POSTAL NEWS
No.30 -2018
Formulated by UNI Apro Post and Logistics Sector
1. Turkish Post Corporation, pioneer in digital transformation. April 06, 2018. 2. NALC: EEOC finds USPS practiced disability discrimination. April 4, 2018. 3. Alibaba to acquire remaining shares in Ele.me delivery platform. April 3, 2018. 4. Minister willing to mull Chunghwa Post public offering. March 27, 2018
1. Turkish Post Corporation, pioneer in digital transformation
April 06, 2018
The Turkish Post Corporation has made a major innovation step in the parcel delivery market by implementing Kargomat 7/24.
Having already a widespread service network across Turkey, Turkish Post PTT is also showing how much importance is giving to technology, innovation and digital transformation with the implementation of Kargomat 7/24.
The spread of e-commerce has further enlarged the parcel delivery market. People are making their choice based on the most reliable, fast, and / or affordable service. Now, those service providers who can renew themselves in the direction of these technological developments are being chosen by the consumers. The parcel sector is constantly developing and evolving according to costumer demands.
Our company aims to carry customer satisfaction and quality of service to a further point, and with the implementation of Kargomat 7/24 we want to ensure that customers can collect their parcels at any hour of the day.
Kargomat 7/24 will be placed in major locations, universities and shopping malls throughout Ankara in the beginning of the implementation phase. Currently, a total of 35 "Kargomat 7/24" installations have been completed (5 of which are already active), while another 100 Kargomat 7/24 stations have already been purchased. In time, it is planned to have this service further developed and implemented in other Turkish cities.
Source: http://www.posteurop.org
2. NALC:EEOC finds USPS practiced disability discrimination
April 4, 2018
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has found the Postal Service National Reassessment Process (NRP) subjected approximately 130,000 injured-on-duty employees to a pattern and practice of disability discrimination, in violation of the Rehabilitation Act. A letter carrier in Rochester NY, Sandra McConnell, initiated a class action EEOC complaint in 2007 after she was reassessed under the NRP. That class action complaint, covering all injured-on-duty employees who were reassessed under the NRP during the period 5/5/06 through 7/1/11, was decided by the EEOC in September 2017 and finalized in a March 9, 2018 decision.
The EEOC ordered the Postal Service to notify each class member, within 10 calendar days, of the EEOC decision. The Postal Service notice is required to advise class members who believe they are entitled to individual relief, that they must now file a written claim with the agency within 30 days of receipt of the notification from the Postal Service.
The EEOC identified the following criteria as potential grounds for claiming relief:
* Subjected to unlawful medical enquiry or had their confidential medical information accessed by unauthorized persons .
* Harassed, treated disparately, or had reasonable accommodations withdrawn
* Given a new assignment that resulted in harm or loss of benefits
* Given a total or partial no-work-available determination
* Constructively discharged (separated, resigned or retired) as a result of NRP
Many letter carriers have also received communications from the attorneys who won the case (Thomas & Solomon; Kator, Parks, Weiser & Harris). An alternate claim form is available from these attorneys that some letter carriers may find simpler to fill out. By using and signing this claim form, an individual additionally designates the class attorneys as his or her representative in accordance with a retainer agreement that is attached. The retainer agreement includes the following provision: Contingency fees. You do not need to pay us any fee unless you receive a recovery. From any recovery, we will receive 30% of the gross value or amount as a fee (“Contingency Fees”). However, there is a provision allowing an individual to use the form to make a claim with the Postal Service, sign it, and opt out of designating the class attorneys as representative. It states: “With my signature below, unless I indicate otherwise in writing in this document, I have accepted the legal representation from Class Counsel under the terms of the retainer agreement that the law firms sent to me.”
The 30 day window to file a written claim (measured from the date a class member receives notice from the Postal Service) provides a short time period. In order to avoid disputes about timeliness of claims, letter carriers should mail claims to the Postal Service by April 12, 2018.
NALC is making every effort to contact current and former letter carriers that may be entitled to individual relief.
Source : https://www.postaltimes.com
3. 80,000 parcels delivered by transport bike in Nuremberg - DPD Germany is expanding bike deliveries to further cities
0 04-04-20184-04-2018
April 4, 2018
One year after the official launch of parcel deliveries by transport bike in Nuremberg – part of a pilot project under the technical management of the Nuremberg Institute of Technology – DPD Germany is highly satisfied with the results. The international parcel and express service provider has so far already delivered 80,000 parcels by transport bike – free from harmful emissions. Thanks to the use of five electrically assisted transport bikes it has been possible to replace five conventional delivery vans almost completely. Encouraged by this positive experience in Nuremberg, DPD will be launching further deliveries by transport bike and has already begun operations in Heilbronn. Berlin, Munich, Stuttgart and further cities will follow in the course of the year. In Hamburg DPD has been operating a number of electrically powered transport bikes since the beginning of 2017.
"In the dense traffic of the inner city the transport bike has developed into a real alternative to conventional delivery vehicles”, explains Gerd Seber, Group Manager Sustainability & Innovation at DPD Germany. "In view of possible impending access restrictions, the development of such sustainable city logistics solutions is becoming ever more important. Our positive cooperation with the City of Nuremberg indicates that shared operational procedures adopted by the municipality and parcel services are good for everyone – not least for city centre businesses and residents."
