POSTAL NEWS
No 72 -2018
Formulated by UNI Apro Post and Logistics Sector
Pay issues cause financial loss for Canada Post. September 4, 2018.
Free flu jab for Royal Mail & Parcelforce workers.
September 3 2018.
Senate cancels postal service hearing; Trump's Amazon crusade delayed. August 31, 2018.
DHL supports "Bread-&&-Butter by Zalando".
August 30, 2018.
UPS Launch Technology Company To Streamline Online Orders. August 29, 2018.
Pay issues cause financial loss for Canada Post
September 4, 2018
Canada Post recorded a loss before tax of C$242m (US$184m) for the second quarter of 2018, in recognition of estimated costs associated with adjusting how delivery employees in suburban and rural Canada (RSMC) are paid.
In 2016, the Corporation and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers jointly agreed to put the system by which RSMC employees are paid to an arbitrator. A ruling issued on May 31, 2018, gave the parties helpful guidance on several aspects and 90 days to reach an agreement.
A mediation process is under way to reach a negotiated settlement. Once the process is completed, the corporation will be in a position to disclose the financial impact of the settlement, which may differ significantly from the estimates recognized in this quarter.
The Canada Post segment’s C$242m (US$184m) loss before tax for the second quarter compares to a C$27m (US$20m) profit before tax in the second quarter of 2017.
For the first two quarters of 2018, Canada Post is reporting a loss before tax of C$172m (US$130m) compared to a profit before tax of C$77m (US$58.5m) for the same period in 2017.
Source : . https://www.postalandparceltechnologyinternational.com/news
Free flu jab for Royal Mail & Parcelforce workers
September 3 2018
All Royal Mail and Parcelforce staff will be given vouchers this month for influenza vaccinations, after an agreement was reached between the union and the company.
The coupons, which will be sent out to employees via either direct mailings or as inserts in staff publications, can be redeemed at local branches of Lloyds Pharmacy, but must be produced with the individual’s Royal Mail Group ID card.
“Over 31,000 Royal Mail and Parcelforce workers were affected by the flu outbreak that hit the UK and this resulted in 127,000 days lost to the bug,” said CWU national health, safety and environment officer Dave Joyce, who added that this also had a detrimental effect on postal services in some areas.
In order to try to prevent a repetition, Newcastle Amal Branch brought a motion to this year’s annual conference instructing the union’s leadership toseek agreement with Royal Mail Group to ensure that the provision of flu jabs as early as possible prior to the onset of winter.
And this new agreement is a result of discussions arising from that resolution.
“We’re encouraging members to take up this offer and there will be a publicity campaign highlighting the free flu jab, with posters in workplaces and other communications,” Dave continued.
The vouchers for the free Flu jab will be sent to employee home addresses either by a direct mailing or as an insert in staff magazines, depending on which part of the RM Group individuals work in, he explained.
In a direct message to members, Dave said: “If you can, you should try to get your jabs done during September or October, before winter sets in.
Source : https://www.cwu.org/news
Senate cancels postal service hearing; Trump's Amazon crusade delayed
August 31, 2018
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A Senate hearing about reforming the U.S. Postal Service that could have scrutinized what Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) and others pay for package delivery has been delayed, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters, moving back President Donald Trump’s effort to hike the world’s largest online retailer’s rates.
Trump has repeatedly attacked Amazon on Twitter for treating the Postal Service as its “delivery boy” by paying less than it should for deliveries and contributing to the service’s $65 billion loss since the global financial crisis of 2007-2009, without presenting evidence.
The president ordered a task force in April to study the Postal Service, an independent establishment of the executive branch of the U.S. government, looking at its financial health and what it charges customers such as Amazon for package deliveries, in a report due Aug. 10.
However, the White House has decided it will not yet release the report, forcing the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs to postpone a hearing on postal reform that was planned for Sept. 5, the sources said. One said the hearing was postponed “indefinitely.”
That means any legislation that raised the Postal Service’s rates on Amazon and other shippers has been kicked further into the future.
The task force briefed the president on its preliminary findings and recommendations earlier this month, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Treasury Department, which is in charge of the task force, told Reuters.
“The task force will continue our work to identify solutions to strengthen the USPS business model driving toward a public report before the end of the year,” she said. “It is clear that the governance of USPS must be fixed and we encourage Congress to take actions towards that goal.”
The rates the Postal Service charges Amazon and other bulk customers are not made public. Federal regulators that review contracts made by the service have not raised any issues with the terms of its deal with Amazon.
Trump’s attacks on Amazon have gone hand-in-hand with attacks on its founder and Chief Executive Jeff Bezos, who privately owns the Washington Post, which has published several articles critical of Trump’s campaign and presidency.
Trump has described the newspaper as Amazon’s “chief lobbyist.” The Washington Post’s top editor has said Bezos has no involvement in its news coverage.
The president’s tweets attacking Amazon temporarily knocked down its stock earlier this year on fears that government action prompted by Trump might hurt the company’s profits. The shares have since recovered and Amazon is on track to become only the second U.S. publicly traded company with a stock market value of more than $1 trillion, alongside Apple Inc (AAPL.O).
