History of US Mail Market
History of US Mail Market
Read MoreTag: USA
Postal Universal Service Obligation (USO) International Comparison
Postal Universal Service Obligation (USO) International Comparison
Read MoreMulti-carrier certified shipping solution
OutBound Shipping System, a provider of automated carrier certified shipping software and solutions, has now integrated the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Global Shipping Solution (GSS) interface into its enterprise shipping software. This integration allows customers to access the easiest method for shipping international USPS parcels. The software streamlines the oftentimes difficult process of generating the correct paperwork for international shipping with USPS. The module can accomplish this by capturing the required information for international shipping, including product codes, value, and requirements of the destination country.
OutBound Shipping System’s multi-carrier certified shipping solution now encompasses USPS, FedEx, DHL, and UPS products and services, and also has a less-than-truckload (LTL) module. The latest edition also features increased application functionality in addition to the integration with USPS.
Read MoreUPS plots bid for TNT
United Parcel Service (UPS) is plotting a EUR 10bn (GB 7.8bn) bid for Dutch rival TNT, a move that could herald the long-awaited consolidation in the global express-delivery business.
UPS has made an informal approach to TNT, its European rival and one of Royal Mail’s biggest competitors in Britain. Despite initial reluctance from TNT, early-stage talks about a potential tie-up have been held in recent days, The Sunday Telegraph has learned.
Soaring fuel costs have hit global courier businesses hard. The share prices of the main firms – UPS and FedEx in American and TNT and DHL in Europe – have suffered in recent months, making consolidation both cheaper and compelling.
UPS, which has a market value of USD 66.24bn and dominates the American delivery market with rival FedEx, has appointed investment bank Morgan Stanley as adviser.
The American company has also brought in strategy consultants AT Kearney to carry out a detailed report on a potential deal with TNT.
Insiders said that AT Kearney has now finished its report and delivered to Morgan Stanley, whose bankers are now spearheading discussions with TNT.
Both UPS and FedEx have eyed TNT’s parcel business for several years but are said to have been put off bidding for the firm because of its slower-growing postal division.
Sources said that UPS’ plans to buy TNT could include selling its postal division, possibly to a private equity buyer. It may instead decide to team up with a buyout firm. It is thought CVC, the European buyout giant, could be interested because it already owns stakes in Belgium postal operator De Post-La Post and Post Danmark, a Danish postal company.
A deal with TNT would deliver to UPS substantial cost savings as well as a vast European reach – something it has been trying to slowly build up in recent years. The company recently forged closer ties to TNT’s main rival, DHL, through its agreement to ferry the Deutsche Post unit’s packages between North American cities.
Read MoreUSPS supports price incentives for full-service IMB
In response to concerns from the mailing community, the US Postal Service said that it will support an additional price incentive for mailers who adopt the full service Intelligent Mail barcode (IMB) option.
“Postcom was very pleased to hear that the Postal Service reconsidered their position on IMB after receiving input from MTAC [Mailers’ Technical Advisory Committee] members,” said Jim O’Brien, chairman of Postcom and VP of distribution and postal affairs for Time Inc.
In an August 8 letter to MTAC members, Stephen M. Kearney, SVP of customer relations at the USPS, wrote that the Postmaster General would recommend to the USPS Board of Governors that full-service IMB prices be lower than basic IMB and POSTNET prices.
As planned, the USPS will be ready for full-service IMBs in May of 2009, Kearney said. A Federal Register notice with additional details related to IMB implementation will be published in the near future, he added.
Kearney’s letter followed concerns voiced at this week’s MTAC meeting in Washington. According to a post on the Association for Postal Commerce Web site, Postmaster General John Potter told meeting attendees that the USPS intended to implement the IMB program without providing cost incentives for mailers adopting the full-service IMB option.
The full-service option will require mailers to use unique IMBs on mail pieces as well as trays and containers. Mailers will also have to electronically submit postage statements and mailing documentation before mailings are inducted, among other requirements.
Read MorePost & Parcel Magazine
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