Since the start of the Nuremberg pilot project DPD has increased the number of transport bikes in operation from three to five. The bikes are based at a so-called "micro-depot" in the city centre. This is a 130 m² business facility in the centrally located "Nürbanum" business park in Nuremberg South. Here the parcels for the transport bike tours are delivered by van every morning and then distributed among the bikes. For this purpose the micro-depot is connected online to the DPD IT system. The batteries of the bikes are also charged at the micro-depot and – in particular during cold weather – the delivery personnel always carry a replacement battery with them. "Even in wintry conditions we can fully rely on our transport bikes", explains Torsten Mendel, DPD Depot Manager in Nuremberg. "However, operating entirely without conventional vehicles is not yet possible. We need the usual transporters not just to make deliveries to our micro-depot, but also to serve major business customers in the city centre." If combined skilfully with conventional delivery vehicles, under favourable conditions the transport bike has almost the same capacity as a van: "In many of Nuremberg's streets we can make deliveries much more efficiently with our highly manoeuvrable transport bikes than with large vehicles." In Nuremberg South five transport bikes and four conventional delivery vehicles operating jointly can now cover an area which was previously served by nine conventional vans. The transport
bike is used in particular for those consignees who only receive one or two parcels a day, while stops involving a large number of parcels are served by delivery van. The technical support from the Nuremberg Institute of Technology for deliveries by transport bike has now come to an end. The "pilot project for sustainable city logistics by CEP services based on the micro-depot concept within the city of Nuremberg" began its practical phase in March 2017, after a comprehensive technical analysis. The project was supported among others by Bavaria's Ministry of Internal Affairs, Construction and Transport as well as the City of Nuremberg and the Nuremberg Chamber of Commerce for Central Franconia. Last October the pilot project was awarded the VCÖ Mobility Prize as a "model international project" by the Austrian Public Transport Association.
Emission-free deliveries by transport bikes in more and more cities
This year DPD intends to extend its deliveries by transport bike significantly. Apart from Nuremberg and Hamburg, in the course of the year transport bikes will spread to Berlin, Munich, Stuttgart, Ludwigsburg, Heilbronn, Rostock and further cities. The application of electrically assisted transport bikes requires a precise initial analysis of suitable delivery areas, as well as the development of an individual logistics concept for the specific city. As a rule the transport bikes need to be supplied from a centrally located micro-depot, as is the case in Nuremberg. Gerd Seber, Group Manager Sustainability & Innovation at DPD Germany, explains: "Finding suitable and affordable locations in the city centre represents a decisive obstacle to the use of transport bikes, and we would therefore appreciate further support from the municipalities for this purpose. We hope that positive examples set by Nuremberg, Berlin or Rostock will act as a model for other cities."
Carbon-neutral parcel shipping for all – without additional costs to the customer
Within the context of its group-wide DrivingChange™ sustainability programme DPDgroup is committed to providing all customers with carbon-neutral parcel shipping – at no additional cost. For this purpose DPDgroup applies a combination of three interrelated principles: measuring, reducing and offsetting. DPDgroup is a world leader in offsetting harmful emissions on a voluntary basis. In the year 2016 alone, DPDgroup compensated for 863,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalents. This makes up almost 5% of all of the CO2 emissions which were voluntarily offset within Europe. At the same time the group is continuously reducing its CO2 emissions per parcel. As early as 2016 it achieved its target of cutting emissions per parcel by 10% on the figure for the year 2013.
Source: https://www.ipc.be
4. Alibaba to acquire remaining shares in Ele.me delivery platform
April 3, 2018
Chinese e-commerce marketplace Alibaba Group will acquire all outstanding shares in Ele.me, a leading online delivery and local services platform in China.
Alibaba and its affiliate Ant Small and Micro Financial Services Group Co. currently own approximately 43% of the outstanding shares of Ele.me. The transaction places the enterprise value of Ele.me at US$9.5bn.
This acquisition will deepen Ele.me’s integration into Alibaba’s ecosystem and advance Alibaba’s New Retail strategy to provide a seamless online and offline consumer experience in the local services sector.
Daniel Zhang, CEO of Alibaba Group, said, “We are excited for Ele.me to become a part of the Alibaba ecosystem. Under the leadership of its founder and management team, Ele.me has achieved leading market share in China’s online food delivery and local services sector. Our shared belief that New Retail will create more value for customers and merchants has brought us together.
“Looking forward, Ele.me can leverage Alibaba’s infrastructure in commerce and find new synergies with Alibaba’s diverse businesses to add further momentum to the New Retail initiative.”
Ele.me’s fast local delivery service will build on its core expertise in food delivery to provide consumers with a wider range of products and services on-demand. Ele.me also complements Koubei, Alibaba’s affiliated local services platform.
Zhang Xuhao, founder of Ele.me, said, “This acquisition shows that we have built Ele.me into one of China’s most valuable internet businesses. Our customers, merchants and partners will benefit from our further integration into the Alibaba family. We share the same strategic vision that New Retail has a bright future and being part of Alibaba’s ecosystem will take Ele.me’s growth to a new level.”
Ele.me will continue to operate in its own brand and work closely with its existing partners and merchants. Alibaba will lend its full support to Ele.me including access to its New Retail infrastructure, product offerings and technology expertise.
Upon completion of the acquisition, Zhang Xuhao will become chairman of Ele.me and special advisor to Alibaba’s CEO on new retail strategy.
Wang Lei, vice president of Alibaba Group, will become chief executive of Ele.me.
Source: http://www.postalandparceltechnologyinternational.com
5. Minister willing to mull Chunghwa Post public offering March 27, 2018
Minister of Transportation and Communications Hochen Tan (賀陳旦) yesterday said the ministry is willing to consider letting Chunghwa Post go public.
Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chen Ming-wen (陳明文) made the proposal at a meeting of the Legislative Yuan’s Transportation Committee yesterday as the committee prepared to review the postal company’s budget.
State-run Chunghwa Post is the nation’s “goose with the golden eggs,” as it generates a profit each year, even though the company’s net profit has shown yearly declines, Chen said.
“Nevertheless, many people would rather have a savings account at the post office than at a bank, because they find it to be a trustworthy financial institution,” Chen said.
Asking whether Chunghwa Post planned to launch an initial public offering (IPO), Chen suggested that the company sell up to 30 percent of its shares to the public so that Taiwanese could share in the company’s profits and help oversee its operations.
When Chunghwa Post chairman Wang Kwo-tsai (王國材) denied any IPO plans, Chen asked Hochen to take the stand and comment on the possibility.
“I admire and like the legislator’s proposal [of allowing the public to own shares in Chunghwa Post]. I think the legislator proposes this idea because there have been examples of this in other countries,” Hochen said. “We could consider heading in the same direction.”