Amazon did not return a request for comment.
The retailer and cloud-computing firm is only one of several that have attracted Trump’s ire. He attacked Boeing Co (BA.N) over a previous Air Force One deal. Earlier this week, he accused Alphabet Inc (GOOGL.O) subsidiary Google’s search engine of promoting negative news articles and hiding “fair media” coverage of him, without presenting evidence.
Source : https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-post-office-amazon-com
DHL supports "Bread-&&-Butter by Zalando"
August 30, 2018
As a long-standing partner to Zalando DHL will be offering special shipping services for visitors at the "Bread-&&-Butter by Zalando" in Berlin (Aug. 31 - Sept. 2, 2018).
As a long-standing partner to Zalando, Europes leading online-platform for fashion and lifestyle, DHL will be offering special shipping services for visitors at the "Bread-&&-Butter by Zalando" in Berlin (Aug. 31 - Sept. 2, 2018). Anyone buying a product at one of the more than 40 "Brand Pop-Ups" will be able to send their purchases home free of charge via the DHL Service Point (District 2, Stand 03), leaving them free to enjoy the event without the hassle of carrying bags. Whether it be carbon-neutral delivery with DHL's "GoGreen" service or arranging parcel delivery on a preferred day to a preferred location - with DHL's Wunschpaket services, the parcel will be delivered as desired.
This special commitment underlines DHL's position as a global logistics partner to the fashion world. The company supports the leading industry events worldwide, works with major fashion associations and presents awards to up-and-coming young designers. DHL has been a partner to various Fashion Week events since 2008 and offers tailor-made services to ensure the designers' collection samples are delivered punctually and reliably to the shows. Current commitments include partnerships with the Fashion Weeks in London and Copenhagen, Amazon Fashion Week Tokyo and the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Weeks in Sydney and Moscow. DHL has gathered decades of experience and expertise in the field of fashion logistics, which allow the company to offer comprehensive and tailor-made logistics solutions, including a wide range of services for e-commerce, the supply of boutiques and shopping malls or comprehensive warehouse logistics and value-added services in special fashion distribution centers.
In Berlin, the DHL team at the dedicated "Bread-&&-Butter by Zalando" service point will be supported by the fully automated "EffiBOT" robot trolley, affording visitors to the stand exciting insights into the logistics of the future. Visitors to the DHL Service Point can also experience logistics up close via a virtual reality game and will have the opportunity to win items from the acclaimed DHL Capsule Collection from the Paris-based label Vetements.
Source : https://www.dpdhl.com/en/media-relations/press-releases/2018
UPS Launch Technology Company To Streamline Online Orders
August 29, 2018
UPS have this week announced the launch of Ware2Go, a technology company and digital platform that matches available warehouse space and fulfilment services with merchants who need to get online orders to customers fast. The new business augments the company’s suite of custom e-commerce solutions designed to support small and medium-sized companies.
“Ware2Go uses innovative online technology to match excess warehouse and fulfilment capacity with merchant demand to provide transparent inventory, order fulfilment and final delivery,” said Scott Price, Chief Transformation and Strategy Officer. “We’re solving for two major problems: speed to market and efficient warehousing.”
Ware2Go recruits and certifies warehouses in strategic locations, establishing a network of vetted fulfilment partners. Merchants can then position products closer to their customers without the need for researching or vetting providers, or making long-term volume and time commitments. Ware2Go’s cloud-based platform and solution provides merchants with seamless end-to-end order fulfilment – storage, pick/pack fulfilment and shipping – with guaranteed two-day delivery by UPS. Because Ware2Go manages the relationships with warehouses, merchants get the service levels and pricing they might not receive on their own.
Merchants who use Ware2Go sell online, primarily to other businesses, and want fast, consistent, time-in-transit for shipments. They have few distribution centres and could benefit from more warehouse space for rent in other areas of the U.S.
According to industry reports, the demand for warehouse space has outpaced new supply since the end of the recession. Rising rental rates, coupled with e-commerce growth, have shifted warehousing from large centralized sites to localized facilities across major markets.
When a warehouse registers with Ware2Go, the platform matches unused capacity and capabilities with merchants. Ware2Go identifies merchants looking for fulfilment services and then on-boards, manages and bills customers so warehouse operators can fill available capacity quickly and easily without sales teams or administrative oversight. Warehouses can expand their customer network with a simplified management platform that provides visibility and invoicing.
Warehouse operators who use Ware2Go already provide small-package pick and pack but may not have a dedicated sales team. They could benefit from working with customers outside their local area.
“The flexibility Ware2Go offers merchants and warehouse operators, especially companies in the industrial, automotive and tech sectors, means they can compete more effectively and profitably in the market,” said Price. “Ware2Go leverages the scope and scale of UPS’s network to provide an integrated delivery solution to improve management of the order-to-delivery experience.”
Ware2Go was launched in July after an incubation process with BCG Digital Ventures, a corporate investment and incubation firm that owns a minority financial stake. The company is headquartered in Atlanta.
