POSTAL NEWS
No 35-2019
Formulated by UNI Apro Post and Logistics Sector
Postal Conference Day Two. ‘Re-energising’ organising & recruitment. May 1, 2019.
Omniva will direct international parcel flow to its automated network. April 30, 2019.
Piia Kumpulainen appointed Chief Communications Officer and Timo Anttila VP, Public Affairs at Posti Group. April 29, 2019.
Alibaba To Discuss Partnership With NZ Post. April 26, 2019.
Amazon, e-commerce opportunity, not a threat.April 26, 2019.
Postal Conference Day Two. ‘Re-energising’ organising & recruitment.
May 1, 2019
Significant progress has been made to reduce non-union membership among CWU-grade Royal Mail workers – the figure being brought down from over 15 per cent to 11 per cent in the past few years.
And this morning’s motion from London Division proposed the next steps in taking this forward, instructing the Executive to produce a recruitment strategy report within the next three months.
Mark Palfrey, London Divisional Rep, explained as he moved the proposition that this action plan could include “setting a target for each Division to bring that 11 per cent figure down further.
“We’ve got to get our house in order and we’ve got to grow this union within Royal Mail,” he urged.
The motion won strong support during the debate, with delegates from the North East, Scotland, and the South East speaking for the proposals, which were also backed by the Executive.
Deputy general secretary Terry Pullinger asked conference to vote for the motion, saying: “It’s right that we re-energise on this.”
He praised the work done so far, listing the various recruitment initiatives the department has led over the past period and said that “it’s absolutely right that we do need to up the profile again.”
As well as the various suggestions contained in the motion, Terry said that he was also speaking to the business about the potential for auto-enrolment of new employees into the union, with a voluntary ‘opt-out’ motion.
Demanding fair treatment for new employees
“I became a rep to fight for equality and give a voice to the voiceless,” said Wolverhampton Branch delegate Steve Moreton this afternoon.
Speaking in support of a motion criticising the treatment of new employees, Steve said: “These new entrants are voiceless and we should be demanding fair treatment, support and proper training.”
Three motions today addressed this issue, Steve’s motion focussing specifically on the unfairness of new entrants being regularly ‘loaned out’ to other offices.
The other two related debates concerned probationary periods and “inadequate training and support” respectively, issues which may well be the prime cause of the relatively high attrition rates within the business.
Speaking for the latter proposition, Outdoor secretary Mark Baulch revealed that thousands of new recruits to the business had left again within their first 12 months.
“This is unacceptable and we’re pushing the company every inch of the way on this,” he said, adding that the union is demanding a tightening up of training procedures for new starters, as well as continuing to press the business on a new apprentice/cadet scheme.
Annual leave ‘nightmare’
Problems around annual leave made up a large part of conference business today.
Eight separated motions highlighted common frustrations over holiday booking, pay, or complications and difficulties caused by bureaucratic systems and procedures.
One of the biggest annual leave related problems at the moment was cited in a motion from York & District Branch, which slammed the “continuing injustice where members lose pay when on annual leave due to the difference between contractual pay and average pay.”
Speaking for the motion on behalf of the Executive, Dave Wilshire said that “for every week this goes on, Royal Mail is saving a seven-figure sum.”
The Executive is pressing the business to reach an agreement to resolve this issue, he added.
Other motions registered complaints about the company’s recent change to a calculation of leave based on hours rather than days, the difficulties faced by members trying to book leave, and problems that can arise when rest days coincide with Bank Holidays.
The PSP system used by the company came in for strong criticism in particular, Helen Beaumont, from South Midlands, describing it as “an absolute nightmare.
“Royal Mail, who sold you this system? Get your money back,” she urged.
Source : https://www.cwu.org/news
Omniva will direct international parcel flow to its automated network
April 30, 2019
This spring, Omniva will open up its parcel terminals to international shipments. Testing of the long-awaited solution will be started in April, and international parcels will start to be more extensively delivered to parcel terminals this summer.
According to head of the Omniva parcel terminal network Evert Rööpson, there are a number of noteworthy benefits for directing international package flows to automated network. ”By delivering parcels directly to the parcel terminals, we will kill not two but three birds with one stone. First of all, this allows us to deliver parcels to customers faster and more conveniently. Secondly, it also helps us make better use of our constantly expanding parcel terminal network and thirdly, we can ease the overload caused by high package volumes at post offices during high season,“ said Rööpson.
Rööpson says the aspect that overloads more popular post offices today is the manual process of serving customers picking up small international parcels. Omniva has also built the biggest parcel network in the Baltics, and it is big enough to handle international parcels as well. At the same time, Rööpson says, customers constantly express the desire to be able to claim small parcels from self-service parcel terminals. ”Now we have a solution that will help us to fulfil the wishes of many customers,“ says Rööpson.
Parcel terminals are overwhelmingly Estonians‘ favourite channel for picking up parcels. Over 80% of parcel recipients and senders would prefer to do so via parcel terminal. To this point, they have been able to do so only with Aliexpress parcels. With automatic forwarding, parcels from senders elsewhere in the world will also be sent to the lockers.
The first automated forwardings have started
Omniva has now started piloting automated forwarding of parcels from post offices to parcel terminals in locations where large parcel volumes overburden the local post office. The aim of the forwarding is to provide customers the option of claiming their parcel quickly from a parcel locker located nearby, at any time of day.
To this point, parcels sent to customers living in the Kristiine, Õismäe and Tallinn city centre districts arrived at the respective post office determined based on postal code, now
they are sent straight to the nearest parcel terminal. Parcels will now reach customers faster and customers will be able to pick up their parcel 24 hours a day without standing in a queue.
To send a parcel to a parcel terminal, the parcel must be marked with the recipient’s cell phone number so that the customer can be sent a text message when the parcel arrives. The other requirement is, naturally, that the parcel has to fit into a parcel locker and that parcel terminal with vacant lockers are available in the district. To ensure that they are available, Omniva has gradually but significantly expanded its parcel terminal network.
Summer will see broader automated deliveries of international parcels to parcel machines
Summer will mark the start of testing of a sorting line where the line will determine whether all conditions for sending the parcel to a locker have been met, regardless of the parcel’s country of origin. That means that shipments from Amazon, Aliexpress, eBay or smaller online retailers abroad will be delivered straight to a parcel terminal, no matter where in Estonia the recipient is located. From there it can be collected 24/7, whenever it suits the customer the best. The only conditions are that the recipient’s telephone number is marked on the parcels and the parcel must be a suitable size for being deposited in a parcel locker.
Source : https://www.omniva.ee
NEWS LIST
Piia Kumpulainen appointed Chief Communications Officer and Timo Anttila VP, Public Affairs at Posti Group
April 29, 2019
M.Sc. (Econ.) Piia Kumpulainen has been appointed Chief Communications Officer (CCO) at Posti Group Corporation. She will be responsible for Group Communication of Posti Group. M.A. Timo J. Anttila, currently responsible for Group Communication, has been appointed Vice President, Public Affairs at Posti Group. Both appointments will become effective on June 10, 2019.
Piia Kumpulainen reports to Hanna Reijonen, Senior Vice President, Human Resources.
Kumpulainen will join this position from Marimekko, where she has been Communications Director, responsible of Group Communications since 2009. Before Marimekko she served at law firm Hannes Snellman.
- She brings the strong expertise of a brand house to our external and internal communications. With her team she plays a key role in our journey of transformation and in the Posti´s future building, as we seek strong growth in e-commerce and logistics services, says Hanna Reijonen.
- Posti is in an interesting phase and I have always been inspired by the challenges relating to strong change. I am inspired to have this opportunity get to continue the reform of Posti´s communications, together with my team, says Piia Kumpulainen.
Timo J. Anttila has served at Posti since 2013 being responsible for Group Communications, Public Affairs and Corporate Responsibility.
- Posti has a significant role in the daily life of Finnish society. Posti needs to be renewed along with our customers, because the postal industry is in a dramatic turmoil as communications is moving to digital and e-commerce is growing rapidly. Because of this, Posti wants to strengthen its participation in social dialogue and engage in a more intense dialogue with all its stakeholders, emphasizes Anttila.
Source : https://www.posti.com/en/media/media-news/2019
Alibaba To Discuss Partnership With NZ Post
April 26, 2019
Alibaba is reportedly talking to the New Zealand Government about setting up a regional logistics hub says nzherald.
New Zealand’s Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones met with top Alibaba officials in Hong Kong last month where the plan was discussed.
The logistics centre would be part of the Electronic World Trade Platform (eWTP) – and would help facilitate logistics and the movement of goods.
Jones said if the project gets the green light to set up in New Zealand, it would likely be a partnership between Alibaba and NZ Post in a more regional centre, such as Palmerston North.
Senior Alibaba officials have been invited to New Zealand to further explore the opportunity and Jones said they were due to arrive soon.
In a letter to Jones, sent not long after the meeting in Hong Kong, Alibaba senior vice president, and head of corporate finance, Michael Yao said he was keen to explore the idea of establishing an eWTP in New Zealand.
“From our side eWTP, as a global initiative spearheaded by our executive chairman Jack Ma, would present the strongest immediate opportunity for co-operation.”
Jones said: “If there is scope for growing the logistics… and fast moving items business [and] if there is anything we can do to effect a better arrangement between NZ Post, that’s incredibly important to me.”
Source : https://postandparcel.info/104372/news/e-commerce
Amazon, e-commerce opportunity, not a threat
April 26, 2019
Amazon’s move into logistics should be seen as an opportunity not a threat, according to panellists at the Air Cargo News Conference 2019.
“Some air cargo players are already benefiting from working with Amazon and others are looking at the efficiencies and learning from that – such as how they share data,” said Brendan Sullivan, head of ecommerce and cargo operations. IATA.
Ross Marino, senior vice president – international airport operations, dnata, reminded delegates that similar stories about the death of the air cargo industry had been made when the integrators arrived. “But they became our customers. There is definitely an opportunity here but we have to understand the trends.”
Fatih Cigal, senior vice president, cargo marketing, Turkish Airlines, explained that the basic requirements of e-commerce can be easily met by the airlines. “We have speed, safety, security and reliability, which is what the market needs.”
They all commented on the need for flexibility and responding to customer demands, which required investment and, often, new ways of thinking to ensure transparency and data sharing between all parties in the supply chain.
A focus on digitisation will enable the traditional air freight industry to compete with the integrators for e-commerce traffic, according to Peter Gerber, ceo and chairman of the executive board, Lufthansa Cargo.
“Heavy investment in digitisation throughout the supply chain will allow us to offer integrator quality with lower costs,” he told delegates.
“There is a vast e-ecommerce market and we need to adapt to new customers with new demands: short transport times, smooth customs processes and end to end tracking along with affordable costs, reliable transport and convenient returns.”
He said that the airfreight industry also needed to take a wider perspective to promote free markets and trade. “This should be a top priority on the IATA agenda.”
Another speaker Marco Bloeman, managing director, Seabury Consulting, explained that the average weight of e-commerce shipments was falling as business-to-consumer is increasing more sharply. “This is especially evident in the fourth quarter when we all go shopping for Christmas.”
He said the line between air cargo and parcels/ e-commerce is becoming less defined and that the bigger players like Amazon and Alibaba were blurring the logistics line as well.
