POSTAL NEWS
No 81 -2019
Formulated by UNI Apro Post and Logistics Sector
Posti to boost its growth by increasing the number of parcel lockers in Finland to over 4,000. October 10, 2019.
Berne: the heart of the world’s postal service.
October 9, 2019.
‘Barclays Betrayal’ of post offices sparks fury.
October 9, 2019.
DPDHL services “more accessible than ever before”.
October 8, 2019.
100th PostNL letter and parcel machine opened in Zwolle.
October 7, 2019
Posti to boost its growth by increasing the number of parcel lockers in Finland to over 4,000
October 10, 2019
Posti will make a major investment to prepare for growth in e-commerce. Posti will significantly expand its parcel locker network so that, by 2022, there will be 4,000 Posti parcel lockers in Finland. Finland has the most comprehensive parcel locker network in the world, and in the future, up to 85% of Finns will have a parcel locker less than one kilometer from their home address. At the same time, the possible uses for parcel lockers are also being expanded. In the future, it will be possible to use parcel lockers for purposes such as recycling and doing C2C trade in addition to picking up and sending parcels.
Posti’s investment in parcel lockers is significant and will make Finland a pioneer when it comes to the number of parcel lockers. Posti has been rapidly expanding its parcel locker network: at the end of 2018, Posti had 1,000 parcel lockers. Posti will quadruple the number of Posti parcel lockers within the next few years.
E-commerce is growing in Finland at a rate of 10% per year. The rate is expected to increase as Finnish consumers estimate that they will make more online purchases in the future than they do now. Almost one fifth (18%) of the respondents estimate that they will buy everything or almost everything online in 2025. This information comes from Kantar TNS’s 2019 online shopping survey commissioned by Posti. It provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of online shopping in Finland.
“With this investment, we are preparing for growth in e-commerce. In Finland, households receive around 10 parcels per year. In Central Europe, however, the figure is twice as high and, in the US, it is three times as high. As the e-commerce sector grows, the volume of parcels is also expected to increase,” says Kaisa Ilola, the Head of Customer Experience and Channels at Posti.
Finns are used to mailboxes being part of the infrastructure and in the future, Parcel lockers will form a new kind of part of a scenery
In the future, there will be a Posti parcel locker near every Finn. In urban areas, there will be a parcel locker located at most a kilometer away from every home address by 2022. In sparsely populated areas, parcel lockers will also be available closer to home—usually within five kilometers of the home address.
“In practice, this means that there will be a Posti parcel locker near every Finn. In 2022, consumers will pass a parcel locker every day on their way to work, school, a grocery store or a hobby. Finns are used to mailboxes being part of the infrastructure. In the future, Parcel lockers will form a new kind of part of a scenery. The number of parcel lockers will be increased, but at the same time, we are also looking for new uses for parcel lockers. In the future, parcel lockers can be used for purposes such as recycling raw materials, doing C2C trade and delivering rental devices,” says Ilola.
Posti parcel lockers are available throughout Finland. Posti currently has nearly 1,600 parcel lockers. In September, Posti’s 1,500th parcel locker was opened in the REDI shopping center in Helsinki.
Finns prefer to receive their parcels through parcel lockers. Up to 59% of Finns report having used a parcel locker, but this figure is set to increase. Increasing the number of parcel lockers makes Finns’ everyday life easier since parcel lockers are also available in the evening and on the weekends. Parcels can also be put into the lockers during those times. At best, a parcel that was ordered on Friday can be picked up from a parcel locker on same day.
“Having a comprehensive parcel locker network also helps curb climate change. Consumers can significantly lower the CO2 emissions of their deliveries with parcel routing. Online shoppers can reduce their CO2 emissions by up to 70% by routing their parcels along their everyday routes, for example to a parcel locker located at their workplace or the grocery store that they use,” says Ilola.
Posti seeks growth through e-commerce
Posti is currently undergoing the greatest transformation in its history: consumer behavior has changed, digitalization is increasing, the volumes of paper mail are decreasing at a growing rate and competition is becoming fiercer. The volume of parcels delivered by Posti is growing: parcels and logistics already amount to over half of Posti’s net sales. Posti is looking for significant growth opportunities in parcels, e-commerce and logistics services.
Posti has prepared for e-commerce growth with multi-million investments and by constructing a nationwide parcel locker network that is popular among consumers. A decision has been made to invest a significantly greater amount of money in the development of the parcel locker network.
“Posti is a global leader in parcel lockers. For instance, DHL has announced that it will increase the number of DHL parcel lockers in Germany to 7,000. With Posti’s additional investment, the number of parcel lockers per capita will be six times higher in Finland than in Germany, a country that is considered a pioneer in the use of parcel lockers,” says Ilola about the significance of the investment.
Source : https://www.posti.com/en/media/media-news/2019
Berne: the heart of the world’s postal service
October 9, 2019
Whether it’s a parcel from Asia or that letter from overseas: thanks to the Universal Postal Union the world’s international postal services are like a well-oiled machine. But the organization that pulls the strings behind the scenes is largely unknown. And it, too, is part of the reason today is World Post Day, which this year celebrates its 50th anniversary.
How was European postal traffic in the 19th century? Already bustling, but pretty chaotic. Just a few private companies controlled the postal system, which was entangled in a confusing network of individual contracts. Anyone sending mail to another country in those days needed nerves of steel and patience – especially for letters and parcels going overseas.
And global postal traffic today? A global network with 5.3 million postal employees and 668,000 post offices and postal agencies. From a total of 313 billion letters a year, 3.6 billion are international, and of 14 billion parcels, 180 million are transported across borders – with a very strong upward trend (Figures are from 2017).
The Universal Postal Union – founded in Switzerland
Behind these figures is the Universal Postal Union – UPU. It was founded in Berne as the General Postal Union with 22 member countries on 9 October 1874. Visionary leaders assembled at the restaurant “Zum Äusseren Stand”. These leaders knew that an intergovernmental organization was needed to coordinate and regulate global postal traffic (see info box). They were proven right. 145 years later, the world’s second oldest international organization has 192 member states. And World Post Day, which originated on 9 October 1969, celebrates its 50th anniversary today. The day marks the year the UPU was founded as well as the importance of postal organizations worldwide.