Chen also asked why the company’s net profit has shown gradual declines each year when it generates about NT$280 billion (US$9.6 billion) in annual revenue.
The company must follow new international financial reporting standards, which bars it from listing dividends as income on its balance sheet, Chunghwa Post president S.J. Chen said.
On the balance sheet, the company’s net profit might appear to be decreasing, but its net profit has exceeded NT$10 billion annually, he said.
Chen said he was concerned about the huge financial burden that the company would need to bear if the government raises the interest rate, with the amount of postal savings funds and insurance premium revenue totaling NT$6.8 trillion.
The company would need to prepare for any adverse effect caused by potential interest rate hikes, he said.
The volume of mail handled annually by the post office dropped 5.94 percent last year to about 2.38 billion pieces from a year earlier, due to the growth of electronic communications and social media, as well as the paperless policy enforced by government departments, Chunghwa Post statistics showed.
The company’s revenue reached NT$328.92 billion last year, with net profit of NT$10.61 billion, it said, adding that it expects NT$286.35 billion in revenue this year, down 0.01 percent from last year, with net profit of about NT$8.58 billion.
The company expects the volume of mail handled this year to decrease 24.94 percent, due to the loss of some mass distribution clients following last year’s increase in postage fees.
Revenue from sales to stamp collectors is also expected to drop 14.5 percent to NT$590 million this year, it said.
However, the company forecasts double-digit percentage growth in its small package delivery business this year, thanks to booming electronics commerce, it said, adding that the revenue is expected to partially of
POSTAL NEWS
No.31 -2018
Formulated by UNI Apro Post and Logistics Sector
UPS Study: Purchases From Marketplaces Nearly Universal; Retail Now Global As E-Commerce Shoppers Cross Borders. April 11, 2018.
Public expecting robotic delivery in the next five years, says USPS..April 10, 2018.
POSTNL And Unions Reach Final Agreement On CLA. April 9, 2018.
Letter volume to drop 25% this year, post office says. April 08, 2018.
Easter bank holiday shopping hotspots. April 04, 2018.
UPS Study: Purchases From Marketplaces Nearly Universal; Retail Now Global As E-Commerce Shoppers Cross Borders
April 11, 2018
Online shoppers across the globe are buying from marketplaces and international retailers, relying more on digital devices and seeking alternate delivery options, according to the global UPS Pulse of the Online Shopper study.
The study – which captured the changing behaviors and preferences of online shoppers in six markets including the U.S., Asia, Europe, Canada, Mexico and Brazil – details how these behavioral shifts seek better prices, and more choice, control and convenience. It also captures geographic differences, information essential to retailers as e-commerce increasingly transcends geographic borders.
“Understanding shoppers and meeting their demands is crucial in this rapidly changing landscape,” said Alan Gershenhorn, chief commercial officer for UPS. “To stand out, smart companies must recognize that, with competition now coming from around the world, consumers want different ways to make purchases, more convenient ways to receive them and innovative experiences from start to finish.”
Almost all online shoppers in the markets surveyed shop at marketplaces, which are third-party e-commerce sites that let multiple merchants sell products. In Mexico, 99% of shoppers reported making a marketplace purchase, compared with 98% in Asia and 96% in both Europe and Canada. The top reasons for using marketplaces are better prices and free or discounted shipping.
The study also showed that global competition for customers is increasing, with a significant number of online shoppers in Canada (83%), Brazil (81%) and Mexico (78%) making purchases from international retailers. In the U.S., nearly half (47%) of shoppers made international purchases. Consumers shopped internationally primarily for better prices and access to specific or unique products.
The majority of global shoppers also use mobile devices to search for products, compare prices, locate stores and track deliveries, all the more reason retailers should think ‘mobile first.’ At least 70% of respondents in all regions used smartphones to compare prices while in stores.
Meanwhile, shoppers expect quick fulfillment of online orders and speedy delivery across all regions, but expectations for what counts as quick delivery differ. Consumers in Asia, Mexico and Brazil expect to be able to place orders later in the day and still be eligible for same-day and next-day delivery.
Across all regions, consumers make online return purchases. Shoppers in the U.S. (44%) are the most likely to return an online purchase, while shoppers in Mexico are the least likely (22%). When both return options are available, shoppers in Asia and Europe prefer to ship online purchases back to retailers compared to consumers in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Brazil, who prefer to return online orders to a physical store. Among those who prefer to ship returns to a physical store, ease and free shipping returns are the leading reasons for this preference across all regions.
New developments in the retail experience that may play a role in the future of the industry include online marketplaces and new technologies such as robots and chatbots, according to the study. Consumers are more open to some new technologies in the retail landscape but skeptical of others. When asked about the appeal of robots in stores, more than half of consumers in the U.S. and Canada are not convinced, preferring to interact with a person. While face-to-face assistance is preferable in-store, respondents prefer self-service options online. The comfort level with using chatbots for tasks like getting product information is highest in the U.S. (65%) and lowest in Mexico (45%).
The study divided the results into three sections: Constants, areas of the retail experience that remain important year after year and influence purchase behaviors; Movers, areas where consumers have shown significant growth in recent years; and Emergers, newer areas of retail that may play a role in the shopping experience of the future.
Source: https://www.ipc.be
Public expecting robotic delivery in the next five years, says USPS
0, 20
April 10, 2018
A new USPS survey analyzing public perception of delivery robots in the USA has found that the large majority of respondents believe delivery robots will be in use within the next five years, with most also taking a positive stance on the development.
The USPS Office of Inspector General launched an online survey targeting a nationally representative sample of 18-75-year-old residents in all 50 states and the district of Columbia.
The goal of the survey was to gauge public perception of delivery robot technology for Independent Delivery Robots, which would transport mail and packages from senders to recipients on their own without any human accompaniment; and Helper Robots, which would follow delivery people as they completed their work, freeing them from having to carry as many items at a given time or from having to go back to their delivery truck as often to retrieve additional items.