Source : https://www.aircargonews.net/airlines
POSTAL NEWS
No 36-2019
Formulated by UNI Apro Post and Logistics Sector
Australia Post backs Rural Aid to help drought affected communities. May 2, 2019.
Post Office Boss Ponders Cutting Mail Delivery to Five Days. Congress Balks. May 1, 2019.
Delivering Justice for Couriers in Toronto. May 1 2019.
DHL eCommerce Solutions names Samuel Conroy as managing director in Vietnam. April 30, 2019.
Postnord And Swipbox Expand Their Pilot In Denmark. April 29, 2019.
UPS Contract With Teamsters To Be Implemented, Effective April 29, 2019. April 28, 2019.
Australia Post backs Rural Aid to help drought affected communities
May 2, 2019
Australia Post continues to help drought affected communities, with a six-trailer convoy arriving in Broken Hill this morning to deliver much needed hay to farmers.
The Rural Aid convoy left South Australia on 30 April and is part of a team that over eight weeks has been delivering hay to Scotia, south of Broken Hill, and Tibooburra to the north.
The series of hay drops has been made possible through the sales of Australia Post’s Drought Relief Stamp packs across the country.
Every $5 stamp pack sold triggered a $2 donation by Australia Post to Rural Aid, amounting to more than $200,000 for farmers – and approximately 1,000 large bales of hay.
Nicole Sheffield, Executive General Manager of Community and Consumer, was on hand to greet the convoy in Broken Hill and said Australia Post is proud to be able to help.
“Australia Post is a critical part of the Australian community with a large presence in rural and remote Australia and a long history of supporting the Australian community at times of crisis,” she said.
“We know farmers are doing it tough, and this hay drop is but one way that we’re trying to making it just that little bit easier for them.”
Rural Aid General Manager Wayne Thomson said the hay drop provided more than just help around the farm.
“It’s also the mental impact and the reinforcement that someone cares – they give a damn,” Mr Thomson said.
“Australia Post have a long-standing presence in these communities, and their commitment to helping those same communities when they’re in need should be commended,” he said.
In addition to the hay drop, brought about by the Drought Relief Stamp Pack, Australia Post’s approach to the current drought across Australia has been to mobilise and connect the community to relief and recovery efforts through the following activities:
Accepted over the counter donations for the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Appeal in Post Offices across the country
Matched employee drought relief donations to organisations through our Workplace Giving platform
Donated $100,000 to the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal for recovery and support
Partnering with ReachOut to help improve youth mental health and resilience
Source : https://newsroom.auspost.com.au/article
Post Office Boss Ponders Cutting Mail Delivery to Five Days. Congress Balks.
May 1, 2019
The head of the U.S. Postal Service floated a new proposal to shore up the agency’s finances: deliver mail five days a week while expanding package delivery to seven.
Postmaster General Megan Brennan said Tuesday at a congressional hearing that such a schedule was one of the options the agency’s board of governors is examining as part of a business plan they intend to submit to Congress in the coming weeks to help stem billions of dollars in annual losses.
The schedule would devote one fewer day to its declining business of delivering letters while giving the agency no days off from the growing amount of packages the Postal Service is handling for Amazon.com Inc. and others as more Americans shop online.
Members of Congress, however, made clear that the idea likely wouldn’t get very far.
“Did you tell the board that dog won’t hunt?” Rep. Mark Meadows (R., N.C.) asked Ms. Brennan during a tense exchange at the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing regarding the quasigovernmental agency’s financial condition.
Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D., Mich.) added: “I will never support reducing delivery days.”
Cutting back from delivering six days a week has long been a political non-starter even though doing so would save the agency billions of dollars. In 2013, the Postal Service estimated it could save $2 billion annually by cutting mail delivery to five days and continuing to deliver packages on Saturday. Postal workers unions have also objected to reducing delivery days.
The shipping world has changed dramatically over the past decade. Since 2007, total U.S. mail volume has declined 31% to 146 million pieces, including a 41% drop in first-class mail, its most profitable product.
At the same time, online shopping has exploded, offering a way to plug the lost revenue while also adding strains to Postal Service operations as it processed more packages. The Postal Service has actually started to dip its toes into seven-day a week delivery to manage the 20 million packages it averages daily. It now delivers some Amazon.com packages on Sundays and also does so for more shippers in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
The shift in the business, as well as a congressionally mandated requirement to pre-fund retiree health benefits, has hurt the Postal Service’s finances. The agency lost $3.9 billion last year, its 12th straight year of losses.
Ms. Brennan has long accepted the political challenges in reducing delivery days. She said the new schedule was one of several proposals the Postal Service was considering to narrow its losses. “We have a responsibility to put forward a plan that closes this gap,” Ms. Brennan said. “It would be irresponsible not to.”
The Postmaster General said the plan was in final review by the board and would be submitted to the committee in 60 days.
Ms. Brennan has advocated for legislative action that would overhaul the structure of the Postal Service, including shifting retirees to Medicare and giving the agency more freedom to raise rates. Committee members on Tuesday seemed to agree that the pre-funding mandate, which is unique among federal agencies, should be eliminated.
Ultimately, the parameters of the Postal Service’s universal service obligation are up to Congress. While the Postal Service doesn’t receive taxpayer dollars for operations, annual federal appropriations that compensate the agency for free and reduced-rate mailing have long contained language that requires the six-day delivery schedule.
President Trump has suggested the Postal Service cut back on delivery days in White House budgets, but those ideas haven’t advanced. A recent presidential task force also suggested the Postal Service should have greater flexibility to determine delivery frequency.
Source : https://www.wsj.com/articles
Delivering Justice for Couriers in Toronto
May 1 2019
Toronto - Foodora bike and car couriers today announced their plans to unionize with the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW).
Foodora is an international, app-based company that facilitates online food ordering and delivery. They have operations in cities across Canada, with Toronto being their largest Canadian market. Foodora charges restaurants 30 percent per order and only pays their couriers $1/km travelled from the restaurant to the customer’s door. The couriers receive $4.50 per order paid directly by the customers.
“What we want is simple and achievable,” says Hunter Sanassian, a bike courier, “We work in some of the most dangerous conditions in the city. Many of us have been injured on the job. All we want is to be respected as workers and paid fairly by this profitable company.”
While Foodora controls much of the couriers’ work and administers discipline like any other boss, it classifies couriers as ‘independent contractors’ effectively taking away any legal labour protections including EI, sick days, and guaranteed income.
“Over the last 30 years worker rights have been dismantled, leaving a workforce that is struggling to simply survive,” says Deena Ladd, coordinator at the Toronto Workers Action Centre. “We need to collectively fight back against precarious work such as misclassified and temporary jobs that have saturated the labour market today.”
“As the gig economy grows we are seeing workers who are entirely unprotected,” says Mike Palecek, CUPW National President. “Now is the time to win rights and protections for these workers. The campaign to unionize Foodora couriers will set important precedents for labour rights. Couriers are not machines and they deserve to feel safe and respected at work.”
Source : https://www.cupw.ca/en
DHL eCommerce Solutions names Samuel Conroy as managing director in Vietnam
April 30,2019
DHL eCommerce Solutions, a division of Deutsche Post DHL Group, has named Samuel Conroy as managing director for Vietnam. Prior to joining DHL, Conroy held senior general management roles in various Southeast Asian countries and was most recently the CEO of the Middle East Cluster for Damco Logistics.
“Samuel brings with him a wealth of knowledge in the logistics business as well as general management experience gained from working across different markets in both country and regional capacities,” said Kiattichai Pitpreecha, CEO, DHL eCommerce Solutions Southeast Asia. “His enthusiasm and strategic hands-on leadership approach will be crucial to exceeding customer expectations and delivering profitable growth.”
Conroy’s extensive general management experience has been supplemented with previous project management and functional implementation successes across a broad logistics environment. He previously also served as the director of the Australian Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam.
“Vietnam currently has one of the fastest growing e-commerce markets in the world,” said Conroy. “With more than half of Vietnam’s population already using the internet and more than 50 million smartphone subscribers, we must fully utilize our e-commerce capabilities across the DHL divisions to help our customers create a strong base of operations and overcome infrastructure challenges to capitalize on that speed of growth.”
Source : https://www.parcelandpostaltechnologyinternational.com/news
Postnord And Swipbox Expand Their Pilot In Denmark
April 29, 2019
PostNord and SwipBox have expanded their pilot project in Denmark, which is the foundation for a possible countrywide network of parcel lockers called “Nærboks”. Nærboks is Danish for nearby locker.
Building on the installation of 200 parcel lockers in Kolding (reported earlier this month), 40 brand new parcel lockers were installed in Sonderborg and the surrounding area on April 26. Customers can now choose to have their parcels delivered into the new lockers.
“We are very happy about Sonderborg Municipality giving us the opportunity to expand our pilot, so it now includes both Kolding and Sonderborg. It is essential that we gain as many experiences as possible during the pilot, before we roll out the concept to the rest of Denmark, so every Dane can enjoy the Nærboks concept,” says Allan Kaczmarek, CEO of SwipBox.
The expansion of the pilot has been made possible by the great willingness to collaborate from Sonderborg Municipality and local businesses, who see the advantages of the new network of parcel lockers. Because of this, some parcel lockers are located on municipal plots, while other parcel lockers have been set up at supermarkets, gas stations and in residential areas.
“We want to make life easier for all Danes when they have to pick up the increasing number of parcels from online shopping. The parcel lockers will as a rule be placed in walking distance from where people live, which means that the new parcel infrastructure not only offers an easy and comfortable way to receive parcels but is also environmentally friendly,” says Peter Kjær Jensen, CEO of PostNord in Denmark.
Nærboks can be opened with an app on the customer’s phone, which communicates with the parcel locker using Bluetooth. SwipBox has developed the parcel lockers, which run on batteries and are easy to install as there is no need for an external electricity source or an internet connection.
The new network is operated by Nordic Infrastructure, a company owned by SwipBox and PostNord. During the pilot in Kolding, and now Sonderborg, functionality and user-friendliness of the parcel lockers will be tested and improved upon, while evaluations of how logistics providers, senders and recipients find Nærboks will be gathered to determine the plan for the future rollout of the project.
Nordic Infrastructure is operated as an agnostic parcel locker network, which means that any logistics provider can deliver parcels in Nærboks.
Source : https://postandparcel.info/104395/news/e-commerce
UPS Contract With Teamsters To Be Implemented, Effective April 29, 2019
April 28, 2019
The last remaining local agreement under the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Small Package Agreement with UPS was ratified on Sunday, April 28.
The master contract covering approximately 243,000 UPS employees was negotiated earlier, and all remaining supplements have now been ratified. The master contract will be effective on April 29, 2019.
“We are pleased to learn that everything now is in place to implement our agreement with the Teamsters,” said Teri McClure, UPS Chief Human Resources Officer and Senior Vice President, Labor. “This agreement, and the previously negotiated master agreement covering UPS Freight employees, helps to ensure that UPS and our employees are well positioned for success in the coming years.”
The new five-year contract will run from August 1, 2018 through July 31, 2023. More information can be found on the UPS Investor Relations website after the contract is implemented.
UPS’s overriding goal during the contract negotiations has been to reward the company’s employees for their contributions to its success while simultaneously enabling the business to remain flexible to meet customer needs.