To mark the occasion, we’re taking a look into the world of postal organizations. Because today the postal world is not only regulated and transparent, but also surprising and bizarre. So, to celebrate World Post Day, here are nine facts from the colourful world of postal services – because on the international stage, today’s postal services come in far more than just yellow.
Over 900,000 employees
No postal organization employs more people than China Post. According to their own figures, the number stands at around 935,000. Another giant is the global operator Deutsche Post DHL, with around 547,500 employees in over 220 countries. This is followed by the United States Postal Service in the USA (around 497,000) and India Post (around 419,000).
Old, older, oldest
Where’s the world’s oldest post office? Located in Sanquhar, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, in the United Kingdom. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, it has been in operation since 1712. It narrowly escaped closure in 2014 and has since been renovated.
The sky’s the limit
Many mountaineers rub their eyes in disbelief when they see this: at Mount Everest base camp in Tibet at an altitude of 5,300 metres, China Post operates a post office – from the end of April until August, depending on the weather.
A post office under the sea
It’s no joke. The world’s only underwater post office is located in the island state of Vanuatu near Hideaway Island, about 3 metres below sea level. Here, divers can stock up with special waterproof postcards.
Red, cylindrical and 600,000 in number
Granted, the evidence is scant. But India is said to have the highest number of letter boxes – around 600,000, mostly cylindrical and red.
Letter boxes on the buses
On the subject of letter boxes: in Detmold, North Rhine-Westphalia, you’ll find them on every bus on routes 701 to 709. The service is catching on, and they’ve been available in the new buses running in the city since the end of September.
More valuable than any other
9 million euros is the estimated value of the one-cent postage stamp “British Guiana 1c Magenta”. Only a few square centimetres in size, it’s made of deep red paper and features a scribbled black signature. The original motif – a ship – is barely recognizable. But the stamp, which is more than 155 years old, is reckoned to be a one-off.
One municipality, two postcodes
Back to Switzerland: there are two enclaves within the national territory – Germany’s Büsingen am Hochrhein and Campione d’Italia on Lake Lugano. Curiously, in addition to their national postcodes, both municipalities also have a Swiss postcode.
And which postal service is the world’s best?
In 2017 and 2018, according to the UPU study “Integrated Index for Postal Development”, it was Swiss Post. And this year, once again, the company is on the top of the podium, as announced by the Universal Postal Union yesterday. Today, Wednesday, 9 October, Swiss Post CEO Roberto Cirillo will personally receive the award at the UPU headquarters in Berne. Find out here how delighted Swiss Post is about this award and what customers have to say about it.
Source : https://post-medien.ch/en
‘Barclays Betrayal’ of post offices sparks fury
October 9, 2019
A shock decision by banking giant Barclays to withdraw its cash services from the nation’s post offices has provoked a wave of condemnation from politicians, consumer groups, community groups and the CWU.
“We’ve just heard that, from next January, Barclays bank account holders will no longer be able to access cash from our country’s 11,500 post offices,” wrote CWU assistant secretary Andy Furey in a letter to branches yesterday evening.
Speaking further on the matter, Andy explained: “At a time when high street bank branches have been closing at a rapidly increasing pace – Barclays themselves have axed 481 over the past five years, which amounts to around a third of its network – at least post offices have been able to pick up some of the slack, by offering over-the-counter personal services for people and small businesses.
“But this sudden decision – whether driven by cost cutting or other reasons, just abandons their own customers, while also impacting negatively on our own members and their jobs.
“It’s not surprising that some people are already calling this ‘the Barclays Betrayal’.”
Leeds West MP Rachel Reeves, who chairs the influential Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Committee at Westminster, has also sharply criticised the bank’s abandonment of the high street.
Calling on the bank to “think again,” Ms Reeves slammed the “unjustifiable decision to stop customers accessing their own money from post offices” and described it as a “deeply retrograde step which lets down their customers, potentially leaving people in many places without access to their own cash, and which undermines the post office network.”
The BEIS Chair also warned that the bank risked “forgetting their wider social responsibilities” and that access to free bank withdrawals was “vital to people, especially those who are elderly and vulnerable.”
Andy has warmly welcomed the BEIS Chair’s robust intervention, and has announced plans to also speak with the Shadow Post Office Minister Gill Furniss in order to “see what further pressure can be placed on the Government to call upon Barclays to reverse this appalling decision.”
The withdrawal of Barclays services from post offices has wider implications as well, he continues, citing the potential that this could put in jeopardy post office services due to the negative impact on earnings for the already hard-pressed postmasters “and this could tip the balance on whether Postmasters can realistically continue to run post offices.
“Postmaster earnings have already declined significantly in recent years and this amounts to another blow – accordingly we call upon the Post Office to refrain from passing on this loss of income to our postmasters, who provide such a vital public service.”
In order to fully secure the future of our post offices – and also to provide a long term solution to issues of financial exclusion as well as assisting small businesses – a post Bank is an urgent necessity and the Barclays decision, according to Andy, “further demonstrates why it is absolutely necessary for the Post Office to establish and operate a Post Bank, which is a key and fundamental Labour Party policy.”
Source : https://www.cwu.org/news
DPDHL services “more accessible than ever before”
October 8, 2019
Deutsche Post DHL Group is expanding its Packstation network by 3,000 in rural areas and cities across Germany.
The additional Packstations build on DHL’s 28,000 parcel collection points, consisting of 4,000 Packstations and 24,000 postal outlets or DHL parcel shops.
Tobias Meyer, Board Member for Post & Parcel at Deutsche Post DHL Group comments: “For many of our more than twelve million registered customers, DHL Packstations are an integral part of their online shopping experience and an indispensable part of their everyday lives. That’s why we’re investing large sums to further expand our Packstation network across Germany – in rural areas and in cities. We’re not only responding to the sustained strong growth seen in parcel volumes, but are also giving customers even greater access to our parcel service network.”
With its dense network, Deutsche Post services far exceed regulatory requirements. “By expanding our Packstation network, we’re on course with our Group-wide Strategy 2025. Sustained growth in e-commerce remains a key driver for the strategy’s implementation and for the company’s future success,” says Tobias Meyer.