Source : https://postandparcel.info/98036/news
POSTAL NEWS
No 73 -2018
Formulated by UNI Apro Post and Logistics Sector
Proposed USPS Mail Changes Could Affect Industry. September 6, 2018.
Breakthrough: Pakistan Post management agrees to an official meeting with all postal unions. September 5, 2018.
Nonstop Delivery Announces Rebrand to NSD. September 4, 2018.
PostNord and Zalando sign a three year logistics contract. September 4, 2018.
PM Launches India's Largest Payments Bank With Shot At Congress: 10 Facts. September 02, 2018.
Proposed USPS Mail Changes Could Affect Industry
September 6, 2018
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has announced a proposed rule change to its Mailing Standards for Marketing Mail, which could have ramifications on promo firms.
The notice of the rule change, issued by the USPS in the Federal Register, would limit all USPS Marketing Mail, both regular and nonprofit and both letter-size and flat-size, to “content that is only paper-based/printed matter.” No other merchandise or goods of any type would be allowed to be shipped as Marketing Mail.
This means items often sent as direct-mail pieces or promos, such as pens, buttons, magnets and more, would need to be sent by another shipping method, such as Parcel Select or Priority Mail.
While pricing under the new standards remains to be seen, based on the most recent USPS Price List, companies that have paid Marketing Mail rates for direct-mail items would be looking at price increases by several dollars per parcel when the same item is sent by Parcel Select versus Marketing Mail. Meanwhile, the least expensive Priority Mail flat rate envelopes cost $6.70 a piece.
The changes could significantly affect promo firms and their clients that use Marketing Mail rates to send direct-mail marketing pieces, self-promo products and the like. Peter Palermo, general manager of Elm Street Marketing Essentials Powered by Proforma (asi/300094), told Counselor the change would impact his team’s marketing and prospecting strategies.
“We do a tremendous amount of dimensional mail with custom boxes containing promotional products, both for self-promotion and for clients,” Palermo told Counselor. “It’s very effective at opening doors for an appointment, showcasing creative ideas or just sending samples. The increased cost would kill this very effective tactic by more than doubling the postage on these mailings.”
To go into effect, the change would require adoption by the USPS Board of Governors, but it’s already encountering challenges. The Alliance of Nonprofit Mailers has issued a letter to the USPS this week calling the proposed change “unlawful.”
“Nonprofit mailers rely heavily on Marketing Mail that contains merchandise,” the letter goes on to say. “For these kinds of mail matter, Marketing Mail is often the most economical channel of communication, and by a wide margin. Excluding merchandise or goods from Marketing Mail would needlessly deprive the Postal Service of profitable mail volumes, give mailers another incentive to find alternative marketing channels, and force more nonprofit publications to close.”
The Alliance also says that the change would violate a section of the United States Code that entitles nonprofits to mail content at nonprofit Marketing Mail rates.
In the proposal, the USPS lists benefits of the change that include allowing the USPS to track more merchandise, and reducing operational inefficiencies that occur when machines can’t process inflexible letter- or flat-size pieces.
“The Postal Service has many products available to support this shift and seeks to align postal processing with the intentions of its mailing customers,” said Ruth Stevenson, an attorney for the USPS, in the official proposal. “This shift also simplifies the mailing experience: Letter-size and flat-size pieces will move through processing and delivery more efficiently.”
Still, some in the industry aren’t convinced. “In a world of ‘how can we do more for our customers,’ there’s always someone who goes in the opposite direction,” Paul Lage, president of Top 40 supplier Imagen Brands, told Counselor. “It’s not surprising that it’s the USPS, which never seems to make money. Instead of trying to attract customers, they’re steering them away. Instead of updating their equipment, they want to charge more. That sounds like a government program. Someday there will be a company that sees this as an opportunity and will step in and do it all.”
Source : https://www.asicentral.com/news/newsletters/promogram/september-2018
Breakthrough: Pakistan Post management agrees to an official meeting with all postal unions
September 5, 2018
During UNI SCORE’s organizing training, Director General of Pakistan Post, Rubine Tayyeb, agreed to a joint meeting with UNI Global Union and the presidents of the five formal recognized postal unions. This was the first time Pakistan Post management agreed to an official meeting with all postal unions.
On behalf of the unions, Cornelia Broos, Head of Department for UNI Post & Logistics demanded the DG finally recognize the unions in order to set up formal relationships with post management and start negotiations. The unions will now engage in collective bargaining in post towards the first agreement in a decade.
Rajendra Acharya, assistant regional secretary UNI APRO and Fasih ud Din from UNI PALC also present in the meeting will assist and support them in their further work at the regional and national level.
“UNI’s priority is to ensure fair and respectful labour relations all over the world”, said Cornelia Broos.
“We support national unions with our Memorandums of Understandings with the UPU and the APPU and Global Agreements with multinational companies and we will work together to achieve recognition and respect for our affiliates.”
Uptonow, Pakistan Post has refused to establish formal relationships with the unions and hasn't fulfilled Pakistan labour law. In the meeting Ms. Tayyeb made assurances about normalising and formalising the relationship with the unions and engaging in negotiations. She also pledged to ensure that unions fees from postal workers will be transferred to the unions.