Source : https://www.pressroom.ups.com/pressroom
POSTAL NEWS
No 37-2019
Formulated by UNI Apro Post and Logistics Sector
Ukrposhta turnaround progresses: UAH 221 M profit reported in Q1 2019, as revenue climbs 22% YoY. May 8, 2019.
Shorten’s pushing the envelope on Australia Post bank. May 7, 2019.
Foodora Couriers Work to Unionize with CUPW.
May 7, 2019.
Send and collect parcels at around 300 Migros branches. May 6, 2019.
DPD Ireland To Invest €3.2 Million In Zero Emissions Fleet. May 3, 2019.
Ukrposhta turnaround progresses: UAH 221 M profit reported in Q1 2019, as revenue climbs 22% YoY
May 8, 2019
Stock company “Ukrposhta” reported a first-quarter net profit of UAH 221.4 million, with its net revenue reaching almost UAH 1.9 billion, up 22.1% compared to the same period last year.
“More than UAH 221 million of net profit is one of Ukrposhta’s best quarterly results. We are growing both in volumes and in revenues in our key areas—domestic and international mail and financial services.
This is a logical result of our process rebuilding, network performance adjustment, infrastructure upgrade and hard work on improving the quality of service. It is the collective success of our large team of several thousands of professionals. We can do even better, provided that we have clearly defined rules and costs of the provision of social services, in particular those related to pension payments delivery. Here we do rely on a productive dialogue with the government and the Parliament,” said Igor Smelyansky, Director General of Ukrposhta.
About Ukrposhta. Stock company “Ukrposhta” is the national postal operator of Ukraine and the leader in international mail delivery in the country. Ukrposhta’s 11 thousand post offices constitute the largest network in Ukraine, which is often the only opportunity to receive financial services for 16 million residents of Ukrainian small towns and villages. The company also delivers pension payments to more than 4.1 million pensioners.
Source : https://www.posteurop.org or https://ukrposhta.ua/en/english
Shorten’s pushing the envelope on Australia Post bank
May 7, 2019
Labor leader Bill Shorten confirmed in the second leaders debate that the party is thinking about creating a government-owned bank out of Australia Post should it be elected into power this month.
Now questions are being asked in the investment community about how this could be done.
Some say that one of the challenges for executing the move is that Australia Post could destroy a funding source if it went ahead with the move, because it recently reached a deal for the top four banks to use the postal network to provide their services in rural locations.
Another question is how much Australia Post would invest in technology if it morphed into a bank.
Should the idea come to pass, many believe it would be modelled on the government-controlled Kiwi Bank across the Tasman, which is a subsidiary of New Zealand Post and thought to make about $125 million annually.
Kiwi Bank is said to have large margins. When it was started 15 years ago, customers did not pay fees, but many think this would not be possible if Australia Post became a bank.
One market analyst said the only way Australia Post could grow a balance sheet was through writing loans and it would probably need to use a mortgage broker or upskill Australia Post staff to meet the regulatory requirements for providing mortgages.
Another point is that while the Australia Post brand is strong, the real opportunity in the government-owned operation was its network.
Now much of the day-to-day banking activities of customers are carried out online and mainstream banks are shrinking their retail store network.
Bill Shorten said there were around 3000 Australia Post outlets with many in regional centres.
He said more could be done if the party looked at giving Australia Post (run by former Blackmores boss Christine Holgate) the ability to compete with the banks of Australia.
And he talked about investing in technology and threw up the possibility of using Australia Post to provide opportunities to increase competition for banks.
But he added that he wouldn’t necessarily want them lending money.
DataRoom revealed on March 13 that Labor was once again looking at the possibility of transforming Australia Post into a bank.
The plan was being discussed following the recommendations from the financial services royal commission.
Then, the thinking was that a government bank could play a part in providing agricultural loans that might be shunned by other banks.
Creating a government-backed bank was also something that the former Labor prime minister Kevin Rudd was eager to pursue in his second term, but it didn’t eventuate.
Source : https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/dataroom
Foodora Couriers Work to Unionize with CUPW
May 7 2019
Bicycle and car couriers in the Toronto area working for Foodora, an app-based food delivery company, have been working with our organizers in a campaign to join CUPW. The couriers are fighting for better health and safety protections, fair compensation for they work they perform, and for the right to join a union.
Gig economy companies like Foodora promise flexibility to couriers, saying that they’re independent contractors - their own boss. In doing so, they avoid paying for even the most basic employment benefits like employment insurance, or CPP/QPP premiums.
All of the risk falls on the couriers.
In CUPW, we understand this struggle. We’ve fought to ensure that workers are properly classified for over 30 years, whether it be for private sector courier members, for Combined Urban Services (CUS) workers, or for the over 6,000 RSMCs that Canada Post denied employee status to until they were successfully brought into the union in 2003.
Like postal workers, Foodora couriers perform dangerous work, navigating busy streets in all weather conditions. Their injury rates are high too. With little in the way of protection, an accident can leave them devastated, unable to work, and without adequate compensation to make ends meet.
When companies like Foodora are allowed to get away with treating workers like numbers and not like human beings, we all suffer. To fight back we have to be bold, challenging the bosses’ attempts to drive down wages and working conditions. An injury to one is an injury to all!
Source : https://www.cupw.ca/en
Send and collect parcels at around 300 Migros branches
May 6, 2019
Swiss Post is constantly expanding the access points for Swiss Post services throughout Switzerland. Now an attractive service is being added. In future, customers will be able to send and receive their parcels in around 300 selected Migros branches throughout Switzerland. On 6 May 2019 Swiss Post and Migros are launching the service, enabling shopping and postal transactions to be combined even more easily.
More and more people are shopping online. This means that the number of parcels at Swiss Post is constantly increasing. In 2018, Swiss Post delivered 138 million parcels, more than 6.7% more than in the previous year. Customers also increasingly want to send and receive their parcels regardless of time and location. Swiss Post is responding to this need in partnership with Migros. From 6 May 2019, customers will be able to send or receive their parcels at around 300 Migros branches in various Swiss regions. By doing so, Swiss Post will be expanding access points for Swiss Post services and is where its customers are.
Near its customers
The new Swiss Post service will be integrated into the comprehensive PickMup service at Migros. “The partnership with Swiss Post provides added value for our customers during their everyday routines”, says Matthias Wunderlin, Head of Marketing and a member of General Management at the Federation of Migros Co-operatives. Migros – just like Swiss
Post – is constantly adapting to changing customer needs. Customers will benefit from the opening hours at Migros and will be able to conveniently collect and send parcels while they shop.
Collect and send parcels while shopping
“Migros, with its dense, nationwide network of branches is an ideal partner for us. We want to be where our customers are and with this service this we’re very well placed indeed”, says Thomas Baur, Head of PostalNetwork and a Member of Executive Management at Swiss Post. To collect parcels or registered letters at Migros branches, customers need a Swiss Post online user account. This can be used to redirect the parcel or the registered letter to the chosen Migros branch, using the “My consignments” online service. Customers can also send parcels in the 300 or so Migros branches. All Migros branches in which parcels can be dropped off and collected and the details about the service can be found at this link.
Swiss Post will be expanding its network until the year 2020. By then, Swiss Post’s network will include more than 4,200 different access points for postal services, such as branches with partners, collection and acceptance points and My Post 24 terminals.
Source : https://www.post.ch/en/about-us/company/media/press-releases/2019
DPD Ireland To Invest €3.2 Million In Zero Emissions Fleet
May 3, 2019
DPD Ireland is investing €3.2 million to electrify its fleet over the next 12 months
The investment for the green vehicle project, named ‘ElectriCity’ will include purchasing the EVs, hiring personnel, employee training, acquiring the depots and refurbishment.
ElectriCity was launched in Dublin earlier this week at DPD Ireland’s newest location, Dublin’s Docklands Innovation Park on East Wall Road.
DPD Ireland’s new electric fleet, will serve the Dublin City Centre area, and comprises vehicles in a range of sizes from small Paxsters whose versatile size allows easy movement throughout the city streets, to the Goupils and LDVs which will carry larger parcels. The first 10 vehicles of the new electric fleet are now on the road.
ElectriCity will roll out to other urban locations throughout the country over the next three years.
Irish Environment Minister Richard Bruton said at the launch: “Transitioning to a low carbon economy will require more sustainable choices and leadership from industry.
“By investing in electrifying their fleet, DPD are putting sustainability at the heart of their business and leading the way.”
Company Chief Executive Des Travers stated that DPD will be the first parcel delivery firm to have an electric depot: “Through ElectriCity, 15 parcel delivery routes in Dublin will become all-electric routes. By the end of this year, as part of our bid to reduce our carbon output, DPD will have saved more than 20 tonnes of CO2 being emitted as a result of moving to an electric fleet,” he said.
“DPD is committed to making every parcel delivered carbon neutral, and is doing so by measuring CO2 emissions, striving to reduce them, and by offsetting the remaining ones,” he added.
DPD Ireland explained its motivation for the initiative on its website: “Our ElectriCity initiative has been inspired by our commitment to our Corporate Social Responsibility. As a carrier, we have a responsibility to the environment and to our customers. Every parcel delivered by our electric fleet is directly reducing carbon impact. We’re making Dublin cleaner, one delivery at a time!”
The Irish Government has set a target of having 10% of all vehicles on the road by 2020 electric. There were less than 4,000 electric cars in Ireland on the road at the start of 2018. Ireland has also set itself the target of ending the sale of cars powered solely by fossil fuels by 2030.
Source : https://postandparcel.info/104507/news/parcel
POSTAL NEWS
No 38 -2019
Formulated by UNI Apro Post and Logistics Sector
DHL’s digital freight platform now available in the Middle East. May 7, 2019.
Almost 50% Of Bpost’s Revenue Is Generated By Parcels & Logistics. May 7, 2019.
Focus on the potential of the parcel business. May 7, 2019.
Postmaster General Brennan Highlights How Digital Dimensions are Taking Mail to New Heights. May 6, 2019.
APWU Contract Update. May 3, 2019.
DHL’s digital freight platform now available in the Middle East
May 7, 2019
Logistics startup Saloodo!, a subsidiary of Deutsche Post DHL Group, has announced that its digital freight platform is being made available to customers in the Middle East. The platform was originally launched two years ago to shippers, dispatchers and carriers in Europe.
Thomas Grunau, CEO of Saloodo! in Europe, said, “Saloodo!’s success on the German and European market has demonstrated the benefits of a digital solution. It allows shippers and transport providers to find each other more easily and makes road freight processes more transparent and efficient.
Especially given the strong growth of the logistics market in the Middle East, we feel this is just the right place to begin offering our solution beyond the EU and develop it further.”
Saloodo! aims to digitize the transportation and logistics industry. Its customers benefit from an end-to-end digital solution for the entire dispatch and transportation process. In Europe, the digital freight platform currently serves more than 18,000 shippers and over 7,000 carriers with more than 250,000 available trucks.
Tobias Maier, CEO of Saloodo! MEA, added, “Even though the UAE is one of the largest logistics markets in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), there remain untapped opportunities given the economic diversification and several road infrastructure investments underway. Equally, DHL’s deep expertise in the region and wide portfolio of service offerings will support the successful deployment of Saloodo! in the UAE, and ultimately in the Gulf region.”