Three in four of those surveyed were open to – or would always prefer – receiving delivery from a robot. Many also claimed that they would be willing to pay slightly more to receive the touted benefits of robot delivery. The ability to receive deliveries when and where recipients choose is viewed as Independent Delivery’s greatest benefit, while Helper Robots’ ability to improve working conditions and reduce injuries for delivery people are perceived as that concept’s best perks.
The survey found that awareness of such technology is low, and while many respondents said they know something about drones or self-driving vehicles, far fewer have seen or heard about delivery robots.
It also discovered the public has some concerns about the safety of delivery robots, but their primary concern is with potential job losses for delivery people. Millennials and urban residents also like the idea of delivery robots more than their older or more rural counterparts.
USPS says that the positive feedback is encouraging and increases the likeliness of the operator adopting such technologies into its own service in the future.
Source : http://www.postalandparceltechnologyinternational.com
POSTNL And Unions Reach Final Agreement On CLA
April 9, 2018
PostNL and the trade unions have reach a final agreement on mail deliverers’ pay.
In a statement issued on Friday (6 April), PostNL said that the members of the trade unions Bond van Post Personeel, FNV and CNV Publieke Diensten have given their consent to the collective labour agreement (CLA).
PostNL added: “The CLA is valid for two years: from 1 October 2017 until 30 September 2019. The agreement includes pay increases in five steps during the duration of the CLA, 5 percent in total. It also includes a one-time bonus of 1 percent and the adjustment of the pension scheme to the tax requirements.”
Resi Becker, Director of PostNL Mail in the Netherlands, commented: “Our mail deliverers are the face of PostNL for our customers. They provide good service every day. With this agreement we show how important our mail deliverers are and remain for the future of our postal company.”
Source : https://postandparcel.info
Letter volume to drop 25% this year, post office says
April 08, 2018
INTERNET: While traditional mail this year is expected to fall to 1.91 billion units, Chunghwa Post said e-commerce has increased the volume of express mail and packages.
Chunghwa Post said the volume of letters being mailed is predicted to plummet by about 25 percent this year.
According to the state-run company, the volume of letters mailed reached about 2.75 billion units in 2014, a peak in recent years, but the number has since dived by about 100 million units per year, with last year’s volume only totaling about 2.35 billion units.
Chunghwa Post predicts that this year’s number is likely to drop drastically, possibly below 2 billion units.
About 1.91 billion letters are predicted to be sent this year, a 24.94 percent decline compared with last year, it said, adding that the drop in volume would likely be the greatest annual decline ever and the lowest total volume since 1994.
In addition to policies promoting paperless trading, as well as advances in the development of electronic communications and Internet technology, the postal service said that another reason for the plummeting volume of traditional mail was that postal fees were increased for the first time in 26 years on Aug. 1 last year, causing frequent clients of the post office’s bulk mail service to reduce the number of letters sent.
Most of these clients were telecom carriers and banks, it said, adding that some of the companies gradually combined two or three invoices and bills into one piece of mail, or began to send invoices and bills every two months, while many also enhanced their online invoice and billing systems to replace letters.
While the Lunar New Year holiday used to be a peak period for sending greeting cards and postcards, the total volume of traditional mail — including greeting cards, postcards, bills, documents and letters — in February was only about 130 million pieces, a decline of more than 20 percent compared with the same period last year.
However, owing to the rise of e-commerce, the volume of packages and express mail sent through Chunghwa Post has continued to increase in recent years, it said, adding that data as of February showed that the annual volume is growing by a double-digit percentage — with a 15 percent growth in packages and a 32 percent growth in express mail this year.
Chunghwa Post said traditional services are being transformed to keep up with technology development and new needs.
Although traditional mail volume is plummeting, the volume of e-commerce in the Asian region is growing by about 27 percent each year, so the post office is transforming from mainly sending letters to sending packages, Chunghwa Post chairman Wang Kwo-tsai (王國材) said.
Human resource allocations must be readjusted to adapt to the transformation, Chunghwa Post said, adding that most letters sent now are registered mail, so a certain number of personnel is still needed to deliver mail.
To keep up with the growing e-commerce trend and to take advantage of business opportunities, Chunghwa Post is planning to vertically integrate its storage, order handling, tally processing, packaging and distribution systems, thus providing one-stop service with pick-up, fast arrival and other integrated services.
Source : http://www.taipeitimes.com
Easter bank holiday shopping hotspots
April 4, 2018
Royal Mail today reveals the top ten areas in the UK where shoppers made the most online purchases over the course of Easter bank holiday weekend
Llandrindod Wells tops the UK list, followed by Truro and East London
The top ten is based on analysis of parcels accepted from retailers and businesses into the Royal Mail network between 30th March and 2nd April 2018
Royal Mail today reveals the top ten areas in the UK where shoppers made the most online purchases over the course of Easter bank holiday weekend
Llandrindod Wells tops the UK list, followed by Truro and East London
The top ten is based on analysis of parcels accepted from retailers and businesses into the Royal Mail network between 30th March and 2nd April 2018
Royal Mail today reveals the top ten areas where shoppers made the most online purchases over the Easter bank holiday weekend this year. Residents in Welsh town Llandrindod Wells top the list of the UK’s bank holiday shoppers for the second year in a row.
In the run up, a quarter (25%) of SME retailers expected to see an increase in sales activity over the Easter bank holiday weekend. Easter is increasingly establishing itself as one of the major shopping events of the year.
A spokesperson from Royal Mail Parcels, said “Easter is becoming a key shopping date in the ecommerce calendar. We've looked at parcel delivery data across our huge network of delivery offices and it has revealed Llandrindod Wells as the UK’s Easter bank holiday online shopping hotspot.”
The top ten online shopping hotspots are based on analysis of parcels accepted into the Royal Mail network between 30th March and 2nd April. Items were accepted from online retailers and ecommerce businesses for delivery via the Royal Mail Tracked 24 and Royal Mail Tracked 48 services.
Online purchases made over Easter bank holiday weekend will continue to be distributed by retailers and delivered by Royal Mail over the coming days.