Source : https://www.uniglobalunion.org/news
Nonstop Delivery Announces Rebrand to NSD
September 4, 2018
Nonstop Delivery, a leading national provider of last mile delivery and logistics services, today announced the company's rebrand to NSD. The rebranding includes the new name, a redesigned website and new URL (www.shipnsd.com), modernized logo, new graphics and "Going the Extra Mile" tagline.
"Our rebranding to NSD and 'Going the Extra Mile' tagline reflects our evolution over the past 18 years as an innovative leader committed to providing exceptional home delivery solutions and our focus on the customer experience," says Steve Senkus, Founder and CEO of NSD.
In addition to the rebranding initiative, NSD recently completed the expansion of its Corporate Headquarters in Chantilly, VA and the implementation of its enhanced technology platform.
About NSD, Inc.
Founded in 2000 by Steve Senkus, NSD is a leading provider of logistics and transportation services, specializing in home delivery of heavy goods for e-commerce retailers, distributors and manufacturers. NSD offers seamless nationwide last mile and reverse logistics solutions through a network of over 170 delivery terminals. For more information about NSD please visit www.shipnsd.com.
Source : https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases
PostNord and Zalando sign a three year logistics contract
September 4, 2018
The contract covers all of PostNord’s four markets in the Nordic region, where PostNord is the sole supplier of logistics solutions to Zalando.
“We are delighted that Zalando has chosen to extend our relationship. What we provide for them represents PostNord’s core business within the logistics market: consumer parcels across the Nordics. This extension is a testament to our ability to grow with our customers and to deliver strategic services that respond to their ever changing needs,” says Håkan Ericsson, PostNord President and Group CEO.
The contract includes linehaul, i.e. transportation from Zalando warehouses to PostNord terminals, and distribution from terminals to end-customer. Another unique service, developed specifically for Zalando and currently piloted in Stockholm, is free pick-up of returns within one hour at a location of the end-customer’s choice of delivery.
“Our customers are central to our business, and frictionless delivery and returns services are part of our offering to them. Since our expansion to the Nordics, PostNord proved to be a reliable partner for Zalando, increasing the level of convenience and therefore customer satisfaction. That this successful partnership will continue, is a great positive for us and our Nordic customers.” says Kenneth Melchior General Manager Northern Europe, Zalando SE.
Zalando has been a PostNord customer since they entered the Nordic market in 2010. The extended contract will run until July 31st, 2021.
Source : https://www.postnord.com/en/media/press-releases
PM Launches India's Largest Payments Bank With Shot At Congress: 10 Facts
September 02, 2018
India Post Payments Bank: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the IPPB at Talkatora Stadium in Delhi today.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched the India Post Payments Bank or IPPB -- the largest payments bank in the country by network size. A payments bank operates on a small scale; it carries out most banking operations but cannot give loans or issue credit cards directly. The new bank will leverage the postal department's vast network across India and help people in previously unbanked rural locations to use banking services easily, the Prime Minister had said. He also used the occasion to launch a scathing attack on the Congress, saying it had fostered a "phone-a-loan" scam that resulted in the Indian banking sector's huge bad loan problem.
Here's your 10-point cheat sheet to this big story:
"Just a few days after our government came to power, we realised that the Congress had left the nation's economy on a landmine," PM Modi said at the launch event in New Delhi. "Our government brought out the true picture of NPAs (Non-Performing Assests) and the scam of the previous government," he added.
He also said that the IPPB's services will be made operational at 650 branches and more than 1.5 lakh post offices which will be called "access points" by December 31. The move is likely to take banking services to India's hinterlands, the IPPB said.
The IPPB's launch got a shot in the arm from the government in the form of 80 per cent increase in funding to Rs. 1,435 crore earlier this week, which will help the state-run entity compete with big private players like Airtel Payments Bank and Paytm Payments Bank.
The products that IPPB will offer are: savings and current accounts, money transfer, direct benefit transfers, bill and utility payments, and enterprise and merchant payments, the new payments bank said in a statement.
People can use IPPB's products and services via multiple channels such as counter services, ATMs, mobile banking app, SMS and IVR (interactive voice response).
According to analysts, the India Post Payments Bank's strength is the fusion of its legacy workforce with modern technology. The department's three lakh postmen and other associates will reinforce digital services with physical delivery of services.
The IPPB started operations in January last year with two experimental branches, one at Raipur in Chhattisgarh and the other at Ranchi in Jharkhand.
Deposits up to Rs. 1 lakh can be accepted by payments banks. Though they can't give loans, they may offer third-party products. IPPB will work as an agent of Punjab National Bank.
Seventeen crore postal savings bank (PSB) accounts will be linked with India Post Payments Bank accounts, giving an edge over private players who have had to spend a lot to acquire customers.
"IPPB has been envisioned as an accessible, affordable and trusted bank for the common citizen, to help speedily achieve the financial inclusion objectives of the Union Government," the Prime Minister's Office had tweeted before the launch on Saturday.
Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news
No 72 -2018
Formulated by UNI Apro Post and Logistics Sector
Pay issues cause financial loss for Canada Post. September 4, 2018.
Free flu jab for Royal Mail & Parcelforce workers.
September 3 2018.
Senate cancels postal service hearing; Trump's Amazon crusade delayed. August 31, 2018.
DHL supports "Bread-&&-Butter by Zalando".
August 30, 2018.
UPS Launch Technology Company To Streamline Online Orders. August 29, 2018.
Pay issues cause financial loss for Canada Post
September 4, 2018
Canada Post recorded a loss before tax of C$242m (US$184m) for the second quarter of 2018, in recognition of estimated costs associated with adjusting how delivery employees in suburban and rural Canada (RSMC) are paid.
In 2016, the Corporation and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers jointly agreed to put the system by which RSMC employees are paid to an arbitrator. A ruling issued on May 31, 2018, gave the parties helpful guidance on several aspects and 90 days to reach an agreement.
A mediation process is under way to reach a negotiated settlement. Once the process is completed, the corporation will be in a position to disclose the financial impact of the settlement, which may differ significantly from the estimates recognized in this quarter.
The Canada Post segment’s C$242m (US$184m) loss before tax for the second quarter compares to a C$27m (US$20m) profit before tax in the second quarter of 2017.
For the first two quarters of 2018, Canada Post is reporting a loss before tax of C$172m (US$130m) compared to a profit before tax of C$77m (US$58.5m) for the same period in 2017.
Source : . https://www.postalandparceltechnologyinternational.com/news
Free flu jab for Royal Mail & Parcelforce workers
September 3 2018
All Royal Mail and Parcelforce staff will be given vouchers this month for influenza vaccinations, after an agreement was reached between the union and the company.
The coupons, which will be sent out to employees via either direct mailings or as inserts in staff publications, can be redeemed at local branches of Lloyds Pharmacy, but must be produced with the individual’s Royal Mail Group ID card.
“Over 31,000 Royal Mail and Parcelforce workers were affected by the flu outbreak that hit the UK and this resulted in 127,000 days lost to the bug,” said CWU national health, safety and environment officer Dave Joyce, who added that this also had a detrimental effect on postal services in some areas.
In order to try to prevent a repetition, Newcastle Amal Branch brought a motion to this year’s annual conference instructing the union’s leadership toseek agreement with Royal Mail Group to ensure that the provision of flu jabs as early as possible prior to the onset of winter.
And this new agreement is a result of discussions arising from that resolution.
“We’re encouraging members to take up this offer and there will be a publicity campaign highlighting the free flu jab, with posters in workplaces and other communications,” Dave continued.
The vouchers for the free Flu jab will be sent to employee home addresses either by a direct mailing or as an insert in staff magazines, depending on which part of the RM Group individuals work in, he explained.
In a direct message to members, Dave said: “If you can, you should try to get your jabs done during September or October, before winter sets in.
Source : https://www.cwu.org/news
Senate cancels postal service hearing; Trump's Amazon crusade delayed
August 31, 2018
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A Senate hearing about reforming the U.S. Postal Service that could have scrutinized what Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) and others pay for package delivery has been delayed, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters, moving back President Donald Trump’s effort to hike the world’s largest online retailer’s rates.
Trump has repeatedly attacked Amazon on Twitter for treating the Postal Service as its “delivery boy” by paying less than it should for deliveries and contributing to the service’s $65 billion loss since the global financial crisis of 2007-2009, without presenting evidence.
The president ordered a task force in April to study the Postal Service, an independent establishment of the executive branch of the U.S. government, looking at its financial health and what it charges customers such as Amazon for package deliveries, in a report due Aug. 10.
However, the White House has decided it will not yet release the report, forcing the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs to postpone a hearing on postal reform that was planned for Sept. 5, the sources said. One said the hearing was postponed “indefinitely.”
That means any legislation that raised the Postal Service’s rates on Amazon and other shippers has been kicked further into the future.
The task force briefed the president on its preliminary findings and recommendations earlier this month, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Treasury Department, which is in charge of the task force, told Reuters.
“The task force will continue our work to identify solutions to strengthen the USPS business model driving toward a public report before the end of the year,” she said. “It is clear that the governance of USPS must be fixed and we encourage Congress to take actions towards that goal.”
The rates the Postal Service charges Amazon and other bulk customers are not made public. Federal regulators that review contracts made by the service have not raised any issues with the terms of its deal with Amazon.
Trump’s attacks on Amazon have gone hand-in-hand with attacks on its founder and Chief Executive Jeff Bezos, who privately owns the Washington Post, which has published several articles critical of Trump’s campaign and presidency.
Trump has described the newspaper as Amazon’s “chief lobbyist.” The Washington Post’s top editor has said Bezos has no involvement in its news coverage.
The president’s tweets attacking Amazon temporarily knocked down its stock earlier this year on fears that government action prompted by Trump might hurt the company’s profits. The shares have since recovered and Amazon is on track to become only the second U.S. publicly traded company with a stock market value of more than $1 trillion, alongside Apple Inc (AAPL.O).