Source : https://www.parcelandpostaltechnologyinternational.com/news
Almost 50% Of Bpost’s Revenue Is Generated By Parcels & Logistics.
May 7, 2019
bpost released its first quarter 2019 results last week – parcel BeNe (Belgium-Netherlands) growth was up 16.9% while total operating income was down -1.8% driven by vigorous mail volume decline.
Koen Van Gerven, CEO, commented: “Thanks to the efforts of all our teams, both in Belgium and in the other countries where we operate, our first quarter 2019 group results are overall in line with expectations laid down in our full year guidance. We continued to make good progress on our transformation towards a reference e-commerce logistics operator, with nearly half of our revenues being generated by Parcels & Logistics.
Parcels volume and revenue development in our Belgium-Netherlands home region continued to be strong. Parcels & Logistics North America was impacted, as anticipated, by the fallout of Radial’s 2018 client churn and repricing despite stringent cost control. Mail & Retail’s volume decline was more pronounced than anticipated, and was only partly compensated by price increases. These developments emphasise the importance of the modified distribution model to align rapidly changing consumer needs with operational challenges. With the first quarter in line with expectations, I can reconfirm that we are on track to realise our full year guidance of normalised EBIT above EUR 300 million and I thank all bpost’s employees for their hard work.”
First quarter highlights
Group operating income at EUR 906.8 million, down -1.1% and group normalised EBIT at EUR 95.8 million, representing an EBIT margin of 10.6%.
Mail & Retail
Total operating income at € 527.5 million (-1.8%) driven by vigorous mail volume decline
Underlying mail volume decline at -9.2% mainly driven by Transactional and Press
Normalised EBIT at EUR 92.6 million (17.6% EBIT margin) mainly impacted by mail volume decline and wage drift
Parcels & Logistics Europe & Asia
Total operating income at € 196.8 million (+8.0%) driven by Parcel BeNe up 11.1%
Parcel BeNe volume growth at +16.9% driven by e-commerce
Normalised EBIT at EUR 18.0 million (9.1% EBIT margin): solid margin improvement with volume growth only partly offset by higher costs
Parcels & Logistics North America
As anticipated, total operating income at € 228.5 million (-5.2%) mainly impacted by Radial customer churn and repricing
Normalised EBIT at EUR -7.8 million (-3.4% EBIT margin) mainly impacted by client churn & repricing in line with expectations.
Source : https://postandparcel.info/104517/news
Focus on the potential of the parcel business
May 7, 2019
Highlights for PostNL Parcels
E-commerce in the Benelux region will continue strong growth, offering opportunities and further growth potential
Development of new value-added services, through innovation and by smart expansion of infrastructure
New, dedicated sorting centre for small parcels to be opened in 2021
Commercial initiatives underway to optimise yield management
Balanced volume growth – resulting in improving profitability and cash conversion – is the basis for value creation.
Outlook PostNL
UCOI outlook 2019 confirmed at €170 million - €200 million
As of 2020, PostNL’s outlook will be based on normalised EBIT and free cash flow
Normalised EBIT is expected to increase, with free cash flow as a percentage of normalised EBIT of over 50% after 2020, providing a sustainable basis for shareholder return
At its Capital Markets Day to be held today, PostNL will present an update of its strategy for its parcels business, which aims to improve the margin and lower the cost per parcel delivered. This will help the parcel business achieve a better balance between volume growth, profitability and sustainable cash generation. PostNL today also announces that, as of 2020, it will manage its financial performance based on normalised EBIT and free cash flow (FCF). These new key financial metrics have been chosen in order to improve the visibility and comparability of PostNL’s financial performance.
Herna Verhagen, CEO of PostNL, comments: “PostNL has played a key role in the strong growth of e-commerce in the Benelux region. In the last five years, our parcel business has grown by almost 100%, and we now deliver 251 million parcels a year. In our strategy update, we define multiple levers to further shape the growth of e-commerce. We aim for higher customer satisfaction by introducing innovative solutions, new services and improved digitised interaction with consumers. Smart yield management, a sharp focus on efficiency and innovative investments in our capacity will help us to improve the average margin per parcel. Balanced growth, profitability and sustainable free cash flow, while addressing the needs of society, people and the environment: together, these are the basis for sustainable value creation for all our stakeholders.”
Improving the balance between volume and value
The strategy for Parcels aims to capture value through yield management and several other commercial and operational initiatives. PostNL will optimise collection, transport and network control, leading to lower costs per parcel. More and better digitised interaction with consumers will improve first-time-right delivery, reducing time per stop and the number of kilometres driven. New smart receiver options at and near home will be introduced, such as safe-place deliveries and new pick-up points.
PostNL assumes volume growth of ~14% CAGR (2018-22). The expansion of logistics solutions, focusing on niche markets and offering additional services, will complement the parcel business. Spring’s international activities will also help PostNL’s parcel business to grow, by optimising its cross-border network and providing in-feed for its Benelux networks. This is expected to translate into ongoing revenue growth (assumption: 10%-12% CAGR 2018-22) that reflects an improving balance between volume and value.
Separate small parcel sorting leads to lower costs per parcel
To accommodate future volume growth, PostNL continues to invest in additional capacity and focus on utilisation to achieve further network efficiency. In 2021, PostNL plans to open a small parcel sorting centre at a central location in the Netherlands. This sorting solution for small parcels will be highly automated and will facilitate 24/7 sorting, leading
to lower sorting costs. As around 40% of total volume currently consists of small parcels, the new facility will significantly enhance distribution capacity in the existing network. This expansion will accommodate further growth, while limiting capital investments after a peak in 2020. With this and other initiatives, PostNL is creating the potential for an improving margin and a better cash flow profile after 2020.
Securing a sustainable mail business
At Mail in the Netherlands, the structural decline in mail volume requires ongoing attention for implementation of cost savings plans. The intended consolidation of Dutch postal networks is necessary for sustainable profitability and cash flow, as is a regulatory framework that reflects a market that is in structural decline. The proposed consolidation of networks will secure the foundation for a sustainable postal service in the Netherlands. Combining the two national postal networks is of vital importance for the postal market in the Netherlands to remain reliable, affordable, innovative and accessible for everyone. The key elements of the consolidation and subsequent integration as presented on 25 February 2019 remain the same and will be updated after the intended transaction is closed.
Key financial metrics and outlook
As of 2020, PostNL will manage its financial performance based on normalised EBIT and free cash flow (FCF). These new key financial metrics have been chosen in order to improve the visibility and comparability of PostNL’s financial performance.
PostNL confirms its UCOI outlook 2019 at €170 million - €200 million. The UCOI outlook for 2019 would equate to normalised EBIT of €155 million - €185 million. Assuming approval for the transaction with Sandd in Q4 2019, the result in 2019 is expected to be impacted by €25 million - €35 million, based on the financials as presented on 25 February 2019. Normalised EBIT is expected to increase, with free cash flow as a percentage of normalised EBIT of over 50% after 2020, providing a sustainable basis for shareholder return.
Sustainable generation of free cash flow
Although profitability is already expected to improve in 2020, this will not yet be visible in free cash flow. The main developments that explain the forecast of free cash flow for 2020 are:
Accommodating further growth by investments in Parcels infrastructure, to slow down from 2021;
Ongoing investments in working capital due to changes in the revenue mix combined with strict working capital management;
The impact of the intended consolidation of postal networks;
Final payment transitional pension plans in 2020.
After 2020, PostNL’s cash conversion potential is expected to improve significantly, with free cash flow as a percentage of EBIT substantially increasing to over 50%.
Source : https://www.postnl.nl/en/about-postnl/press-news/press-releases/2019
Postmaster General Brennan Highlights How Digital Dimensions are Taking Mail to New Heights
May 6, 2019
In her keynote address opening this year’s National Postal Forum, Postmaster General and CEO Megan Brennan highlighted the many new ways the Postal Service and the Mailing and Shipping Industry are bridging physical and digital marketing channels to meet consumer and business needs.
“New combinations of physical and digital are proving to be a growth opportunity for our industry,” said Brennan. “Organizations see significant increases in sales that can be attributed directly to an integrated advertising campaign.”
Postmaster General Brennan described innovations transforming the capabilities of mail by adding a digital dimension to the consumer experience. These included Informed Delivery, which allows residential customers to see a mobile preview of their mail, and provides businesses with a new way to engage consumers and extract more value from their investment in mail.
“More than 2,000 mail senders are now using Informed Delivery to entice consumers toward a website, a coupon, or to open an app or connect directly with a business,” said Brennan. “This is a powerful offering that moves the mail recipient closer to making the purchase.”
“Today, there are more than 16.4 million registered users of this powerful digital channel, and we are committed to growing our user base to 40 million customers by the end of 2020,” said Brennan. “We will also expand our Informed Delivery offering by including package integration – this will provide a powerful new means of engaging for both package senders and recipients.”
Describing the Postal Service information and technology infrastructure as a platform of products and applications to power growth and business opportunities, Brennan highlighted industry use of real time data to provide business insights and enhance customer value.
“Whether it is information that improves efficiency in payments, returns, processing, or that improves visibility into letters, packages, and transportation, the Postal Service Informed Platform offers a data-driven, customer-centric approach for our industry,” said Brennan. “We leverage our information infrastructure to empower our business customers with the right data, at the right time so they can reach the right consumers, and so that those consumers can make the most informed purchasing decisions.”
The Postmaster General also described the Postal Service commitment to helping America’s businesses differentiate their offerings through the delivery experience, and to speed the pace of innovations bridging the physical and digital to spur greater return on mail and package delivery investment.
The National Postal Forum – taking place May 5-8, 2019 in Indianapolis, IN – is an annual national gathering of more 4,000 professionals from the mailing and shipping industry. The four-day gathering enables industry professionals to learn and collaborate in service of their business.
The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
Source : https://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2019
APWU Contract Update
May 3, 2019
The APWU is continuing to move forward towards interest arbitration. Preparation of hearing presentations, evidence, and witnesses is occurring every day.
The craft directors and their assistant directors are working together with the lead negotiator, President Mark Dimondstein, and the negotiation’s chief spokesperson, Industrial Relations Director Vance Zimmerman, on the issues that their craft will be facing in the interest arbitration hearings. For example, the crafts are all currently working on presentations that show how important each of their respective craft’s work is, the complexity of the jobs postal workers do, and how critical each job is to the mission of the postal service.
Your executive officers are all preparing for arbitration, as well working on specific assignments for use in the interest arbitration process. Meetings are held on a regular basis to strategize and report preparation progress by the crafts. as well as joint meetings with the core National Negotiation Committee and the resident craft officers.
While preparation and arbitrator selection are ongoing, the parties have entered mediation in an attempt to reach a voluntary agreement. A neutral mediator was appointed by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) and has already began to meet with the principals from the parties. Mediation meetings are also scheduled between the APWU and USPS for each craft. Your craft officers will be meeting with the Postal Service in these sessions.
If a voluntary agreement can be reached through mediation, it will be presented to the Rank and File Bargaining Advisory Committee for their vote to send to the membership for ratification.
“Even though we are in mediation in hopes of getting an agreement, we are diligently preparing for interest arbitration. Your elected officers, our attorneys, subject matter experts, and staff are working tirelessly to prepare to present a case that will get you the contract you deserve,” said Industrial Relations Director Zimmerman.