“With our mix of self-service Packstations and postal outlets with long opening hours, Deutsche Post DHL Group services are more accessible to consumers than ever before.”
Deutsche Post DHL Group was the first company to introduce the Packstation service to the German market in 2003 and now operates a unique country-wide Packstation network. Packstations are easy to operate and are usually available around the clock. They are becoming increasingly popular also because they are located in easy-to-access places that people frequent in the course of their day.
For example, customers can conveniently combine parcel collection and posting with their journey to work or when shopping for food. As multiple parcels can be placed in a Packstation at any one time, the Packstation network saves additional journeys, making it a sustainable service that reduces both traffic and carbon emissions.
Source : https://postandparcel.info/115246/news
100th PostNL letter and parcel machine opened in Zwolle
October 7, 2019
The 100th PostNL letter and parcel machine is located in Zwolle. The orange machine for collecting post and parcels 24 hours a day, 7 days a week is located on Belvédèrelaan in the Stadshagen district, near number 1. The alderman of Zwolle, William Dogger and PostNL manager Jiska Stuurman, accepted the letter and parcel machine with a launch celebration.
Important milestone
“The 100th letter and parcel machine is an important milestone for PostNL," says Jiska Stuurman, Manager at PostNL. “In 2016, we launched the letter and parcel machine trial in Almere. There are now letter and parcel machines in Limburg (Beringe, Grashoek, Klimmen, Limbricht, Schinnen, Wessem), Tilburg, Breda, Amersfoort, Amsterdam, The Hague, Geertruidenberg, Hardinxveld-Giesendam, Stein, Nijmegen, Harderwijk, Den Hoorn, Groningen, Kaatsheuvel, Wageningen, Sittard-Geleen (including Buchten), Oisterwijk, Horst, Zaandijk, Leiden, Horst, Noordwijk, Utrecht, Heemskerk, Oegstgeest and Zwolle.
This wide variety of locations gives us new experiences each day and a better understanding of the choices that users make when sending and receiving parcels." By the end of 2019, PostNL expects to have around 125 machines in the Netherlands.
Cleaner, smarter urban logistics
The 100th letter and parcel machine is part of a pilot project in the Municipality of Zwolle, involving the instalment of various machines around the city. "We want to investigate whether machines can help reduce the number of journeys that a postal company needs to make with a delivery van in a given neighbourhood. If we get a positive result, the machines can contribute to cleaner, smarter urban logistics," explains alderman William Dogger from the Municipality of Zwolle. "In 2017, together with Deventer and Enschede, Zwolle signed the Green Deal Zero Emission City Logistics (Green Deal ZES). The aim is to reduce nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and the noise generated by urban logistics to virtually zero by 2025. We hope that the letter and parcel machines can contribute to this."
Six machines in Zwolle
PostNL installed the first letter and parcel machine in Zwolle in November 2018, in the public bicycle park on Gasthuisplein. The second machine in Zwolle is the new 100th letter and parcel machine on Belvédèrelaan. Two more machines were also installed in Zwolle at the beginning of October: on Dobbe, near number 17, and on Porporastraat, near number 104. There will be two more by the end of the month: on Sportlaan, near number 51, and on Burgemeester Drijbersingel, next to number 7.
How the letter and parcel machine works
The letter and parcel machine consists of a letterbox with two openings and various parcel lockers of different sizes. The machine can be used to send and receive parcels 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and also operates as a postbox. Due to the growth in online shopping, consumers are sending and receiving more and more parcels. PostNL offers these consumers more and more delivery options. We deliver parcels to homes, to the neighbours and to post offices and parcel points during the day, in the evening and at weekends. The machines are installed on and near locations where there are already letterboxes, replacing the existing letterboxes. PostNL is continuing to expand its network of parcel points, and these machines are also part of this network.
Source : https://www.postnl.nl/en/about-postnl/press-news/news/2019
POSTAL NEWS
No 82 -2019
Formulated by UNI Apro Post and Logistics Sector
APWU: Interest Arbitration Update: Management’s Financial Presentations. October 10, 2019.
Streetscooter showcases upgraded evs. October 9, 2019.
“World’s best postal service” for the third time.
October 8, 2019.
UPS Flight Forward receives approval for drone airline in the US. October 7, 2019.
Poste Italiane obtains €400m loan from the european investment bank. October 3, 2019.
APWU: Interest Arbitration Update: Management’s Financial Presentations
October 10, 2019
Today, management made presentations on pattern bargaining, comparability of job classifications between USPS and private sector companies, demographics of the bargaining units, as well as information about postal benefits.
Management attempted to compare APWU members’ jobs with those of private sector competitors.
However, the APWU’s cross-examination highlighted the difference between the varied and highly skilled tasks performed by APWU members and the work of the often-lower paid private-sector jobs.
It also became clear in questions from APWU’s team, that USPS management was relying on unverified salary comparison websites to gather much of its private-sector salary data.
Tomorrow, USPS will continue its presentations. APWU will present evidence next week on Tuesday Oct. 15 and Wednesday 16.
Stay union strong and union proud! Wear stickers, union gear and wristbands to show management the APWU is united in our fight for a Good Contract NOW!
Source : https://www.postaltimes.com/postalnews
Streetscooter showcases upgraded evs
October 9, 2019
Deutsche Post subsidiary StreetScooter has showcased the next generation of its all-electric light commercial vehicles: the WORK and WORK L on the grounds of the future StreetScooter showroom at the EUREF Campus in Berlin (Germany).
“StreetScooter is a well-known ‘early bird’ in the electric light commercial vehicle sector,” said StreetScooter GmbH CEO Jörg Sommer. “Years of experience and more than 100 million kilometers on the road have shown us what’s important in tough delivery traffic and last-mile logistics.
We have incorporated those insights into a new design for our success models, the WORK and WORK L. The results speak for themselves: optimal operational equipment for environmentally conscious fleet customers.”
StreetScooter’s next generation of vehicles offers a redesigned box body with a larger payload of over a ton and space for up to four euro pallets. The new versions of the WORK and WORK L can reach a top speed of 120km/h.
