Tag: Worldwide

RFID is Poised for Change

Posted by | Dec 12, 2007 | |

The prosperous RFID business is on track to grow from about USD 5 billion in 2007 today to over USD 25 billion in 2017. Without collusion, most analysts agree to figures in that region and several of them see huge volumes of extremely low cost tags forming a part of the growth – even hundreds of billions in ten years from now. This seems to sit awkwardly with some press reporting that RFID retail initiatives have stalled. As one of those analysts, let IDTechEx explain.

Basic rules of marketing

Firstly, selling RFID to consumer goods companies mandated by major retailers usually breaks one of the fundamental rules of marketing “Never sell to someone who does not want to buy from you”. Most of the consumer goods companies in the USA see no payback from fitting the passive UHF labels mandated by retailers, indeed, they may have lost a mutual USD 100 million so far trying to do so, despite the RFID suppliers losing a similar sum selling tags and readers to them at a loss. The consumer goods companies are therefore quick to point out the technical problems and they use any other valid reason to delay. The contrast with the booming sectors of RFID (almost all other sectors) is stark.

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Royal Mail faces investigation over late letters

Posted by | Dec 10, 2007 | |

Royal Mail is facing an investigation over claims that letters are being delivered late because postmen are failing to complete their rounds.

The mail watchdog, Postwatch, will look into the issue after receiving complaints from the organisation’s staff as well as customers.

Problems with postal deliveries have been blamed on new working practices introduced after strikes by the Communication Workers Union, and a new 56 mph speed limit for lorries, which means that mail is arriving later at sorting offices.

Postwatch will survey thousands of householders to find out whether mail is arriving on time.

The investigation will focus on a practice known as “cutting off”, where workers take undelivered mail back to the delivery office at the end of a shift, rather than finishing the round in overtime.

Royal Mail says it has already fitted its lorries with speed limiters in advance of European Union rules which will restrict their speed from January 1.

Postal workers, writing in an online forum, have threatened to disrupt deliveries at Christmas. One said: “I am cutting off every day in December.” Another said: “I for one will be finishing at my time.”

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TNT update on 'Focus on Networks' strategy – UK tax matters settled, Dividend pay-out up to 40 pct by 2010, Next tranche share buyback of EUR 100 million announced

Posted by | Dec 6, 2007 | |

Key announcements by the Board of Management include:

– The outlook for the year 2007 is confirmed;
-The Express business segment sharpens its growth objectives for the period 2008-2012 and enhances transparency by adding objectives for its emerging platforms;
– The Mail business gives an update on the negotiations with the unions regarding the restructuring in Mail Netherlands and refines the objectives for its emerging businesses to include Parcels and European Mail Networks;
– TNT indicates restructuring charges in a range of GBP 125-175 million in Mail for the period 2007-2009, following earlier announcements, leading to GBP 150 million savings in 2008/2009, growing to GBP 360 million annually as of 2015;
– The indicated range includes all charges for the earlier announced Master plans and restructuring of Parcels UK;
– The recent protectionist developments on postal liberalisation in Germany have led to a full revision of TNT’s position in the German mail market, with further restructuring as a possible outcome;
-TNT has notified the appropriate Government authorities in The Netherlands about its concerns that there is clearly no level playing field in Germany and the UK;
-The Group has begun to investigate further accelerated growth in the shifting competitive environment of delivery networks;

As for the financial strategy, TNT makes various announcements, of which the main ones are:
– Sharper and more transparent financial objectives for all businesses;
– The objective to reduce the effective tax rate from 32 pct in 2006 to a range of 25-26 pct by 2010;
– The intention to grow the dividend pay-out from today’s ~35% of normalised net income to 40 pct by 2010. Including the underlying growth of TNT’s earnings, this will further fuel the growth of cash returns per share;
– An additional tranche of EUR100 million of share buybacks, under the earlier announced EUR 500 million programme, on top of the EUR 200 million currently underway.
In its financial strategy, TNT will continue to drive value aimed at its shareholders and other stakeholders in the short, medium and long term. This will include incidental share buybacks from excess cash going forward.

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