Source: https://www.postaltimes.com/postalnews
No 35-2019
Formulated by UNI Apro Post and Logistics Sector
Postal Conference Day Two. ‘Re-energising’ organising & recruitment. May 1, 2019.
Omniva will direct international parcel flow to its automated network. April 30, 2019.
Piia Kumpulainen appointed Chief Communications Officer and Timo Anttila VP, Public Affairs at Posti Group. April 29, 2019.
Alibaba To Discuss Partnership With NZ Post. April 26, 2019.
Amazon, e-commerce opportunity, not a threat.April 26, 2019.
Postal Conference Day Two. ‘Re-energising’ organising & recruitment.
May 1, 2019
Significant progress has been made to reduce non-union membership among CWU-grade Royal Mail workers – the figure being brought down from over 15 per cent to 11 per cent in the past few years.
And this morning’s motion from London Division proposed the next steps in taking this forward, instructing the Executive to produce a recruitment strategy report within the next three months.
Mark Palfrey, London Divisional Rep, explained as he moved the proposition that this action plan could include “setting a target for each Division to bring that 11 per cent figure down further.
“We’ve got to get our house in order and we’ve got to grow this union within Royal Mail,” he urged.
The motion won strong support during the debate, with delegates from the North East, Scotland, and the South East speaking for the proposals, which were also backed by the Executive.
Deputy general secretary Terry Pullinger asked conference to vote for the motion, saying: “It’s right that we re-energise on this.”
He praised the work done so far, listing the various recruitment initiatives the department has led over the past period and said that “it’s absolutely right that we do need to up the profile again.”
As well as the various suggestions contained in the motion, Terry said that he was also speaking to the business about the potential for auto-enrolment of new employees into the union, with a voluntary ‘opt-out’ motion.
Demanding fair treatment for new employees
“I became a rep to fight for equality and give a voice to the voiceless,” said Wolverhampton Branch delegate Steve Moreton this afternoon.
Speaking in support of a motion criticising the treatment of new employees, Steve said: “These new entrants are voiceless and we should be demanding fair treatment, support and proper training.”
Three motions today addressed this issue, Steve’s motion focussing specifically on the unfairness of new entrants being regularly ‘loaned out’ to other offices.
The other two related debates concerned probationary periods and “inadequate training and support” respectively, issues which may well be the prime cause of the relatively high attrition rates within the business.
Speaking for the latter proposition, Outdoor secretary Mark Baulch revealed that thousands of new recruits to the business had left again within their first 12 months.
“This is unacceptable and we’re pushing the company every inch of the way on this,” he said, adding that the union is demanding a tightening up of training procedures for new starters, as well as continuing to press the business on a new apprentice/cadet scheme.
Annual leave ‘nightmare’
Problems around annual leave made up a large part of conference business today.
Eight separated motions highlighted common frustrations over holiday booking, pay, or complications and difficulties caused by bureaucratic systems and procedures.
One of the biggest annual leave related problems at the moment was cited in a motion from York & District Branch, which slammed the “continuing injustice where members lose pay when on annual leave due to the difference between contractual pay and average pay.”
Speaking for the motion on behalf of the Executive, Dave Wilshire said that “for every week this goes on, Royal Mail is saving a seven-figure sum.”
The Executive is pressing the business to reach an agreement to resolve this issue, he added.
Other motions registered complaints about the company’s recent change to a calculation of leave based on hours rather than days, the difficulties faced by members trying to book leave, and problems that can arise when rest days coincide with Bank Holidays.
The PSP system used by the company came in for strong criticism in particular, Helen Beaumont, from South Midlands, describing it as “an absolute nightmare.
“Royal Mail, who sold you this system? Get your money back,” she urged.
Source : https://www.cwu.org/news
Omniva will direct international parcel flow to its automated network
April 30, 2019
This spring, Omniva will open up its parcel terminals to international shipments. Testing of the long-awaited solution will be started in April, and international parcels will start to be more extensively delivered to parcel terminals this summer.
According to head of the Omniva parcel terminal network Evert Rööpson, there are a number of noteworthy benefits for directing international package flows to automated network. ”By delivering parcels directly to the parcel terminals, we will kill not two but three birds with one stone. First of all, this allows us to deliver parcels to customers faster and more conveniently. Secondly, it also helps us make better use of our constantly expanding parcel terminal network and thirdly, we can ease the overload caused by high package volumes at post offices during high season,“ said Rööpson.
Rööpson says the aspect that overloads more popular post offices today is the manual process of serving customers picking up small international parcels. Omniva has also built the biggest parcel network in the Baltics, and it is big enough to handle international parcels as well. At the same time, Rööpson says, customers constantly express the desire to be able to claim small parcels from self-service parcel terminals. ”Now we have a solution that will help us to fulfil the wishes of many customers,“ says Rööpson.
Parcel terminals are overwhelmingly Estonians‘ favourite channel for picking up parcels. Over 80% of parcel recipients and senders would prefer to do so via parcel terminal. To this point, they have been able to do so only with Aliexpress parcels. With automatic forwarding, parcels from senders elsewhere in the world will also be sent to the lockers.
The first automated forwardings have started
Omniva has now started piloting automated forwarding of parcels from post offices to parcel terminals in locations where large parcel volumes overburden the local post office. The aim of the forwarding is to provide customers the option of claiming their parcel quickly from a parcel locker located nearby, at any time of day.
To this point, parcels sent to customers living in the Kristiine, Õismäe and Tallinn city centre districts arrived at the respective post office determined based on postal code, now
they are sent straight to the nearest parcel terminal. Parcels will now reach customers faster and customers will be able to pick up their parcel 24 hours a day without standing in a queue.
To send a parcel to a parcel terminal, the parcel must be marked with the recipient’s cell phone number so that the customer can be sent a text message when the parcel arrives. The other requirement is, naturally, that the parcel has to fit into a parcel locker and that parcel terminal with vacant lockers are available in the district. To ensure that they are available, Omniva has gradually but significantly expanded its parcel terminal network.
Summer will see broader automated deliveries of international parcels to parcel machines
Summer will mark the start of testing of a sorting line where the line will determine whether all conditions for sending the parcel to a locker have been met, regardless of the parcel’s country of origin. That means that shipments from Amazon, Aliexpress, eBay or smaller online retailers abroad will be delivered straight to a parcel terminal, no matter where in Estonia the recipient is located. From there it can be collected 24/7, whenever it suits the customer the best. The only conditions are that the recipient’s telephone number is marked on the parcels and the parcel must be a suitable size for being deposited in a parcel locker.
Source : https://www.omniva.ee
NEWS LIST
Piia Kumpulainen appointed Chief Communications Officer and Timo Anttila VP, Public Affairs at Posti Group
April 29, 2019
M.Sc. (Econ.) Piia Kumpulainen has been appointed Chief Communications Officer (CCO) at Posti Group Corporation. She will be responsible for Group Communication of Posti Group. M.A. Timo J. Anttila, currently responsible for Group Communication, has been appointed Vice President, Public Affairs at Posti Group. Both appointments will become effective on June 10, 2019.
Piia Kumpulainen reports to Hanna Reijonen, Senior Vice President, Human Resources.
Kumpulainen will join this position from Marimekko, where she has been Communications Director, responsible of Group Communications since 2009. Before Marimekko she served at law firm Hannes Snellman.
- She brings the strong expertise of a brand house to our external and internal communications. With her team she plays a key role in our journey of transformation and in the Posti´s future building, as we seek strong growth in e-commerce and logistics services, says Hanna Reijonen.
- Posti is in an interesting phase and I have always been inspired by the challenges relating to strong change. I am inspired to have this opportunity get to continue the reform of Posti´s communications, together with my team, says Piia Kumpulainen.
Timo J. Anttila has served at Posti since 2013 being responsible for Group Communications, Public Affairs and Corporate Responsibility.
- Posti has a significant role in the daily life of Finnish society. Posti needs to be renewed along with our customers, because the postal industry is in a dramatic turmoil as communications is moving to digital and e-commerce is growing rapidly. Because of this, Posti wants to strengthen its participation in social dialogue and engage in a more intense dialogue with all its stakeholders, emphasizes Anttila.
Source : https://www.posti.com/en/media/media-news/2019
Alibaba To Discuss Partnership With NZ Post
April 26, 2019
Alibaba is reportedly talking to the New Zealand Government about setting up a regional logistics hub says nzherald.
New Zealand’s Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones met with top Alibaba officials in Hong Kong last month where the plan was discussed.
The logistics centre would be part of the Electronic World Trade Platform (eWTP) – and would help facilitate logistics and the movement of goods.
Jones said if the project gets the green light to set up in New Zealand, it would likely be a partnership between Alibaba and NZ Post in a more regional centre, such as Palmerston North.
Senior Alibaba officials have been invited to New Zealand to further explore the opportunity and Jones said they were due to arrive soon.
In a letter to Jones, sent not long after the meeting in Hong Kong, Alibaba senior vice president, and head of corporate finance, Michael Yao said he was keen to explore the idea of establishing an eWTP in New Zealand.
“From our side eWTP, as a global initiative spearheaded by our executive chairman Jack Ma, would present the strongest immediate opportunity for co-operation.”
Jones said: “If there is scope for growing the logistics… and fast moving items business [and] if there is anything we can do to effect a better arrangement between NZ Post, that’s incredibly important to me.”
Source : https://postandparcel.info/104372/news/e-commerce
Amazon, e-commerce opportunity, not a threat
April 26, 2019
Amazon’s move into logistics should be seen as an opportunity not a threat, according to panellists at the Air Cargo News Conference 2019.
“Some air cargo players are already benefiting from working with Amazon and others are looking at the efficiencies and learning from that – such as how they share data,” said Brendan Sullivan, head of ecommerce and cargo operations. IATA.
Ross Marino, senior vice president – international airport operations, dnata, reminded delegates that similar stories about the death of the air cargo industry had been made when the integrators arrived. “But they became our customers. There is definitely an opportunity here but we have to understand the trends.”
Fatih Cigal, senior vice president, cargo marketing, Turkish Airlines, explained that the basic requirements of e-commerce can be easily met by the airlines. “We have speed, safety, security and reliability, which is what the market needs.”
They all commented on the need for flexibility and responding to customer demands, which required investment and, often, new ways of thinking to ensure transparency and data sharing between all parties in the supply chain.
A focus on digitisation will enable the traditional air freight industry to compete with the integrators for e-commerce traffic, according to Peter Gerber, ceo and chairman of the executive board, Lufthansa Cargo.
“Heavy investment in digitisation throughout the supply chain will allow us to offer integrator quality with lower costs,” he told delegates.
“There is a vast e-ecommerce market and we need to adapt to new customers with new demands: short transport times, smooth customs processes and end to end tracking along with affordable costs, reliable transport and convenient returns.”
He said that the airfreight industry also needed to take a wider perspective to promote free markets and trade. “This should be a top priority on the IATA agenda.”
Another speaker Marco Bloeman, managing director, Seabury Consulting, explained that the average weight of e-commerce shipments was falling as business-to-consumer is increasing more sharply. “This is especially evident in the fourth quarter when we all go shopping for Christmas.”
He said the line between air cargo and parcels/ e-commerce is becoming less defined and that the bigger players like Amazon and Alibaba were blurring the logistics line as well.