Source: https://www.royalmailgroup.com
No.30 -2018
Formulated by UNI Apro Post and Logistics Sector
1. Turkish Post Corporation, pioneer in digital transformation. April 06, 2018. 2. NALC: EEOC finds USPS practiced disability discrimination. April 4, 2018. 3. Alibaba to acquire remaining shares in Ele.me delivery platform. April 3, 2018. 4. Minister willing to mull Chunghwa Post public offering. March 27, 2018
1. Turkish Post Corporation, pioneer in digital transformation
April 06, 2018
The Turkish Post Corporation has made a major innovation step in the parcel delivery market by implementing Kargomat 7/24.
Having already a widespread service network across Turkey, Turkish Post PTT is also showing how much importance is giving to technology, innovation and digital transformation with the implementation of Kargomat 7/24.
The spread of e-commerce has further enlarged the parcel delivery market. People are making their choice based on the most reliable, fast, and / or affordable service. Now, those service providers who can renew themselves in the direction of these technological developments are being chosen by the consumers. The parcel sector is constantly developing and evolving according to costumer demands.
Our company aims to carry customer satisfaction and quality of service to a further point, and with the implementation of Kargomat 7/24 we want to ensure that customers can collect their parcels at any hour of the day.
Kargomat 7/24 will be placed in major locations, universities and shopping malls throughout Ankara in the beginning of the implementation phase. Currently, a total of 35 "Kargomat 7/24" installations have been completed (5 of which are already active), while another 100 Kargomat 7/24 stations have already been purchased. In time, it is planned to have this service further developed and implemented in other Turkish cities.
Source: http://www.posteurop.org
2. NALC:EEOC finds USPS practiced disability discrimination
April 4, 2018
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has found the Postal Service National Reassessment Process (NRP) subjected approximately 130,000 injured-on-duty employees to a pattern and practice of disability discrimination, in violation of the Rehabilitation Act. A letter carrier in Rochester NY, Sandra McConnell, initiated a class action EEOC complaint in 2007 after she was reassessed under the NRP. That class action complaint, covering all injured-on-duty employees who were reassessed under the NRP during the period 5/5/06 through 7/1/11, was decided by the EEOC in September 2017 and finalized in a March 9, 2018 decision.
The EEOC ordered the Postal Service to notify each class member, within 10 calendar days, of the EEOC decision. The Postal Service notice is required to advise class members who believe they are entitled to individual relief, that they must now file a written claim with the agency within 30 days of receipt of the notification from the Postal Service.
The EEOC identified the following criteria as potential grounds for claiming relief:
* Subjected to unlawful medical enquiry or had their confidential medical information accessed by unauthorized persons .
* Harassed, treated disparately, or had reasonable accommodations withdrawn
* Given a new assignment that resulted in harm or loss of benefits
* Given a total or partial no-work-available determination
* Constructively discharged (separated, resigned or retired) as a result of NRP
Many letter carriers have also received communications from the attorneys who won the case (Thomas & Solomon; Kator, Parks, Weiser & Harris). An alternate claim form is available from these attorneys that some letter carriers may find simpler to fill out. By using and signing this claim form, an individual additionally designates the class attorneys as his or her representative in accordance with a retainer agreement that is attached. The retainer agreement includes the following provision: Contingency fees. You do not need to pay us any fee unless you receive a recovery. From any recovery, we will receive 30% of the gross value or amount as a fee (“Contingency Fees”). However, there is a provision allowing an individual to use the form to make a claim with the Postal Service, sign it, and opt out of designating the class attorneys as representative. It states: “With my signature below, unless I indicate otherwise in writing in this document, I have accepted the legal representation from Class Counsel under the terms of the retainer agreement that the law firms sent to me.”
The 30 day window to file a written claim (measured from the date a class member receives notice from the Postal Service) provides a short time period. In order to avoid disputes about timeliness of claims, letter carriers should mail claims to the Postal Service by April 12, 2018.
NALC is making every effort to contact current and former letter carriers that may be entitled to individual relief.
Source : https://www.postaltimes.com
3. 80,000 parcels delivered by transport bike in Nuremberg - DPD Germany is expanding bike deliveries to further cities
0 04-04-20184-04-2018
April 4, 2018
One year after the official launch of parcel deliveries by transport bike in Nuremberg – part of a pilot project under the technical management of the Nuremberg Institute of Technology – DPD Germany is highly satisfied with the results. The international parcel and express service provider has so far already delivered 80,000 parcels by transport bike – free from harmful emissions. Thanks to the use of five electrically assisted transport bikes it has been possible to replace five conventional delivery vans almost completely. Encouraged by this positive experience in Nuremberg, DPD will be launching further deliveries by transport bike and has already begun operations in Heilbronn. Berlin, Munich, Stuttgart and further cities will follow in the course of the year. In Hamburg DPD has been operating a number of electrically powered transport bikes since the beginning of 2017.
"In the dense traffic of the inner city the transport bike has developed into a real alternative to conventional delivery vehicles”, explains Gerd Seber, Group Manager Sustainability & Innovation at DPD Germany. "In view of possible impending access restrictions, the development of such sustainable city logistics solutions is becoming ever more important. Our positive cooperation with the City of Nuremberg indicates that shared operational procedures adopted by the municipality and parcel services are good for everyone – not least for city centre businesses and residents."