Amazon did not return a request for comment.
The retailer and cloud-computing firm is only one of several that have attracted Trump’s ire. He attacked Boeing Co (BA.N) over a previous Air Force One deal. Earlier this week, he accused Alphabet Inc (GOOGL.O) subsidiary Google’s search engine of promoting negative news articles and hiding “fair media” coverage of him, without presenting evidence.
Source : https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-post-office-amazon-com
DHL supports "Bread-&&-Butter by Zalando"
August 30, 2018
As a long-standing partner to Zalando DHL will be offering special shipping services for visitors at the "Bread-&&-Butter by Zalando" in Berlin (Aug. 31 - Sept. 2, 2018).
As a long-standing partner to Zalando, Europes leading online-platform for fashion and lifestyle, DHL will be offering special shipping services for visitors at the "Bread-&&-Butter by Zalando" in Berlin (Aug. 31 - Sept. 2, 2018). Anyone buying a product at one of the more than 40 "Brand Pop-Ups" will be able to send their purchases home free of charge via the DHL Service Point (District 2, Stand 03), leaving them free to enjoy the event without the hassle of carrying bags. Whether it be carbon-neutral delivery with DHL's "GoGreen" service or arranging parcel delivery on a preferred day to a preferred location - with DHL's Wunschpaket services, the parcel will be delivered as desired.
This special commitment underlines DHL's position as a global logistics partner to the fashion world. The company supports the leading industry events worldwide, works with major fashion associations and presents awards to up-and-coming young designers. DHL has been a partner to various Fashion Week events since 2008 and offers tailor-made services to ensure the designers' collection samples are delivered punctually and reliably to the shows. Current commitments include partnerships with the Fashion Weeks in London and Copenhagen, Amazon Fashion Week Tokyo and the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Weeks in Sydney and Moscow. DHL has gathered decades of experience and expertise in the field of fashion logistics, which allow the company to offer comprehensive and tailor-made logistics solutions, including a wide range of services for e-commerce, the supply of boutiques and shopping malls or comprehensive warehouse logistics and value-added services in special fashion distribution centers.
In Berlin, the DHL team at the dedicated "Bread-&&-Butter by Zalando" service point will be supported by the fully automated "EffiBOT" robot trolley, affording visitors to the stand exciting insights into the logistics of the future. Visitors to the DHL Service Point can also experience logistics up close via a virtual reality game and will have the opportunity to win items from the acclaimed DHL Capsule Collection from the Paris-based label Vetements.
Source : https://www.dpdhl.com/en/media-relations/press-releases/2018
UPS Launch Technology Company To Streamline Online Orders
August 29, 2018
UPS have this week announced the launch of Ware2Go, a technology company and digital platform that matches available warehouse space and fulfilment services with merchants who need to get online orders to customers fast. The new business augments the company’s suite of custom e-commerce solutions designed to support small and medium-sized companies.
“Ware2Go uses innovative online technology to match excess warehouse and fulfilment capacity with merchant demand to provide transparent inventory, order fulfilment and final delivery,” said Scott Price, Chief Transformation and Strategy Officer. “We’re solving for two major problems: speed to market and efficient warehousing.”
Ware2Go recruits and certifies warehouses in strategic locations, establishing a network of vetted fulfilment partners. Merchants can then position products closer to their customers without the need for researching or vetting providers, or making long-term volume and time commitments. Ware2Go’s cloud-based platform and solution provides merchants with seamless end-to-end order fulfilment – storage, pick/pack fulfilment and shipping – with guaranteed two-day delivery by UPS. Because Ware2Go manages the relationships with warehouses, merchants get the service levels and pricing they might not receive on their own.
Merchants who use Ware2Go sell online, primarily to other businesses, and want fast, consistent, time-in-transit for shipments. They have few distribution centres and could benefit from more warehouse space for rent in other areas of the U.S.
According to industry reports, the demand for warehouse space has outpaced new supply since the end of the recession. Rising rental rates, coupled with e-commerce growth, have shifted warehousing from large centralized sites to localized facilities across major markets.
When a warehouse registers with Ware2Go, the platform matches unused capacity and capabilities with merchants. Ware2Go identifies merchants looking for fulfilment services and then on-boards, manages and bills customers so warehouse operators can fill available capacity quickly and easily without sales teams or administrative oversight. Warehouses can expand their customer network with a simplified management platform that provides visibility and invoicing.
Warehouse operators who use Ware2Go already provide small-package pick and pack but may not have a dedicated sales team. They could benefit from working with customers outside their local area.
“The flexibility Ware2Go offers merchants and warehouse operators, especially companies in the industrial, automotive and tech sectors, means they can compete more effectively and profitably in the market,” said Price. “Ware2Go leverages the scope and scale of UPS’s network to provide an integrated delivery solution to improve management of the order-to-delivery experience.”
Ware2Go was launched in July after an incubation process with BCG Digital Ventures, a corporate investment and incubation firm that owns a minority financial stake. The company is headquartered in Atlanta.