Source : https://www.aircargonews.net/airlines
POSTAL NEWS
No 36-2019
Formulated by UNI Apro Post and Logistics Sector
Australia Post backs Rural Aid to help drought affected communities. May 2, 2019.
Post Office Boss Ponders Cutting Mail Delivery to Five Days. Congress Balks. May 1, 2019.
Delivering Justice for Couriers in Toronto. May 1 2019.
DHL eCommerce Solutions names Samuel Conroy as managing director in Vietnam. April 30, 2019.
Postnord And Swipbox Expand Their Pilot In Denmark. April 29, 2019.
UPS Contract With Teamsters To Be Implemented, Effective April 29, 2019. April 28, 2019.
Australia Post backs Rural Aid to help drought affected communities
May 2, 2019
Australia Post continues to help drought affected communities, with a six-trailer convoy arriving in Broken Hill this morning to deliver much needed hay to farmers.
The Rural Aid convoy left South Australia on 30 April and is part of a team that over eight weeks has been delivering hay to Scotia, south of Broken Hill, and Tibooburra to the north.
The series of hay drops has been made possible through the sales of Australia Post’s Drought Relief Stamp packs across the country.
Every $5 stamp pack sold triggered a $2 donation by Australia Post to Rural Aid, amounting to more than $200,000 for farmers – and approximately 1,000 large bales of hay.
Nicole Sheffield, Executive General Manager of Community and Consumer, was on hand to greet the convoy in Broken Hill and said Australia Post is proud to be able to help.
“Australia Post is a critical part of the Australian community with a large presence in rural and remote Australia and a long history of supporting the Australian community at times of crisis,” she said.
“We know farmers are doing it tough, and this hay drop is but one way that we’re trying to making it just that little bit easier for them.”
Rural Aid General Manager Wayne Thomson said the hay drop provided more than just help around the farm.
“It’s also the mental impact and the reinforcement that someone cares – they give a damn,” Mr Thomson said.
“Australia Post have a long-standing presence in these communities, and their commitment to helping those same communities when they’re in need should be commended,” he said.
In addition to the hay drop, brought about by the Drought Relief Stamp Pack, Australia Post’s approach to the current drought across Australia has been to mobilise and connect the community to relief and recovery efforts through the following activities:
Accepted over the counter donations for the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Appeal in Post Offices across the country
Matched employee drought relief donations to organisations through our Workplace Giving platform
Donated $100,000 to the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal for recovery and support
Partnering with ReachOut to help improve youth mental health and resilience
Source : https://newsroom.auspost.com.au/article
Post Office Boss Ponders Cutting Mail Delivery to Five Days. Congress Balks.
May 1, 2019
The head of the U.S. Postal Service floated a new proposal to shore up the agency’s finances: deliver mail five days a week while expanding package delivery to seven.
Postmaster General Megan Brennan said Tuesday at a congressional hearing that such a schedule was one of the options the agency’s board of governors is examining as part of a business plan they intend to submit to Congress in the coming weeks to help stem billions of dollars in annual losses.
The schedule would devote one fewer day to its declining business of delivering letters while giving the agency no days off from the growing amount of packages the Postal Service is handling for Amazon.com Inc. and others as more Americans shop online.
Members of Congress, however, made clear that the idea likely wouldn’t get very far.
“Did you tell the board that dog won’t hunt?” Rep. Mark Meadows (R., N.C.) asked Ms. Brennan during a tense exchange at the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing regarding the quasigovernmental agency’s financial condition.
Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D., Mich.) added: “I will never support reducing delivery days.”
Cutting back from delivering six days a week has long been a political non-starter even though doing so would save the agency billions of dollars. In 2013, the Postal Service estimated it could save $2 billion annually by cutting mail delivery to five days and continuing to deliver packages on Saturday. Postal workers unions have also objected to reducing delivery days.
The shipping world has changed dramatically over the past decade. Since 2007, total U.S. mail volume has declined 31% to 146 million pieces, including a 41% drop in first-class mail, its most profitable product.
At the same time, online shopping has exploded, offering a way to plug the lost revenue while also adding strains to Postal Service operations as it processed more packages. The Postal Service has actually started to dip its toes into seven-day a week delivery to manage the 20 million packages it averages daily. It now delivers some Amazon.com packages on Sundays and also does so for more shippers in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
The shift in the business, as well as a congressionally mandated requirement to pre-fund retiree health benefits, has hurt the Postal Service’s finances. The agency lost $3.9 billion last year, its 12th straight year of losses.
Ms. Brennan has long accepted the political challenges in reducing delivery days. She said the new schedule was one of several proposals the Postal Service was considering to narrow its losses. “We have a responsibility to put forward a plan that closes this gap,” Ms. Brennan said. “It would be irresponsible not to.”
The Postmaster General said the plan was in final review by the board and would be submitted to the committee in 60 days.
Ms. Brennan has advocated for legislative action that would overhaul the structure of the Postal Service, including shifting retirees to Medicare and giving the agency more freedom to raise rates. Committee members on Tuesday seemed to agree that the pre-funding mandate, which is unique among federal agencies, should be eliminated.
Ultimately, the parameters of the Postal Service’s universal service obligation are up to Congress. While the Postal Service doesn’t receive taxpayer dollars for operations, annual federal appropriations that compensate the agency for free and reduced-rate mailing have long contained language that requires the six-day delivery schedule.
President Trump has suggested the Postal Service cut back on delivery days in White House budgets, but those ideas haven’t advanced. A recent presidential task force also suggested the Postal Service should have greater flexibility to determine delivery frequency.
Source : https://www.wsj.com/articles
Delivering Justice for Couriers in Toronto
May 1 2019
Toronto - Foodora bike and car couriers today announced their plans to unionize with the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW).
Foodora is an international, app-based company that facilitates online food ordering and delivery. They have operations in cities across Canada, with Toronto being their largest Canadian market. Foodora charges restaurants 30 percent per order and only pays their couriers $1/km travelled from the restaurant to the customer’s door. The couriers receive $4.50 per order paid directly by the customers.
“What we want is simple and achievable,” says Hunter Sanassian, a bike courier, “We work in some of the most dangerous conditions in the city. Many of us have been injured on the job. All we want is to be respected as workers and paid fairly by this profitable company.”
While Foodora controls much of the couriers’ work and administers discipline like any other boss, it classifies couriers as ‘independent contractors’ effectively taking away any legal labour protections including EI, sick days, and guaranteed income.
“Over the last 30 years worker rights have been dismantled, leaving a workforce that is struggling to simply survive,” says Deena Ladd, coordinator at the Toronto Workers Action Centre. “We need to collectively fight back against precarious work such as misclassified and temporary jobs that have saturated the labour market today.”
“As the gig economy grows we are seeing workers who are entirely unprotected,” says Mike Palecek, CUPW National President. “Now is the time to win rights and protections for these workers. The campaign to unionize Foodora couriers will set important precedents for labour rights. Couriers are not machines and they deserve to feel safe and respected at work.”
Source : https://www.cupw.ca/en
DHL eCommerce Solutions names Samuel Conroy as managing director in Vietnam
April 30,2019
DHL eCommerce Solutions, a division of Deutsche Post DHL Group, has named Samuel Conroy as managing director for Vietnam. Prior to joining DHL, Conroy held senior general management roles in various Southeast Asian countries and was most recently the CEO of the Middle East Cluster for Damco Logistics.
“Samuel brings with him a wealth of knowledge in the logistics business as well as general management experience gained from working across different markets in both country and regional capacities,” said Kiattichai Pitpreecha, CEO, DHL eCommerce Solutions Southeast Asia. “His enthusiasm and strategic hands-on leadership approach will be crucial to exceeding customer expectations and delivering profitable growth.”
Conroy’s extensive general management experience has been supplemented with previous project management and functional implementation successes across a broad logistics environment. He previously also served as the director of the Australian Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam.
“Vietnam currently has one of the fastest growing e-commerce markets in the world,” said Conroy. “With more than half of Vietnam’s population already using the internet and more than 50 million smartphone subscribers, we must fully utilize our e-commerce capabilities across the DHL divisions to help our customers create a strong base of operations and overcome infrastructure challenges to capitalize on that speed of growth.”
Source : https://www.parcelandpostaltechnologyinternational.com/news
Postnord And Swipbox Expand Their Pilot In Denmark
April 29, 2019
PostNord and SwipBox have expanded their pilot project in Denmark, which is the foundation for a possible countrywide network of parcel lockers called “Nærboks”. Nærboks is Danish for nearby locker.
Building on the installation of 200 parcel lockers in Kolding (reported earlier this month), 40 brand new parcel lockers were installed in Sonderborg and the surrounding area on April 26. Customers can now choose to have their parcels delivered into the new lockers.
“We are very happy about Sonderborg Municipality giving us the opportunity to expand our pilot, so it now includes both Kolding and Sonderborg. It is essential that we gain as many experiences as possible during the pilot, before we roll out the concept to the rest of Denmark, so every Dane can enjoy the Nærboks concept,” says Allan Kaczmarek, CEO of SwipBox.
The expansion of the pilot has been made possible by the great willingness to collaborate from Sonderborg Municipality and local businesses, who see the advantages of the new network of parcel lockers. Because of this, some parcel lockers are located on municipal plots, while other parcel lockers have been set up at supermarkets, gas stations and in residential areas.
“We want to make life easier for all Danes when they have to pick up the increasing number of parcels from online shopping. The parcel lockers will as a rule be placed in walking distance from where people live, which means that the new parcel infrastructure not only offers an easy and comfortable way to receive parcels but is also environmentally friendly,” says Peter Kjær Jensen, CEO of PostNord in Denmark.
Nærboks can be opened with an app on the customer’s phone, which communicates with the parcel locker using Bluetooth. SwipBox has developed the parcel lockers, which run on batteries and are easy to install as there is no need for an external electricity source or an internet connection.
The new network is operated by Nordic Infrastructure, a company owned by SwipBox and PostNord. During the pilot in Kolding, and now Sonderborg, functionality and user-friendliness of the parcel lockers will be tested and improved upon, while evaluations of how logistics providers, senders and recipients find Nærboks will be gathered to determine the plan for the future rollout of the project.
Nordic Infrastructure is operated as an agnostic parcel locker network, which means that any logistics provider can deliver parcels in Nærboks.
Source : https://postandparcel.info/104395/news/e-commerce
UPS Contract With Teamsters To Be Implemented, Effective April 29, 2019
April 28, 2019
The last remaining local agreement under the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Small Package Agreement with UPS was ratified on Sunday, April 28.
The master contract covering approximately 243,000 UPS employees was negotiated earlier, and all remaining supplements have now been ratified. The master contract will be effective on April 29, 2019.
“We are pleased to learn that everything now is in place to implement our agreement with the Teamsters,” said Teri McClure, UPS Chief Human Resources Officer and Senior Vice President, Labor. “This agreement, and the previously negotiated master agreement covering UPS Freight employees, helps to ensure that UPS and our employees are well positioned for success in the coming years.”
The new five-year contract will run from August 1, 2018 through July 31, 2023. More information can be found on the UPS Investor Relations website after the contract is implemented.
UPS’s overriding goal during the contract negotiations has been to reward the company’s employees for their contributions to its success while simultaneously enabling the business to remain flexible to meet customer needs.