Since the start of the Nuremberg pilot project DPD has increased the number of transport bikes in operation from three to five. The bikes are based at a so-called "micro-depot" in the city centre. This is a 130 m² business facility in the centrally located "Nürbanum" business park in Nuremberg South. Here the parcels for the transport bike tours are delivered by van every morning and then distributed among the bikes. For this purpose the micro-depot is connected online to the DPD IT system. The batteries of the bikes are also charged at the micro-depot and – in particular during cold weather – the delivery personnel always carry a replacement battery with them. "Even in wintry conditions we can fully rely on our transport bikes", explains Torsten Mendel, DPD Depot Manager in Nuremberg. "However, operating entirely without conventional vehicles is not yet possible. We need the usual transporters not just to make deliveries to our micro-depot, but also to serve major business customers in the city centre." If combined skilfully with conventional delivery vehicles, under favourable conditions the transport bike has almost the same capacity as a van: "In many of Nuremberg's streets we can make deliveries much more efficiently with our highly manoeuvrable transport bikes than with large vehicles." In Nuremberg South five transport bikes and four conventional delivery vehicles operating jointly can now cover an area which was previously served by nine conventional vans. The transport
bike is used in particular for those consignees who only receive one or two parcels a day, while stops involving a large number of parcels are served by delivery van. The technical support from the Nuremberg Institute of Technology for deliveries by transport bike has now come to an end. The "pilot project for sustainable city logistics by CEP services based on the micro-depot concept within the city of Nuremberg" began its practical phase in March 2017, after a comprehensive technical analysis. The project was supported among others by Bavaria's Ministry of Internal Affairs, Construction and Transport as well as the City of Nuremberg and the Nuremberg Chamber of Commerce for Central Franconia. Last October the pilot project was awarded the VCÖ Mobility Prize as a "model international project" by the Austrian Public Transport Association.
Emission-free deliveries by transport bikes in more and more cities
This year DPD intends to extend its deliveries by transport bike significantly. Apart from Nuremberg and Hamburg, in the course of the year transport bikes will spread to Berlin, Munich, Stuttgart, Ludwigsburg, Heilbronn, Rostock and further cities. The application of electrically assisted transport bikes requires a precise initial analysis of suitable delivery areas, as well as the development of an individual logistics concept for the specific city. As a rule the transport bikes need to be supplied from a centrally located micro-depot, as is the case in Nuremberg. Gerd Seber, Group Manager Sustainability & Innovation at DPD Germany, explains: "Finding suitable and affordable locations in the city centre represents a decisive obstacle to the use of transport bikes, and we would therefore appreciate further support from the municipalities for this purpose. We hope that positive examples set by Nuremberg, Berlin or Rostock will act as a model for other cities."
Carbon-neutral parcel shipping for all – without additional costs to the customer
Within the context of its group-wide DrivingChange™ sustainability programme DPDgroup is committed to providing all customers with carbon-neutral parcel shipping – at no additional cost. For this purpose DPDgroup applies a combination of three interrelated principles: measuring, reducing and offsetting. DPDgroup is a world leader in offsetting harmful emissions on a voluntary basis. In the year 2016 alone, DPDgroup compensated for 863,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalents. This makes up almost 5% of all of the CO2 emissions which were voluntarily offset within Europe. At the same time the group is continuously reducing its CO2 emissions per parcel. As early as 2016 it achieved its target of cutting emissions per parcel by 10% on the figure for the year 2013.
Source: https://www.ipc.be
4. Alibaba to acquire remaining shares in Ele.me delivery platform
April 3, 2018
Chinese e-commerce marketplace Alibaba Group will acquire all outstanding shares in Ele.me, a leading online delivery and local services platform in China.
Alibaba and its affiliate Ant Small and Micro Financial Services Group Co. currently own approximately 43% of the outstanding shares of Ele.me. The transaction places the enterprise value of Ele.me at US$9.5bn.
This acquisition will deepen Ele.me’s integration into Alibaba’s ecosystem and advance Alibaba’s New Retail strategy to provide a seamless online and offline consumer experience in the local services sector.
Daniel Zhang, CEO of Alibaba Group, said, “We are excited for Ele.me to become a part of the Alibaba ecosystem. Under the leadership of its founder and management team, Ele.me has achieved leading market share in China’s online food delivery and local services sector. Our shared belief that New Retail will create more value for customers and merchants has brought us together.
“Looking forward, Ele.me can leverage Alibaba’s infrastructure in commerce and find new synergies with Alibaba’s diverse businesses to add further momentum to the New Retail initiative.”
Ele.me’s fast local delivery service will build on its core expertise in food delivery to provide consumers with a wider range of products and services on-demand. Ele.me also complements Koubei, Alibaba’s affiliated local services platform.
Zhang Xuhao, founder of Ele.me, said, “This acquisition shows that we have built Ele.me into one of China’s most valuable internet businesses. Our customers, merchants and partners will benefit from our further integration into the Alibaba family. We share the same strategic vision that New Retail has a bright future and being part of Alibaba’s ecosystem will take Ele.me’s growth to a new level.”
Ele.me will continue to operate in its own brand and work closely with its existing partners and merchants. Alibaba will lend its full support to Ele.me including access to its New Retail infrastructure, product offerings and technology expertise.
Upon completion of the acquisition, Zhang Xuhao will become chairman of Ele.me and special advisor to Alibaba’s CEO on new retail strategy.
Wang Lei, vice president of Alibaba Group, will become chief executive of Ele.me.
Source: http://www.postalandparceltechnologyinternational.com
5. Minister willing to mull Chunghwa Post public offering March 27, 2018
Minister of Transportation and Communications Hochen Tan (賀陳旦) yesterday said the ministry is willing to consider letting Chunghwa Post go public.
Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chen Ming-wen (陳明文) made the proposal at a meeting of the Legislative Yuan’s Transportation Committee yesterday as the committee prepared to review the postal company’s budget.
State-run Chunghwa Post is the nation’s “goose with the golden eggs,” as it generates a profit each year, even though the company’s net profit has shown yearly declines, Chen said.
“Nevertheless, many people would rather have a savings account at the post office than at a bank, because they find it to be a trustworthy financial institution,” Chen said.
Asking whether Chunghwa Post planned to launch an initial public offering (IPO), Chen suggested that the company sell up to 30 percent of its shares to the public so that Taiwanese could share in the company’s profits and help oversee its operations.
When Chunghwa Post chairman Wang Kwo-tsai (王國材) denied any IPO plans, Chen asked Hochen to take the stand and comment on the possibility.
“I admire and like the legislator’s proposal [of allowing the public to own shares in Chunghwa Post]. I think the legislator proposes this idea because there have been examples of this in other countries,” Hochen said. “We could consider heading in the same direction.”