They also offer additional features that make the new models safer and more comfortable and convenient for everyday work on the job. Examples include the in-vehicle Automatic Emergency Call system eCall and the AVAS Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System, both of which ensure more safety in road traffic, as well as a standard automatic climate control system, keyless entry and keyless start and a passenger side airbag. Plus, a new faster charging system of 11kW, so the vehicles can reach an 80% charge in approximately five hours.
Other standard features on the list are heated driver and passenger seats, electric adjustable heated side mirrors, an infotainment system with a Bluetooth® hands-free system that uses DAB+, and Apple Car Play and Google Android Auto.
The new version of the WORK L will also serve as the basis for electric light commercial vehicles for the Chinese market. These trucks will be modified to meet the regional requirements of target customers in China.
Source: https://postandparcel.info/115256/news
“World’s best postal service” for the third time
October 8,2019
Swiss Post has scored a hat-trick and is the “world’s best postal service” once again. It has achieved the top ranking in the annual Universal Postal Union study for the third time in a row. Out of 172 postal organizations evaluated around the world, the Netherlands and Germany also took their place on the podium along with Switzerland. Roberto Cirillo, Swiss Post CEO, is delighted by this acknowledgement of service quality. He emphasizes that this award is first and foremost thanks to Swiss Post’s staff, who work day and night with great dedication to guarantee the best possible service.
Having achieved first place in the Integrated Index for Postal Development (2IPD) in 2017 and 2018, Swiss Post has now done it again for the third time in a row. From the UPU’s perspective, Swiss Post is still the world’s best postal service. Swiss Post is extremely pleased about this hat-trick in the UPU study. “The title ‘world’s best postal service’ reflects the impressions I have gathered at Swiss Post”, says CEO Roberto Cirillo. “I’d like to thank all the employees who do an excellent job day after day and night after night.” However, in his view, the award also highlights an obligation to continue to deliver first-class quality. “We’ll do our utmost to continue to make a significant contribution for the economy and the public in Switzerland going forward.”
The Universal Postal Union study, which has been conducted since 2017 and covers 172 postal organizations, assesses a total of four different areas:
reliability (efficiency, speed and quality of delivery and services)
reach (international networks and foreign commitment)
relevance (the strength of demand for products and services and their importance for the country)
resilience (the capacity of the postal service to innovate, the diversification of its revenue streams and the implementation of sustainable development).
Top marks for Swiss Post
In its study, the UPU once again awarded top marks to Swiss Post in the resilience and relevance areas, where it achieved the maximum score of 100 points. Elsewhere, Swiss Post improved its scores in the categories of reliability and reach in relation to last year.
The Dutch postal service (2nd place with 93.7 points) won a place on the podium as did its German counterpart (3rd place with 90.8 points).
Switzerland’s other neighbours France (5th place with 86.9 points) and Austria (6th place with 85.3 points) are also near the top of the rankings. Italy came 13th (previous year: 28th) with 71.4 points.
CEO Roberto Cirillo will personally accept the award tomorrow, Wednesday 9 October, during a presentation at the Universal Postal Union headquarters in Berne.
Source : https://www.post.ch/en/about-us/media/press-releases/2019
UPS Flight Forward receives approval for drone airline in the US
October 7, 2019
UPS Flight Forward has received the US government’s first full Part 135 Standard certification to operate a drone airline. The company will initially expand its current drone delivery service to support more hospital campuses around the US, and to provide solutions for customers beyond those in the healthcare industry.
In the future UPS Flight Forward plans to transport a variety of items for customers in many industries, and regularly fly drones beyond the operators’ visual line of sight.
The US FAA awarded UPS Flight Forward a Part 135 Standard certification last week. A Part 135 Standard operator is a certificate holder that does not have preset limits on the available size or scope of its operations.
UPS already operates a drone delivery service in Raleigh, North Carolina. This is to transport medical supplies between hospitals on the WakeMed campus using a Matternet M2 quadcopter. Before receiving Part 135 these operations were undertaken under a government exemption allowing for a ‘beyond visual line of sight’ (BVLOS) operation.
With its Part 135 Standard certification, UPS is ready to build on this application and expand to a variety of critical-care or lifesaving applications. The company also plans a rapid build-out of ground-based, detect-and-avoid technologies to verify drone safety, construct a centralized operations control center and team up with additional drone manufacturers to build new drones with varying cargo capacities.
“This is history in the making, and we aren’t done yet,” said David Abney, UPS CEO. “Our technology is opening doors for UPS and solving problems in unique ways for our customers. We will soon announce other steps to build out our infrastructure, expand services for healthcare customers and put drones to new uses in the future.”
Source : https://www.parcelandpostaltechnologyinternational.com/news/automation
Poste Italiane obtains €400m loan from the european investment bank
October 3,2019
Loan to support Deliver 2022 capex plan across Italy.
Financed initiatives include solar panels for post offices, customer experience digital transformation and continued development of automated letter and parcel sorting capacity.
Poste Italiane has agreed a €400 million loan with the European Investment Bank (EIB) which will facilitate continued investment in line with its Deliver 2022 strategic plan.
The financing will support the implementation of 80 projects including:
digital transformation aiming at simplifying and optimising customer experience
the installation of highly energy-efficient solar panels at 661 post offices and the improvement of energy efficiency standards across the network, with the aim of reducing carbon emissions, the modernisation and automation of logistics operations, as part of the goal to increase automated parcel sorting from 500,000 daily items in 2018 to 900,000 in 2022post office infrastructure and equipment modernisation in key “cohesion regions” (southern Italy)
Matteo Del Fante, CEO of Poste Italiane, said: “The agreement confirms our commitment to both digital and technological innovation and the environment, giving us the opportunity to raise financing on competitive terms in order to support our growth plans in key business areas. The continued implementation of our Deliver 2022 strategic plan, is boosting job security and improving working conditions within the company, raising environmental standards and modernising our capabilites”.
Dario Scannapieco, Vice-President of the EIB said: “The EIB has supported Poste Italiane in all its investment programmes, recognising the fact that in every corner of Italy it provides a reliable reference point for communities. The plan to modernise its offices in line with the very latest energy efficiency criteria is of major importance: as the EU’s bank, we have for many years focused on projects that aim to combat climate change and this is due to increase in the future”.