Source : https://www.pressroom.ups.com/pressroom
POSTAL NEWS
No 37-2019
Formulated by UNI Apro Post and Logistics Sector
Ukrposhta turnaround progresses: UAH 221 M profit reported in Q1 2019, as revenue climbs 22% YoY. May 8, 2019.
Shorten’s pushing the envelope on Australia Post bank. May 7, 2019.
Foodora Couriers Work to Unionize with CUPW.
May 7, 2019.
Send and collect parcels at around 300 Migros branches. May 6, 2019.
DPD Ireland To Invest €3.2 Million In Zero Emissions Fleet. May 3, 2019.
Ukrposhta turnaround progresses: UAH 221 M profit reported in Q1 2019, as revenue climbs 22% YoY
May 8, 2019
Stock company “Ukrposhta” reported a first-quarter net profit of UAH 221.4 million, with its net revenue reaching almost UAH 1.9 billion, up 22.1% compared to the same period last year.
“More than UAH 221 million of net profit is one of Ukrposhta’s best quarterly results. We are growing both in volumes and in revenues in our key areas—domestic and international mail and financial services.
This is a logical result of our process rebuilding, network performance adjustment, infrastructure upgrade and hard work on improving the quality of service. It is the collective success of our large team of several thousands of professionals. We can do even better, provided that we have clearly defined rules and costs of the provision of social services, in particular those related to pension payments delivery. Here we do rely on a productive dialogue with the government and the Parliament,” said Igor Smelyansky, Director General of Ukrposhta.
About Ukrposhta. Stock company “Ukrposhta” is the national postal operator of Ukraine and the leader in international mail delivery in the country. Ukrposhta’s 11 thousand post offices constitute the largest network in Ukraine, which is often the only opportunity to receive financial services for 16 million residents of Ukrainian small towns and villages. The company also delivers pension payments to more than 4.1 million pensioners.
Source : https://www.posteurop.org or https://ukrposhta.ua/en/english
Shorten’s pushing the envelope on Australia Post bank
May 7, 2019
Labor leader Bill Shorten confirmed in the second leaders debate that the party is thinking about creating a government-owned bank out of Australia Post should it be elected into power this month.
Now questions are being asked in the investment community about how this could be done.
Some say that one of the challenges for executing the move is that Australia Post could destroy a funding source if it went ahead with the move, because it recently reached a deal for the top four banks to use the postal network to provide their services in rural locations.
Another question is how much Australia Post would invest in technology if it morphed into a bank.
Should the idea come to pass, many believe it would be modelled on the government-controlled Kiwi Bank across the Tasman, which is a subsidiary of New Zealand Post and thought to make about $125 million annually.
Kiwi Bank is said to have large margins. When it was started 15 years ago, customers did not pay fees, but many think this would not be possible if Australia Post became a bank.
One market analyst said the only way Australia Post could grow a balance sheet was through writing loans and it would probably need to use a mortgage broker or upskill Australia Post staff to meet the regulatory requirements for providing mortgages.
Another point is that while the Australia Post brand is strong, the real opportunity in the government-owned operation was its network.
Now much of the day-to-day banking activities of customers are carried out online and mainstream banks are shrinking their retail store network.
Bill Shorten said there were around 3000 Australia Post outlets with many in regional centres.
He said more could be done if the party looked at giving Australia Post (run by former Blackmores boss Christine Holgate) the ability to compete with the banks of Australia.
And he talked about investing in technology and threw up the possibility of using Australia Post to provide opportunities to increase competition for banks.
But he added that he wouldn’t necessarily want them lending money.
DataRoom revealed on March 13 that Labor was once again looking at the possibility of transforming Australia Post into a bank.
The plan was being discussed following the recommendations from the financial services royal commission.
Then, the thinking was that a government bank could play a part in providing agricultural loans that might be shunned by other banks.
Creating a government-backed bank was also something that the former Labor prime minister Kevin Rudd was eager to pursue in his second term, but it didn’t eventuate.
Source : https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/dataroom
Foodora Couriers Work to Unionize with CUPW
May 7 2019
Bicycle and car couriers in the Toronto area working for Foodora, an app-based food delivery company, have been working with our organizers in a campaign to join CUPW. The couriers are fighting for better health and safety protections, fair compensation for they work they perform, and for the right to join a union.
Gig economy companies like Foodora promise flexibility to couriers, saying that they’re independent contractors - their own boss. In doing so, they avoid paying for even the most basic employment benefits like employment insurance, or CPP/QPP premiums.
All of the risk falls on the couriers.
In CUPW, we understand this struggle. We’ve fought to ensure that workers are properly classified for over 30 years, whether it be for private sector courier members, for Combined Urban Services (CUS) workers, or for the over 6,000 RSMCs that Canada Post denied employee status to until they were successfully brought into the union in 2003.
Like postal workers, Foodora couriers perform dangerous work, navigating busy streets in all weather conditions. Their injury rates are high too. With little in the way of protection, an accident can leave them devastated, unable to work, and without adequate compensation to make ends meet.
When companies like Foodora are allowed to get away with treating workers like numbers and not like human beings, we all suffer. To fight back we have to be bold, challenging the bosses’ attempts to drive down wages and working conditions. An injury to one is an injury to all!
Source : https://www.cupw.ca/en
Send and collect parcels at around 300 Migros branches
May 6, 2019
Swiss Post is constantly expanding the access points for Swiss Post services throughout Switzerland. Now an attractive service is being added. In future, customers will be able to send and receive their parcels in around 300 selected Migros branches throughout Switzerland. On 6 May 2019 Swiss Post and Migros are launching the service, enabling shopping and postal transactions to be combined even more easily.
More and more people are shopping online. This means that the number of parcels at Swiss Post is constantly increasing. In 2018, Swiss Post delivered 138 million parcels, more than 6.7% more than in the previous year. Customers also increasingly want to send and receive their parcels regardless of time and location. Swiss Post is responding to this need in partnership with Migros. From 6 May 2019, customers will be able to send or receive their parcels at around 300 Migros branches in various Swiss regions. By doing so, Swiss Post will be expanding access points for Swiss Post services and is where its customers are.
Near its customers
The new Swiss Post service will be integrated into the comprehensive PickMup service at Migros. “The partnership with Swiss Post provides added value for our customers during their everyday routines”, says Matthias Wunderlin, Head of Marketing and a member of General Management at the Federation of Migros Co-operatives. Migros – just like Swiss
Post – is constantly adapting to changing customer needs. Customers will benefit from the opening hours at Migros and will be able to conveniently collect and send parcels while they shop.
Collect and send parcels while shopping
“Migros, with its dense, nationwide network of branches is an ideal partner for us. We want to be where our customers are and with this service this we’re very well placed indeed”, says Thomas Baur, Head of PostalNetwork and a Member of Executive Management at Swiss Post. To collect parcels or registered letters at Migros branches, customers need a Swiss Post online user account. This can be used to redirect the parcel or the registered letter to the chosen Migros branch, using the “My consignments” online service. Customers can also send parcels in the 300 or so Migros branches. All Migros branches in which parcels can be dropped off and collected and the details about the service can be found at this link.
Swiss Post will be expanding its network until the year 2020. By then, Swiss Post’s network will include more than 4,200 different access points for postal services, such as branches with partners, collection and acceptance points and My Post 24 terminals.
Source : https://www.post.ch/en/about-us/company/media/press-releases/2019
DPD Ireland To Invest €3.2 Million In Zero Emissions Fleet
May 3, 2019
DPD Ireland is investing €3.2 million to electrify its fleet over the next 12 months
The investment for the green vehicle project, named ‘ElectriCity’ will include purchasing the EVs, hiring personnel, employee training, acquiring the depots and refurbishment.
ElectriCity was launched in Dublin earlier this week at DPD Ireland’s newest location, Dublin’s Docklands Innovation Park on East Wall Road.
DPD Ireland’s new electric fleet, will serve the Dublin City Centre area, and comprises vehicles in a range of sizes from small Paxsters whose versatile size allows easy movement throughout the city streets, to the Goupils and LDVs which will carry larger parcels. The first 10 vehicles of the new electric fleet are now on the road.
ElectriCity will roll out to other urban locations throughout the country over the next three years.
Irish Environment Minister Richard Bruton said at the launch: “Transitioning to a low carbon economy will require more sustainable choices and leadership from industry.
“By investing in electrifying their fleet, DPD are putting sustainability at the heart of their business and leading the way.”
Company Chief Executive Des Travers stated that DPD will be the first parcel delivery firm to have an electric depot: “Through ElectriCity, 15 parcel delivery routes in Dublin will become all-electric routes. By the end of this year, as part of our bid to reduce our carbon output, DPD will have saved more than 20 tonnes of CO2 being emitted as a result of moving to an electric fleet,” he said.
“DPD is committed to making every parcel delivered carbon neutral, and is doing so by measuring CO2 emissions, striving to reduce them, and by offsetting the remaining ones,” he added.
DPD Ireland explained its motivation for the initiative on its website: “Our ElectriCity initiative has been inspired by our commitment to our Corporate Social Responsibility. As a carrier, we have a responsibility to the environment and to our customers. Every parcel delivered by our electric fleet is directly reducing carbon impact. We’re making Dublin cleaner, one delivery at a time!”
The Irish Government has set a target of having 10% of all vehicles on the road by 2020 electric. There were less than 4,000 electric cars in Ireland on the road at the start of 2018. Ireland has also set itself the target of ending the sale of cars powered solely by fossil fuels by 2030.
Source : https://postandparcel.info/104507/news/parcel
POSTAL NEWS
No 38 -2019
Formulated by UNI Apro Post and Logistics Sector
DHL’s digital freight platform now available in the Middle East. May 7, 2019.
Almost 50% Of Bpost’s Revenue Is Generated By Parcels & Logistics. May 7, 2019.
Focus on the potential of the parcel business. May 7, 2019.
Postmaster General Brennan Highlights How Digital Dimensions are Taking Mail to New Heights. May 6, 2019.
APWU Contract Update. May 3, 2019.
DHL’s digital freight platform now available in the Middle East
May 7, 2019
Logistics startup Saloodo!, a subsidiary of Deutsche Post DHL Group, has announced that its digital freight platform is being made available to customers in the Middle East. The platform was originally launched two years ago to shippers, dispatchers and carriers in Europe.
Thomas Grunau, CEO of Saloodo! in Europe, said, “Saloodo!’s success on the German and European market has demonstrated the benefits of a digital solution. It allows shippers and transport providers to find each other more easily and makes road freight processes more transparent and efficient.
Especially given the strong growth of the logistics market in the Middle East, we feel this is just the right place to begin offering our solution beyond the EU and develop it further.”
Saloodo! aims to digitize the transportation and logistics industry. Its customers benefit from an end-to-end digital solution for the entire dispatch and transportation process. In Europe, the digital freight platform currently serves more than 18,000 shippers and over 7,000 carriers with more than 250,000 available trucks.
Tobias Maier, CEO of Saloodo! MEA, added, “Even though the UAE is one of the largest logistics markets in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), there remain untapped opportunities given the economic diversification and several road infrastructure investments underway. Equally, DHL’s deep expertise in the region and wide portfolio of service offerings will support the successful deployment of Saloodo! in the UAE, and ultimately in the Gulf region.”