Chen also asked why the company’s net profit has shown gradual declines each year when it generates about NT$280 billion (US$9.6 billion) in annual revenue.
The company must follow new international financial reporting standards, which bars it from listing dividends as income on its balance sheet, Chunghwa Post president S.J. Chen said.
On the balance sheet, the company’s net profit might appear to be decreasing, but its net profit has exceeded NT$10 billion annually, he said.
Chen said he was concerned about the huge financial burden that the company would need to bear if the government raises the interest rate, with the amount of postal savings funds and insurance premium revenue totaling NT$6.8 trillion.
The company would need to prepare for any adverse effect caused by potential interest rate hikes, he said.
The volume of mail handled annually by the post office dropped 5.94 percent last year to about 2.38 billion pieces from a year earlier, due to the growth of electronic communications and social media, as well as the paperless policy enforced by government departments, Chunghwa Post statistics showed.
The company’s revenue reached NT$328.92 billion last year, with net profit of NT$10.61 billion, it said, adding that it expects NT$286.35 billion in revenue this year, down 0.01 percent from last year, with net profit of about NT$8.58 billion.
The company expects the volume of mail handled this year to decrease 24.94 percent, due to the loss of some mass distribution clients following last year’s increase in postage fees.
Revenue from sales to stamp collectors is also expected to drop 14.5 percent to NT$590 million this year, it said.
However, the company forecasts double-digit percentage growth in its small package delivery business this year, thanks to booming electronics commerce, it said, adding that the revenue is expected to partially of
POSTAL NEWS
No.31 -2018
Formulated by UNI Apro Post and Logistics Sector
UPS Study: Purchases From Marketplaces Nearly Universal; Retail Now Global As E-Commerce Shoppers Cross Borders. April 11, 2018.
Public expecting robotic delivery in the next five years, says USPS..April 10, 2018.
POSTNL And Unions Reach Final Agreement On CLA. April 9, 2018.
Letter volume to drop 25% this year, post office says. April 08, 2018.
Easter bank holiday shopping hotspots. April 04, 2018.
UPS Study: Purchases From Marketplaces Nearly Universal; Retail Now Global As E-Commerce Shoppers Cross Borders
April 11, 2018
Online shoppers across the globe are buying from marketplaces and international retailers, relying more on digital devices and seeking alternate delivery options, according to the global UPS Pulse of the Online Shopper study.
The study – which captured the changing behaviors and preferences of online shoppers in six markets including the U.S., Asia, Europe, Canada, Mexico and Brazil – details how these behavioral shifts seek better prices, and more choice, control and convenience. It also captures geographic differences, information essential to retailers as e-commerce increasingly transcends geographic borders.
“Understanding shoppers and meeting their demands is crucial in this rapidly changing landscape,” said Alan Gershenhorn, chief commercial officer for UPS. “To stand out, smart companies must recognize that, with competition now coming from around the world, consumers want different ways to make purchases, more convenient ways to receive them and innovative experiences from start to finish.”
Almost all online shoppers in the markets surveyed shop at marketplaces, which are third-party e-commerce sites that let multiple merchants sell products. In Mexico, 99% of shoppers reported making a marketplace purchase, compared with 98% in Asia and 96% in both Europe and Canada. The top reasons for using marketplaces are better prices and free or discounted shipping.
The study also showed that global competition for customers is increasing, with a significant number of online shoppers in Canada (83%), Brazil (81%) and Mexico (78%) making purchases from international retailers. In the U.S., nearly half (47%) of shoppers made international purchases. Consumers shopped internationally primarily for better prices and access to specific or unique products.
The majority of global shoppers also use mobile devices to search for products, compare prices, locate stores and track deliveries, all the more reason retailers should think ‘mobile first.’ At least 70% of respondents in all regions used smartphones to compare prices while in stores.
Meanwhile, shoppers expect quick fulfillment of online orders and speedy delivery across all regions, but expectations for what counts as quick delivery differ. Consumers in Asia, Mexico and Brazil expect to be able to place orders later in the day and still be eligible for same-day and next-day delivery.
Across all regions, consumers make online return purchases. Shoppers in the U.S. (44%) are the most likely to return an online purchase, while shoppers in Mexico are the least likely (22%). When both return options are available, shoppers in Asia and Europe prefer to ship online purchases back to retailers compared to consumers in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Brazil, who prefer to return online orders to a physical store. Among those who prefer to ship returns to a physical store, ease and free shipping returns are the leading reasons for this preference across all regions.
New developments in the retail experience that may play a role in the future of the industry include online marketplaces and new technologies such as robots and chatbots, according to the study. Consumers are more open to some new technologies in the retail landscape but skeptical of others. When asked about the appeal of robots in stores, more than half of consumers in the U.S. and Canada are not convinced, preferring to interact with a person. While face-to-face assistance is preferable in-store, respondents prefer self-service options online. The comfort level with using chatbots for tasks like getting product information is highest in the U.S. (65%) and lowest in Mexico (45%).
The study divided the results into three sections: Constants, areas of the retail experience that remain important year after year and influence purchase behaviors; Movers, areas where consumers have shown significant growth in recent years; and Emergers, newer areas of retail that may play a role in the shopping experience of the future.
Source: https://www.ipc.be
Public expecting robotic delivery in the next five years, says USPS
0, 20
April 10, 2018
A new USPS survey analyzing public perception of delivery robots in the USA has found that the large majority of respondents believe delivery robots will be in use within the next five years, with most also taking a positive stance on the development.
The USPS Office of Inspector General launched an online survey targeting a nationally representative sample of 18-75-year-old residents in all 50 states and the district of Columbia.
The goal of the survey was to gauge public perception of delivery robot technology for Independent Delivery Robots, which would transport mail and packages from senders to recipients on their own without any human accompaniment; and Helper Robots, which would follow delivery people as they completed their work, freeing them from having to carry as many items at a given time or from having to go back to their delivery truck as often to retrieve additional items.