Source : https://www.posteitaliane.it/en/press-releases
No 81 -2019
Formulated by UNI Apro Post and Logistics Sector
Posti to boost its growth by increasing the number of parcel lockers in Finland to over 4,000. October 10, 2019.
Berne: the heart of the world’s postal service.
October 9, 2019.
‘Barclays Betrayal’ of post offices sparks fury.
October 9, 2019.
DPDHL services “more accessible than ever before”.
October 8, 2019.
100th PostNL letter and parcel machine opened in Zwolle.
October 7, 2019
Posti to boost its growth by increasing the number of parcel lockers in Finland to over 4,000
October 10, 2019
Posti will make a major investment to prepare for growth in e-commerce. Posti will significantly expand its parcel locker network so that, by 2022, there will be 4,000 Posti parcel lockers in Finland. Finland has the most comprehensive parcel locker network in the world, and in the future, up to 85% of Finns will have a parcel locker less than one kilometer from their home address. At the same time, the possible uses for parcel lockers are also being expanded. In the future, it will be possible to use parcel lockers for purposes such as recycling and doing C2C trade in addition to picking up and sending parcels.
Posti’s investment in parcel lockers is significant and will make Finland a pioneer when it comes to the number of parcel lockers. Posti has been rapidly expanding its parcel locker network: at the end of 2018, Posti had 1,000 parcel lockers. Posti will quadruple the number of Posti parcel lockers within the next few years.
E-commerce is growing in Finland at a rate of 10% per year. The rate is expected to increase as Finnish consumers estimate that they will make more online purchases in the future than they do now. Almost one fifth (18%) of the respondents estimate that they will buy everything or almost everything online in 2025. This information comes from Kantar TNS’s 2019 online shopping survey commissioned by Posti. It provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of online shopping in Finland.
“With this investment, we are preparing for growth in e-commerce. In Finland, households receive around 10 parcels per year. In Central Europe, however, the figure is twice as high and, in the US, it is three times as high. As the e-commerce sector grows, the volume of parcels is also expected to increase,” says Kaisa Ilola, the Head of Customer Experience and Channels at Posti.
Finns are used to mailboxes being part of the infrastructure and in the future, Parcel lockers will form a new kind of part of a scenery
In the future, there will be a Posti parcel locker near every Finn. In urban areas, there will be a parcel locker located at most a kilometer away from every home address by 2022. In sparsely populated areas, parcel lockers will also be available closer to home—usually within five kilometers of the home address.
“In practice, this means that there will be a Posti parcel locker near every Finn. In 2022, consumers will pass a parcel locker every day on their way to work, school, a grocery store or a hobby. Finns are used to mailboxes being part of the infrastructure. In the future, Parcel lockers will form a new kind of part of a scenery. The number of parcel lockers will be increased, but at the same time, we are also looking for new uses for parcel lockers. In the future, parcel lockers can be used for purposes such as recycling raw materials, doing C2C trade and delivering rental devices,” says Ilola.
Posti parcel lockers are available throughout Finland. Posti currently has nearly 1,600 parcel lockers. In September, Posti’s 1,500th parcel locker was opened in the REDI shopping center in Helsinki.
Finns prefer to receive their parcels through parcel lockers. Up to 59% of Finns report having used a parcel locker, but this figure is set to increase. Increasing the number of parcel lockers makes Finns’ everyday life easier since parcel lockers are also available in the evening and on the weekends. Parcels can also be put into the lockers during those times. At best, a parcel that was ordered on Friday can be picked up from a parcel locker on same day.
“Having a comprehensive parcel locker network also helps curb climate change. Consumers can significantly lower the CO2 emissions of their deliveries with parcel routing. Online shoppers can reduce their CO2 emissions by up to 70% by routing their parcels along their everyday routes, for example to a parcel locker located at their workplace or the grocery store that they use,” says Ilola.
Posti seeks growth through e-commerce
Posti is currently undergoing the greatest transformation in its history: consumer behavior has changed, digitalization is increasing, the volumes of paper mail are decreasing at a growing rate and competition is becoming fiercer. The volume of parcels delivered by Posti is growing: parcels and logistics already amount to over half of Posti’s net sales. Posti is looking for significant growth opportunities in parcels, e-commerce and logistics services.
Posti has prepared for e-commerce growth with multi-million investments and by constructing a nationwide parcel locker network that is popular among consumers. A decision has been made to invest a significantly greater amount of money in the development of the parcel locker network.
“Posti is a global leader in parcel lockers. For instance, DHL has announced that it will increase the number of DHL parcel lockers in Germany to 7,000. With Posti’s additional investment, the number of parcel lockers per capita will be six times higher in Finland than in Germany, a country that is considered a pioneer in the use of parcel lockers,” says Ilola about the significance of the investment.
Source : https://www.posti.com/en/media/media-news/2019
Berne: the heart of the world’s postal service
October 9, 2019
Whether it’s a parcel from Asia or that letter from overseas: thanks to the Universal Postal Union the world’s international postal services are like a well-oiled machine. But the organization that pulls the strings behind the scenes is largely unknown. And it, too, is part of the reason today is World Post Day, which this year celebrates its 50th anniversary.
How was European postal traffic in the 19th century? Already bustling, but pretty chaotic. Just a few private companies controlled the postal system, which was entangled in a confusing network of individual contracts. Anyone sending mail to another country in those days needed nerves of steel and patience – especially for letters and parcels going overseas.
And global postal traffic today? A global network with 5.3 million postal employees and 668,000 post offices and postal agencies. From a total of 313 billion letters a year, 3.6 billion are international, and of 14 billion parcels, 180 million are transported across borders – with a very strong upward trend (Figures are from 2017).
The Universal Postal Union – founded in Switzerland
Behind these figures is the Universal Postal Union – UPU. It was founded in Berne as the General Postal Union with 22 member countries on 9 October 1874. Visionary leaders assembled at the restaurant “Zum Äusseren Stand”. These leaders knew that an intergovernmental organization was needed to coordinate and regulate global postal traffic (see info box). They were proven right. 145 years later, the world’s second oldest international organization has 192 member states. And World Post Day, which originated on 9 October 1969, celebrates its 50th anniversary today. The day marks the year the UPU was founded as well as the importance of postal organizations worldwide.
