Tag: UK

The Pallet Network trials reduced time frame for RDC deliveries

Posted by | Sep 19, 2007 | |

(TPN) and its members are trialling a system to cut the amount of time trucks are sat waiting to make deliveries into RDCs. At a meeting of TPN members in July this issue was raised as a major concern for all hauliers and as a result trial has been set up. Adam Leonard, managing director at TPN, says an increasing proportion of the deliveries made through the network were into RDCs.

“Our members are fed up with queuing and losing the vehicle for hours if not a whole day, while it waits to make a delivery at an RDC and so we are trialling a system where we will only make deliveries into RDCs between 9am and 2pm.” He adds the problems are symptomatic of the fact that major retailers are putting the squeeze on their suppliers. “The trial is a fairly radical step [designed to] prevent the rest of our members’ customers being penalised because the trucks carrying their deliveries are stuck in an RDC.”

Leonard admits that the policy has resulted in some “tough” conversations with the retail customers of some members. “But there needs to be sensible dialogue so the retailers understand why we are doing this. “This is something that collectively the pallet networks should be addressing with the major retailers because it is not cost effective for the transport industry,” he says.

The trail is due to run for a month, after which TPN will collect feedback from the members and decide whether to extend the policy more permanently. Jack Semple, director of policy at the Road Haulage Association, says that the way hauliers are forced to wait at RDCs is not green and it is uneconomic. “The users of transport services need to take on board the realities of the haulage industry.”

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TPN trials reduced time frame for RDC deliveries

Posted by | Sep 19, 2007 | |

The Pallet Network (TPN) and its members are trialling a system to cut the amount of time trucks are sat waiting to make deliveries into RDCs. At a meeting of TPN members in July this issue was raised as a major concern for all hauliers and as a result trial has been set up. Adam Leonard, managing director at TPN, says an increasing proportion of the deliveries made through the network were into RDCs.

“Our members are fed up with queuing and losing the vehicle for hours if not a whole day, while it waits to make a delivery at an RDC and so we are trialling a system where we will only make deliveries into RDCs between 9am and 2pm.” He adds the problems are symptomatic of the fact that major retailers are putting the squeeze on their suppliers. “The trial is a fairly radical step [designed to] prevent the rest of our members’ customers being penalised because the trucks carrying their deliveries are stuck in an RDC.”

Leonard admits that the policy has resulted in some “tough” conversations with the retail customers of some members. “But there needs to be sensible dialogue so the retailers understand why we are doing this.”This is something that collectively the pallet networks should be addressing with the major retailers because it is not cost effective for the transport industry,” he says.

The trail is due to run for a month, after which TPN will collect feedback from the members and decide whether to extend the policy more permanently.

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UK etailers failing to provide contact details – survey

Posted by | Sep 19, 2007 | |

A new study of the UK’s online retailers has revealed that many e-commerce sites are not offering customers a range of contact details, while many offer limited delivery options and no customer feedback features.

The survey, from website monitoring firm NetExtract analysed a sample of 10,000 e-commerce websites in the UK. It found that many e-commerce sites are missing very basic options.

Findings of the survey:

Contact details
Incredibly. 60% of UK online retailers provided no telephone number on their website, 43% displayed no business address, while 39% had no contact email address.

In addition, 30% of sites profiled provided no telephone number or email address.

This is surprising, given that providing contact details is a very basic thing for websites, and is absolutely essential as a way of reinforcing customer trust. I would never buy anything from such a site, and a recent UK survey suggested that 50% of online shoppers wouldn’t buy without contact details either.

Delivery options
11% of etailers provided a free postage or delivery service, while only 15% offered a next day or Special Delivery service. Of the delivery companies named on the websites Royal Mail was identified in 17% of cases.

Customer reviews
The study found that only 38% of online retailers have a testimonial or comments section on their website.

More than half of the UK’s online consumers say that reviews are important in the buying process, while similar numbers have more trust and respect for those brands which display reviews.

Our recent Social Commerce Report found that online retailers are beginning to catch on. Our report found that customer ratings/reviews are being used by 28% of online retailers, and that more than half were considering adding such a feature to their websites.

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Costly Chatter and Baffling Bills

Posted by | Sep 19, 2007 | |

Telecoms bills are a major source of confusion for UK residents – according to a new report from the Post Office out today.

It revealed that the average household using mobile and landline phones is around GBP 79 out when estimating their bills, meaning the UK public appears to have little idea of the real cost of chatting.

The report showed the best budgeters to be the canny Scots, with a combined annual miscalculation of just GBP 58 per household. Londoners languished at the back of the line, with an average miscalculation of GBP 134 per household.

Experts have blamed this inability to accurately budget for telecoms costs on unclear billing processes and surprise hidden charges, as well as people not thinking about the cost before making a call.

The research also showed that people found it easier to estimate their internet bills than other telecoms costs – with the average home connected to the internet miscalculating bills by only GBP 3 per year.

Work is underway by the Post Office to launch a broadband service in the autumn that will compete head to head with the major players in the market by offering a great value for money deal.

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TNT restructures express services

Posted by | Sep 17, 2007 | |

TNT claimed its emphasis on morning deliveries, which it is backing with an international communications campaign under the “Good Morning!” theme, was unique in the market.

The key to TNT’s restructuring is close integration between its road and air networks. Nigel Barton, strategic operations director, said TNT was the only integrator with fully merged road and air operations in Europe, operating 3,700 linehauls a week.

The company has an intraregional focus rather than the intercontinental focus of its main express rivals.

Marie-Christine Lombard, group MD for TNT Express, said the company would operate only on selected long haul routes, but was seeking to replicate its European regional road/air model in markets such as Brazil, India and China, where it has acquired large domestic players in the last two years.

TNT has calculated its share of Europe’s GBP 21bn (USD 26.8 bn) express market at 17 pct , ahead of DHL on 16 pct. Lombard said it was a great opportunity that “others” outside the main integrators and post offices still accounted for 48 pct of the market, since so many smaller players were “destination specialists” offering just one or two countries.

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