Tag: UK

POD signature capture portal launched by NetDespatch

Posted by | Jan 11, 2007 | |

An industry portal for handling electronic Proof of Delivery (POD) has been launched by NetDespatch. A world first, PODXchange™ is an open Internet exchange that provides a central data hub for parcel carriers to view, search and receive parcel tracking information submitted by any courier. Couriers can submit delivery information for any carrier by sending their status updates and signatures electronically to PODXchange.

Meanwhile, shippers who use different carriers will be able to use PODXchange to track all of their shipments in one place. With a fit-for-all web based reporting mechanism, PODXchange streamlines the use of both internal and sub contract couriers through an off-the-shelf solution for processing electronically submitted collection and delivery information.

PODXchange is a ground-breaking development in the parcel industry, both in the UK and abroad. It gives carriers complete freedom to use any third party courier knowing that they will be equipped to provide data in the right format. With live status updates and POD signatures posted directly to the web portal, all consignment details are available immediately for customers to view and for importing into a carrier’s own tracking system.

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New Network Director for the Post Office

Posted by | Jan 10, 2007 | |

Retail executive Paula Vennells, who has worked with many of the UK’s leading consumer brands, has joined the Post Office® in the key role of Network Director.

She brings with her a wealth of experience from a range of companies including the Whitbread Group, Argos, Great Universal Stores, Sears, Dixons Stores Group, Reed International and Lunn Poly.

Paula, who also joins the Post Office Executive Team, said: “I’m very pleased to be joining the Post Office and to be taking on a central role in a network that serves 24m customers a week.”

She will report to Post Office Managing Director Alan Cook, who said: “I’m delighted to welcome Paula. She has the skills and background that make her ideally equipped for the job.”

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Siemens wins 55 million euro order from Royal Mail

Posted by | Jan 9, 2007 | |

Siemens Industrial Solutions and Services Group (I&S) has won a 55 million euro order from Royal Mail, the British postal service provider, to upgrade its Integrated Mail Processor Systems (IMP) for standard letter sorting. The systems will be fitted with new letter flow and reading equipment which will increase throughput by up to 20 percent. Conversion work is due to be completed by October 2008.

The IMP sorting systems from the I&S Postal Automation Division were put into operation between 1996 and 2002 and form the foundation of automatic letter processing at Royal Mail. The systems can perform the entire letter processing functions – such as preprocessing, reading, coding and sorting – in one process operation. Installing the Advanced Color Recognizer system will make new reading technology functions possible. This will enable more letters to be channeled into automated preprocessing and thus reduce manual handling. There will also be further improvements to the letter facing and reading processes. The separation of first and second class mail will become simpler and more efficient. Moreover, the recognition of postage stamps, meter marks, barcodes and electronic stamps will provide automated revenue protection.

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Government department snubs Royal Mail over GBP12m postal contract

Posted by | Jan 9, 2007 | |

The Communication Workers Union (UK) yesterday attacked the decision by the Department for Work and Pensions to award a GBP12m contract for post services to UK Mail, a leading rival to Royal Mail.
The union said it was disappointed that, at a time when the Department of Trade and Industry was finalising plans for investment in Royal Mail’s postal services business, other departments were giving work traditionally done by the state-owned former monopoly to private sector rivals.
The union’s general secretary, Billy Hayes, said: “This is a prime example of how disjointed departments in government are. Instead of using private postal services it is essential that the government understand they have a moral and social responsibility to the network and by not using the service themselves it does not exude confidence to the British public in a government-controlled institution.”
At a time when the DTI was conducting a review of the postal service, it was vital other departments did not make rash decisions which could affect its future, the union said.
A DWP spokesman said it had been urged by the government’s spending watchdog, the National Audit Office, to look at the way it bought postal services to see if it could achieve efficiency savings. The decision to award the contract to UK Mail, a subsidiary of Business Post, followed that review and would save the department about GBP2m over the 13-month life of the agreement.

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Spring's position regarding ‘scam’ mailings in the UK

Posted by | Jan 9, 2007 | |

Spring takes very seriously any concerns about the content of mail but as we have no powers to act as a censor, we work closely with the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) and the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) to identify scam mail and, where necessary, cancel contracts – to date we have cancelled 13 contracts.

It is just not possible to identify scam mail even when the mail is sent in transparent wrapping. A recent mailing claimed to be an example of scam mail was subject to legal action brought against the sender by the OFT. The judge ruled that the mailings were not illegal or scams and ordered the OFT to pay all legal costs.

We allow our customers to use Spring’s UK address when they have no UK address of their own. This is standard practice for all overseas mail and is provided purely to enable undeliverable or response items to be returned to the sender. It does not mean that the mail originates from this address or that the staff in Spring’s UK office are responsible for it.

We do work with the ASA and the OFT to combat the issue of scam mailings and we are the only international mail services provider to have signed an Information Sharing Protocol with the OFT.

Scam mail is a problem that is damaging not just to consumers but everyone involved in our industry. Our future is dependent on a healthy direct mail sector and this is why we constantly review the processes that we have in place to combat the issue.

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