Source : https://postandparcel.info/98036/news
POSTAL NEWS
No 73 -2018
Formulated by UNI Apro Post and Logistics Sector
Proposed USPS Mail Changes Could Affect Industry. September 6, 2018.
Breakthrough: Pakistan Post management agrees to an official meeting with all postal unions. September 5, 2018.
Nonstop Delivery Announces Rebrand to NSD. September 4, 2018.
PostNord and Zalando sign a three year logistics contract. September 4, 2018.
PM Launches India's Largest Payments Bank With Shot At Congress: 10 Facts. September 02, 2018.
Proposed USPS Mail Changes Could Affect Industry
September 6, 2018
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has announced a proposed rule change to its Mailing Standards for Marketing Mail, which could have ramifications on promo firms.
The notice of the rule change, issued by the USPS in the Federal Register, would limit all USPS Marketing Mail, both regular and nonprofit and both letter-size and flat-size, to “content that is only paper-based/printed matter.” No other merchandise or goods of any type would be allowed to be shipped as Marketing Mail.
This means items often sent as direct-mail pieces or promos, such as pens, buttons, magnets and more, would need to be sent by another shipping method, such as Parcel Select or Priority Mail.
While pricing under the new standards remains to be seen, based on the most recent USPS Price List, companies that have paid Marketing Mail rates for direct-mail items would be looking at price increases by several dollars per parcel when the same item is sent by Parcel Select versus Marketing Mail. Meanwhile, the least expensive Priority Mail flat rate envelopes cost $6.70 a piece.
The changes could significantly affect promo firms and their clients that use Marketing Mail rates to send direct-mail marketing pieces, self-promo products and the like. Peter Palermo, general manager of Elm Street Marketing Essentials Powered by Proforma (asi/300094), told Counselor the change would impact his team’s marketing and prospecting strategies.
“We do a tremendous amount of dimensional mail with custom boxes containing promotional products, both for self-promotion and for clients,” Palermo told Counselor. “It’s very effective at opening doors for an appointment, showcasing creative ideas or just sending samples. The increased cost would kill this very effective tactic by more than doubling the postage on these mailings.”
To go into effect, the change would require adoption by the USPS Board of Governors, but it’s already encountering challenges. The Alliance of Nonprofit Mailers has issued a letter to the USPS this week calling the proposed change “unlawful.”
“Nonprofit mailers rely heavily on Marketing Mail that contains merchandise,” the letter goes on to say. “For these kinds of mail matter, Marketing Mail is often the most economical channel of communication, and by a wide margin. Excluding merchandise or goods from Marketing Mail would needlessly deprive the Postal Service of profitable mail volumes, give mailers another incentive to find alternative marketing channels, and force more nonprofit publications to close.”
The Alliance also says that the change would violate a section of the United States Code that entitles nonprofits to mail content at nonprofit Marketing Mail rates.
In the proposal, the USPS lists benefits of the change that include allowing the USPS to track more merchandise, and reducing operational inefficiencies that occur when machines can’t process inflexible letter- or flat-size pieces.
“The Postal Service has many products available to support this shift and seeks to align postal processing with the intentions of its mailing customers,” said Ruth Stevenson, an attorney for the USPS, in the official proposal. “This shift also simplifies the mailing experience: Letter-size and flat-size pieces will move through processing and delivery more efficiently.”
Still, some in the industry aren’t convinced. “In a world of ‘how can we do more for our customers,’ there’s always someone who goes in the opposite direction,” Paul Lage, president of Top 40 supplier Imagen Brands, told Counselor. “It’s not surprising that it’s the USPS, which never seems to make money. Instead of trying to attract customers, they’re steering them away. Instead of updating their equipment, they want to charge more. That sounds like a government program. Someday there will be a company that sees this as an opportunity and will step in and do it all.”
Source : https://www.asicentral.com/news/newsletters/promogram/september-2018
Breakthrough: Pakistan Post management agrees to an official meeting with all postal unions
September 5, 2018
During UNI SCORE’s organizing training, Director General of Pakistan Post, Rubine Tayyeb, agreed to a joint meeting with UNI Global Union and the presidents of the five formal recognized postal unions. This was the first time Pakistan Post management agreed to an official meeting with all postal unions.
On behalf of the unions, Cornelia Broos, Head of Department for UNI Post & Logistics demanded the DG finally recognize the unions in order to set up formal relationships with post management and start negotiations. The unions will now engage in collective bargaining in post towards the first agreement in a decade.
Rajendra Acharya, assistant regional secretary UNI APRO and Fasih ud Din from UNI PALC also present in the meeting will assist and support them in their further work at the regional and national level.
“UNI’s priority is to ensure fair and respectful labour relations all over the world”, said Cornelia Broos.
“We support national unions with our Memorandums of Understandings with the UPU and the APPU and Global Agreements with multinational companies and we will work together to achieve recognition and respect for our affiliates.”
Uptonow, Pakistan Post has refused to establish formal relationships with the unions and hasn't fulfilled Pakistan labour law. In the meeting Ms. Tayyeb made assurances about normalising and formalising the relationship with the unions and engaging in negotiations. She also pledged to ensure that unions fees from postal workers will be transferred to the unions.