To mark the occasion, we’re taking a look into the world of postal organizations. Because today the postal world is not only regulated and transparent, but also surprising and bizarre. So, to celebrate World Post Day, here are nine facts from the colourful world of postal services – because on the international stage, today’s postal services come in far more than just yellow.
Over 900,000 employees
No postal organization employs more people than China Post. According to their own figures, the number stands at around 935,000. Another giant is the global operator Deutsche Post DHL, with around 547,500 employees in over 220 countries. This is followed by the United States Postal Service in the USA (around 497,000) and India Post (around 419,000).
Old, older, oldest
Where’s the world’s oldest post office? Located in Sanquhar, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, in the United Kingdom. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, it has been in operation since 1712. It narrowly escaped closure in 2014 and has since been renovated.
The sky’s the limit
Many mountaineers rub their eyes in disbelief when they see this: at Mount Everest base camp in Tibet at an altitude of 5,300 metres, China Post operates a post office – from the end of April until August, depending on the weather.
A post office under the sea
It’s no joke. The world’s only underwater post office is located in the island state of Vanuatu near Hideaway Island, about 3 metres below sea level. Here, divers can stock up with special waterproof postcards.
Red, cylindrical and 600,000 in number
Granted, the evidence is scant. But India is said to have the highest number of letter boxes – around 600,000, mostly cylindrical and red.
Letter boxes on the buses
On the subject of letter boxes: in Detmold, North Rhine-Westphalia, you’ll find them on every bus on routes 701 to 709. The service is catching on, and they’ve been available in the new buses running in the city since the end of September.
More valuable than any other
9 million euros is the estimated value of the one-cent postage stamp “British Guiana 1c Magenta”. Only a few square centimetres in size, it’s made of deep red paper and features a scribbled black signature. The original motif – a ship – is barely recognizable. But the stamp, which is more than 155 years old, is reckoned to be a one-off.
One municipality, two postcodes
Back to Switzerland: there are two enclaves within the national territory – Germany’s Büsingen am Hochrhein and Campione d’Italia on Lake Lugano. Curiously, in addition to their national postcodes, both municipalities also have a Swiss postcode.
And which postal service is the world’s best?
In 2017 and 2018, according to the UPU study “Integrated Index for Postal Development”, it was Swiss Post. And this year, once again, the company is on the top of the podium, as announced by the Universal Postal Union yesterday. Today, Wednesday, 9 October, Swiss Post CEO Roberto Cirillo will personally receive the award at the UPU headquarters in Berne. Find out here how delighted Swiss Post is about this award and what customers have to say about it.
Source : https://post-medien.ch/en
‘Barclays Betrayal’ of post offices sparks fury
October 9, 2019
A shock decision by banking giant Barclays to withdraw its cash services from the nation’s post offices has provoked a wave of condemnation from politicians, consumer groups, community groups and the CWU.
“We’ve just heard that, from next January, Barclays bank account holders will no longer be able to access cash from our country’s 11,500 post offices,” wrote CWU assistant secretary Andy Furey in a letter to branches yesterday evening.
Speaking further on the matter, Andy explained: “At a time when high street bank branches have been closing at a rapidly increasing pace – Barclays themselves have axed 481 over the past five years, which amounts to around a third of its network – at least post offices have been able to pick up some of the slack, by offering over-the-counter personal services for people and small businesses.
“But this sudden decision – whether driven by cost cutting or other reasons, just abandons their own customers, while also impacting negatively on our own members and their jobs.
“It’s not surprising that some people are already calling this ‘the Barclays Betrayal’.”
Leeds West MP Rachel Reeves, who chairs the influential Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Committee at Westminster, has also sharply criticised the bank’s abandonment of the high street.
Calling on the bank to “think again,” Ms Reeves slammed the “unjustifiable decision to stop customers accessing their own money from post offices” and described it as a “deeply retrograde step which lets down their customers, potentially leaving people in many places without access to their own cash, and which undermines the post office network.”
The BEIS Chair also warned that the bank risked “forgetting their wider social responsibilities” and that access to free bank withdrawals was “vital to people, especially those who are elderly and vulnerable.”
Andy has warmly welcomed the BEIS Chair’s robust intervention, and has announced plans to also speak with the Shadow Post Office Minister Gill Furniss in order to “see what further pressure can be placed on the Government to call upon Barclays to reverse this appalling decision.”
The withdrawal of Barclays services from post offices has wider implications as well, he continues, citing the potential that this could put in jeopardy post office services due to the negative impact on earnings for the already hard-pressed postmasters “and this could tip the balance on whether Postmasters can realistically continue to run post offices.
“Postmaster earnings have already declined significantly in recent years and this amounts to another blow – accordingly we call upon the Post Office to refrain from passing on this loss of income to our postmasters, who provide such a vital public service.”
In order to fully secure the future of our post offices – and also to provide a long term solution to issues of financial exclusion as well as assisting small businesses – a post Bank is an urgent necessity and the Barclays decision, according to Andy, “further demonstrates why it is absolutely necessary for the Post Office to establish and operate a Post Bank, which is a key and fundamental Labour Party policy.”
Source : https://www.cwu.org/news
DPDHL services “more accessible than ever before”
October 8, 2019
Deutsche Post DHL Group is expanding its Packstation network by 3,000 in rural areas and cities across Germany.
The additional Packstations build on DHL’s 28,000 parcel collection points, consisting of 4,000 Packstations and 24,000 postal outlets or DHL parcel shops.
Tobias Meyer, Board Member for Post & Parcel at Deutsche Post DHL Group comments: “For many of our more than twelve million registered customers, DHL Packstations are an integral part of their online shopping experience and an indispensable part of their everyday lives. That’s why we’re investing large sums to further expand our Packstation network across Germany – in rural areas and in cities. We’re not only responding to the sustained strong growth seen in parcel volumes, but are also giving customers even greater access to our parcel service network.”
With its dense network, Deutsche Post services far exceed regulatory requirements. “By expanding our Packstation network, we’re on course with our Group-wide Strategy 2025. Sustained growth in e-commerce remains a key driver for the strategy’s implementation and for the company’s future success,” says Tobias Meyer.
