering our continuing positive development.”

The company invested in a state-of-the-art security system and video surveillance equipment. A total of 30 cameras control all shipments on their way through the depot connecting the recordings with barcode scanning data. “Parcel handling in Alkmaar is not only faster but also safer”, comments Kars. “We can trace back each individual shipment in a reliable way.”

GLS Netherlands said that the new location close to the motorway will benefit customers throughout the region.

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