Source : https://www.uniglobalunion.org/news
Nonstop Delivery Announces Rebrand to NSD
September 4, 2018
Nonstop Delivery, a leading national provider of last mile delivery and logistics services, today announced the company's rebrand to NSD. The rebranding includes the new name, a redesigned website and new URL (www.shipnsd.com), modernized logo, new graphics and "Going the Extra Mile" tagline.
"Our rebranding to NSD and 'Going the Extra Mile' tagline reflects our evolution over the past 18 years as an innovative leader committed to providing exceptional home delivery solutions and our focus on the customer experience," says Steve Senkus, Founder and CEO of NSD.
In addition to the rebranding initiative, NSD recently completed the expansion of its Corporate Headquarters in Chantilly, VA and the implementation of its enhanced technology platform.
About NSD, Inc.
Founded in 2000 by Steve Senkus, NSD is a leading provider of logistics and transportation services, specializing in home delivery of heavy goods for e-commerce retailers, distributors and manufacturers. NSD offers seamless nationwide last mile and reverse logistics solutions through a network of over 170 delivery terminals. For more information about NSD please visit www.shipnsd.com.
Source : https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases
PostNord and Zalando sign a three year logistics contract
September 4, 2018
The contract covers all of PostNord’s four markets in the Nordic region, where PostNord is the sole supplier of logistics solutions to Zalando.
“We are delighted that Zalando has chosen to extend our relationship. What we provide for them represents PostNord’s core business within the logistics market: consumer parcels across the Nordics. This extension is a testament to our ability to grow with our customers and to deliver strategic services that respond to their ever changing needs,” says Håkan Ericsson, PostNord President and Group CEO.
The contract includes linehaul, i.e. transportation from Zalando warehouses to PostNord terminals, and distribution from terminals to end-customer. Another unique service, developed specifically for Zalando and currently piloted in Stockholm, is free pick-up of returns within one hour at a location of the end-customer’s choice of delivery.
“Our customers are central to our business, and frictionless delivery and returns services are part of our offering to them. Since our expansion to the Nordics, PostNord proved to be a reliable partner for Zalando, increasing the level of convenience and therefore customer satisfaction. That this successful partnership will continue, is a great positive for us and our Nordic customers.” says Kenneth Melchior General Manager Northern Europe, Zalando SE.
Zalando has been a PostNord customer since they entered the Nordic market in 2010. The extended contract will run until July 31st, 2021.
Source : https://www.postnord.com/en/media/press-releases
PM Launches India's Largest Payments Bank With Shot At Congress: 10 Facts
September 02, 2018
India Post Payments Bank: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the IPPB at Talkatora Stadium in Delhi today.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched the India Post Payments Bank or IPPB -- the largest payments bank in the country by network size. A payments bank operates on a small scale; it carries out most banking operations but cannot give loans or issue credit cards directly. The new bank will leverage the postal department's vast network across India and help people in previously unbanked rural locations to use banking services easily, the Prime Minister had said. He also used the occasion to launch a scathing attack on the Congress, saying it had fostered a "phone-a-loan" scam that resulted in the Indian banking sector's huge bad loan problem.
Here's your 10-point cheat sheet to this big story:
"Just a few days after our government came to power, we realised that the Congress had left the nation's economy on a landmine," PM Modi said at the launch event in New Delhi. "Our government brought out the true picture of NPAs (Non-Performing Assests) and the scam of the previous government," he added.
He also said that the IPPB's services will be made operational at 650 branches and more than 1.5 lakh post offices which will be called "access points" by December 31. The move is likely to take banking services to India's hinterlands, the IPPB said.
The IPPB's launch got a shot in the arm from the government in the form of 80 per cent increase in funding to Rs. 1,435 crore earlier this week, which will help the state-run entity compete with big private players like Airtel Payments Bank and Paytm Payments Bank.
The products that IPPB will offer are: savings and current accounts, money transfer, direct benefit transfers, bill and utility payments, and enterprise and merchant payments, the new payments bank said in a statement.
People can use IPPB's products and services via multiple channels such as counter services, ATMs, mobile banking app, SMS and IVR (interactive voice response).
According to analysts, the India Post Payments Bank's strength is the fusion of its legacy workforce with modern technology. The department's three lakh postmen and other associates will reinforce digital services with physical delivery of services.
The IPPB started operations in January last year with two experimental branches, one at Raipur in Chhattisgarh and the other at Ranchi in Jharkhand.
Deposits up to Rs. 1 lakh can be accepted by payments banks. Though they can't give loans, they may offer third-party products. IPPB will work as an agent of Punjab National Bank.
Seventeen crore postal savings bank (PSB) accounts will be linked with India Post Payments Bank accounts, giving an edge over private players who have had to spend a lot to acquire customers.
"IPPB has been envisioned as an accessible, affordable and trusted bank for the common citizen, to help speedily achieve the financial inclusion objectives of the Union Government," the Prime Minister's Office had tweeted before the launch on Saturday.
Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news