“With our mix of self-service Packstations and postal outlets with long opening hours, Deutsche Post DHL Group services are more accessible to consumers than ever before.”
Deutsche Post DHL Group was the first company to introduce the Packstation service to the German market in 2003 and now operates a unique country-wide Packstation network. Packstations are easy to operate and are usually available around the clock. They are becoming increasingly popular also because they are located in easy-to-access places that people frequent in the course of their day.
For example, customers can conveniently combine parcel collection and posting with their journey to work or when shopping for food. As multiple parcels can be placed in a Packstation at any one time, the Packstation network saves additional journeys, making it a sustainable service that reduces both traffic and carbon emissions.
Source : https://postandparcel.info/115246/news
100th PostNL letter and parcel machine opened in Zwolle
October 7, 2019
The 100th PostNL letter and parcel machine is located in Zwolle. The orange machine for collecting post and parcels 24 hours a day, 7 days a week is located on Belvédèrelaan in the Stadshagen district, near number 1. The alderman of Zwolle, William Dogger and PostNL manager Jiska Stuurman, accepted the letter and parcel machine with a launch celebration.
Important milestone
“The 100th letter and parcel machine is an important milestone for PostNL," says Jiska Stuurman, Manager at PostNL. “In 2016, we launched the letter and parcel machine trial in Almere. There are now letter and parcel machines in Limburg (Beringe, Grashoek, Klimmen, Limbricht, Schinnen, Wessem), Tilburg, Breda, Amersfoort, Amsterdam, The Hague, Geertruidenberg, Hardinxveld-Giesendam, Stein, Nijmegen, Harderwijk, Den Hoorn, Groningen, Kaatsheuvel, Wageningen, Sittard-Geleen (including Buchten), Oisterwijk, Horst, Zaandijk, Leiden, Horst, Noordwijk, Utrecht, Heemskerk, Oegstgeest and Zwolle.
This wide variety of locations gives us new experiences each day and a better understanding of the choices that users make when sending and receiving parcels." By the end of 2019, PostNL expects to have around 125 machines in the Netherlands.
Cleaner, smarter urban logistics
The 100th letter and parcel machine is part of a pilot project in the Municipality of Zwolle, involving the instalment of various machines around the city. "We want to investigate whether machines can help reduce the number of journeys that a postal company needs to make with a delivery van in a given neighbourhood. If we get a positive result, the machines can contribute to cleaner, smarter urban logistics," explains alderman William Dogger from the Municipality of Zwolle. "In 2017, together with Deventer and Enschede, Zwolle signed the Green Deal Zero Emission City Logistics (Green Deal ZES). The aim is to reduce nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and the noise generated by urban logistics to virtually zero by 2025. We hope that the letter and parcel machines can contribute to this."
Six machines in Zwolle
PostNL installed the first letter and parcel machine in Zwolle in November 2018, in the public bicycle park on Gasthuisplein. The second machine in Zwolle is the new 100th letter and parcel machine on Belvédèrelaan. Two more machines were also installed in Zwolle at the beginning of October: on Dobbe, near number 17, and on Porporastraat, near number 104. There will be two more by the end of the month: on Sportlaan, near number 51, and on Burgemeester Drijbersingel, next to number 7.
How the letter and parcel machine works
The letter and parcel machine consists of a letterbox with two openings and various parcel lockers of different sizes. The machine can be used to send and receive parcels 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and also operates as a postbox. Due to the growth in online shopping, consumers are sending and receiving more and more parcels. PostNL offers these consumers more and more delivery options. We deliver parcels to homes, to the neighbours and to post offices and parcel points during the day, in the evening and at weekends. The machines are installed on and near locations where there are already letterboxes, replacing the existing letterboxes. PostNL is continuing to expand its network of parcel points, and these machines are also part of this network.
Source : https://www.postnl.nl/en/about-postnl/press-news/news/2019
POSTAL NEWS
No 82 -2019
Formulated by UNI Apro Post and Logistics Sector
APWU: Interest Arbitration Update: Management’s Financial Presentations. October 10, 2019.
Streetscooter showcases upgraded evs. October 9, 2019.
“World’s best postal service” for the third time.
October 8, 2019.
UPS Flight Forward receives approval for drone airline in the US. October 7, 2019.
Poste Italiane obtains €400m loan from the european investment bank. October 3, 2019.
APWU: Interest Arbitration Update: Management’s Financial Presentations
October 10, 2019
Today, management made presentations on pattern bargaining, comparability of job classifications between USPS and private sector companies, demographics of the bargaining units, as well as information about postal benefits.
Management attempted to compare APWU members’ jobs with those of private sector competitors.
However, the APWU’s cross-examination highlighted the difference between the varied and highly skilled tasks performed by APWU members and the work of the often-lower paid private-sector jobs.
It also became clear in questions from APWU’s team, that USPS management was relying on unverified salary comparison websites to gather much of its private-sector salary data.
Tomorrow, USPS will continue its presentations. APWU will present evidence next week on Tuesday Oct. 15 and Wednesday 16.
Stay union strong and union proud! Wear stickers, union gear and wristbands to show management the APWU is united in our fight for a Good Contract NOW!
Source : https://www.postaltimes.com/postalnews
Streetscooter showcases upgraded evs
October 9, 2019
Deutsche Post subsidiary StreetScooter has showcased the next generation of its all-electric light commercial vehicles: the WORK and WORK L on the grounds of the future StreetScooter showroom at the EUREF Campus in Berlin (Germany).
“StreetScooter is a well-known ‘early bird’ in the electric light commercial vehicle sector,” said StreetScooter GmbH CEO Jörg Sommer. “Years of experience and more than 100 million kilometers on the road have shown us what’s important in tough delivery traffic and last-mile logistics.
We have incorporated those insights into a new design for our success models, the WORK and WORK L. The results speak for themselves: optimal operational equipment for environmentally conscious fleet customers.”
StreetScooter’s next generation of vehicles offers a redesigned box body with a larger payload of over a ton and space for up to four euro pallets. The new versions of the WORK and WORK L can reach a top speed of 120km/h.