Source : https://www.parcelandpostaltechnologyinternational.com/news
Almost 50% Of Bpost’s Revenue Is Generated By Parcels & Logistics.
May 7, 2019
bpost released its first quarter 2019 results last week – parcel BeNe (Belgium-Netherlands) growth was up 16.9% while total operating income was down -1.8% driven by vigorous mail volume decline.
Koen Van Gerven, CEO, commented: “Thanks to the efforts of all our teams, both in Belgium and in the other countries where we operate, our first quarter 2019 group results are overall in line with expectations laid down in our full year guidance. We continued to make good progress on our transformation towards a reference e-commerce logistics operator, with nearly half of our revenues being generated by Parcels & Logistics.
Parcels volume and revenue development in our Belgium-Netherlands home region continued to be strong. Parcels & Logistics North America was impacted, as anticipated, by the fallout of Radial’s 2018 client churn and repricing despite stringent cost control. Mail & Retail’s volume decline was more pronounced than anticipated, and was only partly compensated by price increases. These developments emphasise the importance of the modified distribution model to align rapidly changing consumer needs with operational challenges. With the first quarter in line with expectations, I can reconfirm that we are on track to realise our full year guidance of normalised EBIT above EUR 300 million and I thank all bpost’s employees for their hard work.”
First quarter highlights
Group operating income at EUR 906.8 million, down -1.1% and group normalised EBIT at EUR 95.8 million, representing an EBIT margin of 10.6%.
Mail & Retail
Total operating income at € 527.5 million (-1.8%) driven by vigorous mail volume decline
Underlying mail volume decline at -9.2% mainly driven by Transactional and Press
Normalised EBIT at EUR 92.6 million (17.6% EBIT margin) mainly impacted by mail volume decline and wage drift
Parcels & Logistics Europe & Asia
Total operating income at € 196.8 million (+8.0%) driven by Parcel BeNe up 11.1%
Parcel BeNe volume growth at +16.9% driven by e-commerce
Normalised EBIT at EUR 18.0 million (9.1% EBIT margin): solid margin improvement with volume growth only partly offset by higher costs
Parcels & Logistics North America
As anticipated, total operating income at € 228.5 million (-5.2%) mainly impacted by Radial customer churn and repricing
Normalised EBIT at EUR -7.8 million (-3.4% EBIT margin) mainly impacted by client churn & repricing in line with expectations.
Source : https://postandparcel.info/104517/news
Focus on the potential of the parcel business
May 7, 2019
Highlights for PostNL Parcels
E-commerce in the Benelux region will continue strong growth, offering opportunities and further growth potential
Development of new value-added services, through innovation and by smart expansion of infrastructure
New, dedicated sorting centre for small parcels to be opened in 2021
Commercial initiatives underway to optimise yield management
Balanced volume growth – resulting in improving profitability and cash conversion – is the basis for value creation.
Outlook PostNL
UCOI outlook 2019 confirmed at €170 million - €200 million
As of 2020, PostNL’s outlook will be based on normalised EBIT and free cash flow
Normalised EBIT is expected to increase, with free cash flow as a percentage of normalised EBIT of over 50% after 2020, providing a sustainable basis for shareholder return
At its Capital Markets Day to be held today, PostNL will present an update of its strategy for its parcels business, which aims to improve the margin and lower the cost per parcel delivered. This will help the parcel business achieve a better balance between volume growth, profitability and sustainable cash generation. PostNL today also announces that, as of 2020, it will manage its financial performance based on normalised EBIT and free cash flow (FCF). These new key financial metrics have been chosen in order to improve the visibility and comparability of PostNL’s financial performance.
Herna Verhagen, CEO of PostNL, comments: “PostNL has played a key role in the strong growth of e-commerce in the Benelux region. In the last five years, our parcel business has grown by almost 100%, and we now deliver 251 million parcels a year. In our strategy update, we define multiple levers to further shape the growth of e-commerce. We aim for higher customer satisfaction by introducing innovative solutions, new services and improved digitised interaction with consumers. Smart yield management, a sharp focus on efficiency and innovative investments in our capacity will help us to improve the average margin per parcel. Balanced growth, profitability and sustainable free cash flow, while addressing the needs of society, people and the environment: together, these are the basis for sustainable value creation for all our stakeholders.”
Improving the balance between volume and value
The strategy for Parcels aims to capture value through yield management and several other commercial and operational initiatives. PostNL will optimise collection, transport and network control, leading to lower costs per parcel. More and better digitised interaction with consumers will improve first-time-right delivery, reducing time per stop and the number of kilometres driven. New smart receiver options at and near home will be introduced, such as safe-place deliveries and new pick-up points.
PostNL assumes volume growth of ~14% CAGR (2018-22). The expansion of logistics solutions, focusing on niche markets and offering additional services, will complement the parcel business. Spring’s international activities will also help PostNL’s parcel business to grow, by optimising its cross-border network and providing in-feed for its Benelux networks. This is expected to translate into ongoing revenue growth (assumption: 10%-12% CAGR 2018-22) that reflects an improving balance between volume and value.
Separate small parcel sorting leads to lower costs per parcel
To accommodate future volume growth, PostNL continues to invest in additional capacity and focus on utilisation to achieve further network efficiency. In 2021, PostNL plans to open a small parcel sorting centre at a central location in the Netherlands. This sorting solution for small parcels will be highly automated and will facilitate 24/7 sorting, leading
to lower sorting costs. As around 40% of total volume currently consists of small parcels, the new facility will significantly enhance distribution capacity in the existing network. This expansion will accommodate further growth, while limiting capital investments after a peak in 2020. With this and other initiatives, PostNL is creating the potential for an improving margin and a better cash flow profile after 2020.
Securing a sustainable mail business
At Mail in the Netherlands, the structural decline in mail volume requires ongoing attention for implementation of cost savings plans. The intended consolidation of Dutch postal networks is necessary for sustainable profitability and cash flow, as is a regulatory framework that reflects a market that is in structural decline. The proposed consolidation of networks will secure the foundation for a sustainable postal service in the Netherlands. Combining the two national postal networks is of vital importance for the postal market in the Netherlands to remain reliable, affordable, innovative and accessible for everyone. The key elements of the consolidation and subsequent integration as presented on 25 February 2019 remain the same and will be updated after the intended transaction is closed.
Key financial metrics and outlook
As of 2020, PostNL will manage its financial performance based on normalised EBIT and free cash flow (FCF). These new key financial metrics have been chosen in order to improve the visibility and comparability of PostNL’s financial performance.
PostNL confirms its UCOI outlook 2019 at €170 million - €200 million. The UCOI outlook for 2019 would equate to normalised EBIT of €155 million - €185 million. Assuming approval for the transaction with Sandd in Q4 2019, the result in 2019 is expected to be impacted by €25 million - €35 million, based on the financials as presented on 25 February 2019. Normalised EBIT is expected to increase, with free cash flow as a percentage of normalised EBIT of over 50% after 2020, providing a sustainable basis for shareholder return.
Sustainable generation of free cash flow
Although profitability is already expected to improve in 2020, this will not yet be visible in free cash flow. The main developments that explain the forecast of free cash flow for 2020 are:
Accommodating further growth by investments in Parcels infrastructure, to slow down from 2021;
Ongoing investments in working capital due to changes in the revenue mix combined with strict working capital management;
The impact of the intended consolidation of postal networks;
Final payment transitional pension plans in 2020.
After 2020, PostNL’s cash conversion potential is expected to improve significantly, with free cash flow as a percentage of EBIT substantially increasing to over 50%.
Source : https://www.postnl.nl/en/about-postnl/press-news/press-releases/2019
Postmaster General Brennan Highlights How Digital Dimensions are Taking Mail to New Heights
May 6, 2019
In her keynote address opening this year’s National Postal Forum, Postmaster General and CEO Megan Brennan highlighted the many new ways the Postal Service and the Mailing and Shipping Industry are bridging physical and digital marketing channels to meet consumer and business needs.
“New combinations of physical and digital are proving to be a growth opportunity for our industry,” said Brennan. “Organizations see significant increases in sales that can be attributed directly to an integrated advertising campaign.”
Postmaster General Brennan described innovations transforming the capabilities of mail by adding a digital dimension to the consumer experience. These included Informed Delivery, which allows residential customers to see a mobile preview of their mail, and provides businesses with a new way to engage consumers and extract more value from their investment in mail.
“More than 2,000 mail senders are now using Informed Delivery to entice consumers toward a website, a coupon, or to open an app or connect directly with a business,” said Brennan. “This is a powerful offering that moves the mail recipient closer to making the purchase.”
“Today, there are more than 16.4 million registered users of this powerful digital channel, and we are committed to growing our user base to 40 million customers by the end of 2020,” said Brennan. “We will also expand our Informed Delivery offering by including package integration – this will provide a powerful new means of engaging for both package senders and recipients.”
Describing the Postal Service information and technology infrastructure as a platform of products and applications to power growth and business opportunities, Brennan highlighted industry use of real time data to provide business insights and enhance customer value.
“Whether it is information that improves efficiency in payments, returns, processing, or that improves visibility into letters, packages, and transportation, the Postal Service Informed Platform offers a data-driven, customer-centric approach for our industry,” said Brennan. “We leverage our information infrastructure to empower our business customers with the right data, at the right time so they can reach the right consumers, and so that those consumers can make the most informed purchasing decisions.”
The Postmaster General also described the Postal Service commitment to helping America’s businesses differentiate their offerings through the delivery experience, and to speed the pace of innovations bridging the physical and digital to spur greater return on mail and package delivery investment.
The National Postal Forum – taking place May 5-8, 2019 in Indianapolis, IN – is an annual national gathering of more 4,000 professionals from the mailing and shipping industry. The four-day gathering enables industry professionals to learn and collaborate in service of their business.
The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
Source : https://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2019
APWU Contract Update
May 3, 2019
The APWU is continuing to move forward towards interest arbitration. Preparation of hearing presentations, evidence, and witnesses is occurring every day.
The craft directors and their assistant directors are working together with the lead negotiator, President Mark Dimondstein, and the negotiation’s chief spokesperson, Industrial Relations Director Vance Zimmerman, on the issues that their craft will be facing in the interest arbitration hearings. For example, the crafts are all currently working on presentations that show how important each of their respective craft’s work is, the complexity of the jobs postal workers do, and how critical each job is to the mission of the postal service.
Your executive officers are all preparing for arbitration, as well working on specific assignments for use in the interest arbitration process. Meetings are held on a regular basis to strategize and report preparation progress by the crafts. as well as joint meetings with the core National Negotiation Committee and the resident craft officers.
While preparation and arbitrator selection are ongoing, the parties have entered mediation in an attempt to reach a voluntary agreement. A neutral mediator was appointed by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) and has already began to meet with the principals from the parties. Mediation meetings are also scheduled between the APWU and USPS for each craft. Your craft officers will be meeting with the Postal Service in these sessions.
If a voluntary agreement can be reached through mediation, it will be presented to the Rank and File Bargaining Advisory Committee for their vote to send to the membership for ratification.
“Even though we are in mediation in hopes of getting an agreement, we are diligently preparing for interest arbitration. Your elected officers, our attorneys, subject matter experts, and staff are working tirelessly to prepare to present a case that will get you the contract you deserve,” said Industrial Relations Director Zimmerman.
Source: https://www.postaltimes.com/postalnews