Three in four of those surveyed were open to – or would always prefer – receiving delivery from a robot. Many also claimed that they would be willing to pay slightly more to receive the touted benefits of robot delivery. The ability to receive deliveries when and where recipients choose is viewed as Independent Delivery’s greatest benefit, while Helper Robots’ ability to improve working conditions and reduce injuries for delivery people are perceived as that concept’s best perks.
The survey found that awareness of such technology is low, and while many respondents said they know something about drones or self-driving vehicles, far fewer have seen or heard about delivery robots.
It also discovered the public has some concerns about the safety of delivery robots, but their primary concern is with potential job losses for delivery people. Millennials and urban residents also like the idea of delivery robots more than their older or more rural counterparts.
USPS says that the positive feedback is encouraging and increases the likeliness of the operator adopting such technologies into its own service in the future.
Source : http://www.postalandparceltechnologyinternational.com
POSTNL And Unions Reach Final Agreement On CLA
April 9, 2018
PostNL and the trade unions have reach a final agreement on mail deliverers’ pay.
In a statement issued on Friday (6 April), PostNL said that the members of the trade unions Bond van Post Personeel, FNV and CNV Publieke Diensten have given their consent to the collective labour agreement (CLA).
PostNL added: “The CLA is valid for two years: from 1 October 2017 until 30 September 2019. The agreement includes pay increases in five steps during the duration of the CLA, 5 percent in total. It also includes a one-time bonus of 1 percent and the adjustment of the pension scheme to the tax requirements.”
Resi Becker, Director of PostNL Mail in the Netherlands, commented: “Our mail deliverers are the face of PostNL for our customers. They provide good service every day. With this agreement we show how important our mail deliverers are and remain for the future of our postal company.”
Source : https://postandparcel.info
Letter volume to drop 25% this year, post office says
April 08, 2018
INTERNET: While traditional mail this year is expected to fall to 1.91 billion units, Chunghwa Post said e-commerce has increased the volume of express mail and packages.
Chunghwa Post said the volume of letters being mailed is predicted to plummet by about 25 percent this year.
According to the state-run company, the volume of letters mailed reached about 2.75 billion units in 2014, a peak in recent years, but the number has since dived by about 100 million units per year, with last year’s volume only totaling about 2.35 billion units.
Chunghwa Post predicts that this year’s number is likely to drop drastically, possibly below 2 billion units.
About 1.91 billion letters are predicted to be sent this year, a 24.94 percent decline compared with last year, it said, adding that the drop in volume would likely be the greatest annual decline ever and the lowest total volume since 1994.
In addition to policies promoting paperless trading, as well as advances in the development of electronic communications and Internet technology, the postal service said that another reason for the plummeting volume of traditional mail was that postal fees were increased for the first time in 26 years on Aug. 1 last year, causing frequent clients of the post office’s bulk mail service to reduce the number of letters sent.
Most of these clients were telecom carriers and banks, it said, adding that some of the companies gradually combined two or three invoices and bills into one piece of mail, or began to send invoices and bills every two months, while many also enhanced their online invoice and billing systems to replace letters.
While the Lunar New Year holiday used to be a peak period for sending greeting cards and postcards, the total volume of traditional mail — including greeting cards, postcards, bills, documents and letters — in February was only about 130 million pieces, a decline of more than 20 percent compared with the same period last year.
However, owing to the rise of e-commerce, the volume of packages and express mail sent through Chunghwa Post has continued to increase in recent years, it said, adding that data as of February showed that the annual volume is growing by a double-digit percentage — with a 15 percent growth in packages and a 32 percent growth in express mail this year.
Chunghwa Post said traditional services are being transformed to keep up with technology development and new needs.
Although traditional mail volume is plummeting, the volume of e-commerce in the Asian region is growing by about 27 percent each year, so the post office is transforming from mainly sending letters to sending packages, Chunghwa Post chairman Wang Kwo-tsai (王國材) said.
Human resource allocations must be readjusted to adapt to the transformation, Chunghwa Post said, adding that most letters sent now are registered mail, so a certain number of personnel is still needed to deliver mail.
To keep up with the growing e-commerce trend and to take advantage of business opportunities, Chunghwa Post is planning to vertically integrate its storage, order handling, tally processing, packaging and distribution systems, thus providing one-stop service with pick-up, fast arrival and other integrated services.
Source : http://www.taipeitimes.com
Easter bank holiday shopping hotspots
April 4, 2018
Royal Mail today reveals the top ten areas in the UK where shoppers made the most online purchases over the course of Easter bank holiday weekend
Llandrindod Wells tops the UK list, followed by Truro and East London
The top ten is based on analysis of parcels accepted from retailers and businesses into the Royal Mail network between 30th March and 2nd April 2018
Royal Mail today reveals the top ten areas in the UK where shoppers made the most online purchases over the course of Easter bank holiday weekend
Llandrindod Wells tops the UK list, followed by Truro and East London
The top ten is based on analysis of parcels accepted from retailers and businesses into the Royal Mail network between 30th March and 2nd April 2018
Royal Mail today reveals the top ten areas where shoppers made the most online purchases over the Easter bank holiday weekend this year. Residents in Welsh town Llandrindod Wells top the list of the UK’s bank holiday shoppers for the second year in a row.
In the run up, a quarter (25%) of SME retailers expected to see an increase in sales activity over the Easter bank holiday weekend. Easter is increasingly establishing itself as one of the major shopping events of the year.
A spokesperson from Royal Mail Parcels, said “Easter is becoming a key shopping date in the ecommerce calendar. We've looked at parcel delivery data across our huge network of delivery offices and it has revealed Llandrindod Wells as the UK’s Easter bank holiday online shopping hotspot.”
The top ten online shopping hotspots are based on analysis of parcels accepted into the Royal Mail network between 30th March and 2nd April. Items were accepted from online retailers and ecommerce businesses for delivery via the Royal Mail Tracked 24 and Royal Mail Tracked 48 services.
Online purchases made over Easter bank holiday weekend will continue to be distributed by retailers and delivered by Royal Mail over the coming days.
Source: https://www.royalmailgroup.com