They also offer additional features that make the new models safer and more comfortable and convenient for everyday work on the job. Examples include the in-vehicle Automatic Emergency Call system eCall and the AVAS Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System, both of which ensure more safety in road traffic, as well as a standard automatic climate control system, keyless entry and keyless start and a passenger side airbag. Plus, a new faster charging system of 11kW, so the vehicles can reach an 80% charge in approximately five hours.
Other standard features on the list are heated driver and passenger seats, electric adjustable heated side mirrors, an infotainment system with a Bluetooth® hands-free system that uses DAB+, and Apple Car Play and Google Android Auto.
The new version of the WORK L will also serve as the basis for electric light commercial vehicles for the Chinese market. These trucks will be modified to meet the regional requirements of target customers in China.
Source: https://postandparcel.info/115256/news
“World’s best postal service” for the third time
October 8,2019
Swiss Post has scored a hat-trick and is the “world’s best postal service” once again. It has achieved the top ranking in the annual Universal Postal Union study for the third time in a row. Out of 172 postal organizations evaluated around the world, the Netherlands and Germany also took their place on the podium along with Switzerland. Roberto Cirillo, Swiss Post CEO, is delighted by this acknowledgement of service quality. He emphasizes that this award is first and foremost thanks to Swiss Post’s staff, who work day and night with great dedication to guarantee the best possible service.
Having achieved first place in the Integrated Index for Postal Development (2IPD) in 2017 and 2018, Swiss Post has now done it again for the third time in a row. From the UPU’s perspective, Swiss Post is still the world’s best postal service. Swiss Post is extremely pleased about this hat-trick in the UPU study. “The title ‘world’s best postal service’ reflects the impressions I have gathered at Swiss Post”, says CEO Roberto Cirillo. “I’d like to thank all the employees who do an excellent job day after day and night after night.” However, in his view, the award also highlights an obligation to continue to deliver first-class quality. “We’ll do our utmost to continue to make a significant contribution for the economy and the public in Switzerland going forward.”
The Universal Postal Union study, which has been conducted since 2017 and covers 172 postal organizations, assesses a total of four different areas:
reliability (efficiency, speed and quality of delivery and services)
reach (international networks and foreign commitment)
relevance (the strength of demand for products and services and their importance for the country)
resilience (the capacity of the postal service to innovate, the diversification of its revenue streams and the implementation of sustainable development).
Top marks for Swiss Post
In its study, the UPU once again awarded top marks to Swiss Post in the resilience and relevance areas, where it achieved the maximum score of 100 points. Elsewhere, Swiss Post improved its scores in the categories of reliability and reach in relation to last year.
The Dutch postal service (2nd place with 93.7 points) won a place on the podium as did its German counterpart (3rd place with 90.8 points).
Switzerland’s other neighbours France (5th place with 86.9 points) and Austria (6th place with 85.3 points) are also near the top of the rankings. Italy came 13th (previous year: 28th) with 71.4 points.
CEO Roberto Cirillo will personally accept the award tomorrow, Wednesday 9 October, during a presentation at the Universal Postal Union headquarters in Berne.
Source : https://www.post.ch/en/about-us/media/press-releases/2019
UPS Flight Forward receives approval for drone airline in the US
October 7, 2019
UPS Flight Forward has received the US government’s first full Part 135 Standard certification to operate a drone airline. The company will initially expand its current drone delivery service to support more hospital campuses around the US, and to provide solutions for customers beyond those in the healthcare industry.
In the future UPS Flight Forward plans to transport a variety of items for customers in many industries, and regularly fly drones beyond the operators’ visual line of sight.
The US FAA awarded UPS Flight Forward a Part 135 Standard certification last week. A Part 135 Standard operator is a certificate holder that does not have preset limits on the available size or scope of its operations.
UPS already operates a drone delivery service in Raleigh, North Carolina. This is to transport medical supplies between hospitals on the WakeMed campus using a Matternet M2 quadcopter. Before receiving Part 135 these operations were undertaken under a government exemption allowing for a ‘beyond visual line of sight’ (BVLOS) operation.
With its Part 135 Standard certification, UPS is ready to build on this application and expand to a variety of critical-care or lifesaving applications. The company also plans a rapid build-out of ground-based, detect-and-avoid technologies to verify drone safety, construct a centralized operations control center and team up with additional drone manufacturers to build new drones with varying cargo capacities.
“This is history in the making, and we aren’t done yet,” said David Abney, UPS CEO. “Our technology is opening doors for UPS and solving problems in unique ways for our customers. We will soon announce other steps to build out our infrastructure, expand services for healthcare customers and put drones to new uses in the future.”
Source : https://www.parcelandpostaltechnologyinternational.com/news/automation
Poste Italiane obtains €400m loan from the european investment bank
October 3,2019
Loan to support Deliver 2022 capex plan across Italy.
Financed initiatives include solar panels for post offices, customer experience digital transformation and continued development of automated letter and parcel sorting capacity.
Poste Italiane has agreed a €400 million loan with the European Investment Bank (EIB) which will facilitate continued investment in line with its Deliver 2022 strategic plan.
The financing will support the implementation of 80 projects including:
digital transformation aiming at simplifying and optimising customer experience
the installation of highly energy-efficient solar panels at 661 post offices and the improvement of energy efficiency standards across the network, with the aim of reducing carbon emissions, the modernisation and automation of logistics operations, as part of the goal to increase automated parcel sorting from 500,000 daily items in 2018 to 900,000 in 2022post office infrastructure and equipment modernisation in key “cohesion regions” (southern Italy)
Matteo Del Fante, CEO of Poste Italiane, said: “The agreement confirms our commitment to both digital and technological innovation and the environment, giving us the opportunity to raise financing on competitive terms in order to support our growth plans in key business areas. The continued implementation of our Deliver 2022 strategic plan, is boosting job security and improving working conditions within the company, raising environmental standards and modernising our capabilites”.
Dario Scannapieco, Vice-President of the EIB said: “The EIB has supported Poste Italiane in all its investment programmes, recognising the fact that in every corner of Italy it provides a reliable reference point for communities. The plan to modernise its offices in line with the very latest energy efficiency criteria is of major importance: as the EU’s bank, we have for many years focused on projects that aim to combat climate change and this is due to increase in the future”.
Source : https://www.posteitaliane.it/en/press-releases