Union Postale 2004 no 4
Union Postale 2004 no 4
Read MoreTag: Worldwide
Union Postale 2003 no 4
Union Postale 2003 no 4
Read MorePostal policy errs: IPC study
Competition is increasing among different postal providers and mail order companies entering the postal market and has intensified through the growing developments in the electronic sector, logistics and publishing. On the political side, there are discussions and negotiations aimed at liberalizing postal markets and the introduction of new laws and regulations.
However, regulators and lawmakers do not fully understand the economics of the postal industry, according to the International Post Corporation’s CEO, Herbert-Michael Zapf.
The study, entitled “How to Regulate the Postal Industry: An Economic Approach,” said that liberalization of the postal market is being accompanied by new, complex and detailed regulations, but that the economics of the postal business and the dynamics of the postal market are either ignored or not understood.
The study reveals that, in the postal markets, the number of new entrants has made it possible to create an alternative postal infrastructure, clearly demonstrating that a monopoly does not exist.
Investments in the postal industry are neither extremely high, nor predominantly low.
The study says, “The role of postal market regulation is not to create competition, but rather to create a framework that allows for competition. Regulators that today set out to create a high level of competition within a short period of time have failed to understand the postal market correctly.”
The study highlights the fact that the objective of postal market regulation today is not to apportion the postal market. Instead the objective is to create an environment in which the market can grow.
The postal market is neither self-contained, nor are there entry barriers on the demand side. Competitive interaction exists to a high degree with other industries, such as the electronic commerce and logistics industries, according to the findings.
Read MoreThe international reply coupon turns 100
With 2.2 million sold each year, the international reply coupon is a much-traveled centenarian which has been of service to generations of postal customers. This method for the prepayment of postage was first introduced by the UPU International Bureau on 1 October 1907, in response to a proposal by the “British Colonies of Australasia”, which wished to see a system already in use domestically in several countries – the ability to prepay the postage charge for a correspondent from whom a reply was expected – extended worldwide.
Acting on this request, the 1906 Universal Postal Union Congress in Rome created the international reply coupon. At the time, this new coupon could be exchanged for postage stamps valued at 25 gold centimes in all UPU member countries that had signed the corresponding agreement. The IRC was to evolve further at subsequent Congresses: the exchange of coupons by UPU member countries became mandatory; the minimum selling price was increased several times; time limits for exchanging coupons were introduced; and liquidation accounts were set up for given periods.
Since 1907, seven different types of IRCs have been designed and printed by the UPU, and put on sale by member countries. The current version is known as Beijing 2. It was launched on 1 July 2006, and is valid until 31 December 2009. Reply coupons are currently sold by 121 postal administrations. But while not all countries sell IRCs, all the postal administrations of the UPU’s 191 member countries, and their territories, are required to exchange them.
Read MoreDHL expands Import Express Online service
DHL today announced that its Import Express Online service continues to increase its scope, now serving 95 countries worldwide, including the top 30 U.S. trade lanes. Import Express Online is a web-based tool that provides importers with full control over their import or third-party (country-to-country) shipments.
Import Express Online gives customers the ability to ship with ease, providing them with full visibility and control during the shipment process. With a few simple clicks online, the importer can specify all instructions for their shipment – including terms of sale, pickup schedule, service levels, and amount of insurance desired – eliminating the time and expense of filling out forms manually. All waybill numbers for tracking are easily accessible in the system during the entire shipment process, with automatic shipment status notifications sent via e-mail throughout the shipment lifecycle.
Since DHL Import Express Online was launched in Fall of 2006, usage has achieved double-digit growth rates as new and current DHL customers leverage DHL’s global reach and import expertise with a web interface that emphasizes superior customer service and ease of use.
Countries added in the last year since the Import Express Online launch include: Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Finland, Italy, Kenya, Latvia, Morocco, Norway, Poland, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom.
Read MorePost & Parcel Magazine
Post & Parcel Magazine is our print publication, released 3 times a year. Packed with original content and thought-provoking features, Post & Parcel Magazine is a must-read for those who want the inside track on the industry.