Swiss Post To Offer Over 750 New Training Places In 2011 - August 20, 2010
[Press Release.]Next year Swiss Post will offer apprenticeship training positions for 751 new apprentices. The number of apprentices at Swiss Post has been increasing annually since 2004. In 2010 they make up 4.9 percent of the workforce, and this figure will rise to over 5 percent next year. Courses in the areas of logistics, sales/communication, IT and maintenance are offered. On 12 different training courses Swiss Post is currently providing vocational training for almost 2,000 young people in total.
With its attractive and diverse range of apprenticeships, Swiss Post enables interested young people to enter the working world. In 2004, Swiss Post offered 480 apprenticeships. This year it was 748, and next year 751 new apprentices will join the company. The majority of apprenticeships offered by Swiss Post are in retail and logistics, followed by apprenticeships in commerce and IT.
Swiss Post is currently training 1,957 apprentices on 12 training courses in the areas of logistics, sales/communication, IT and maintenance. All Swiss Post apprenticeships are recognized by the Federal Office for Occupational Training and Technology (BBT). With 518 final examination passes in 2010, the success rate for our apprentices was over 97 percent. Around 90 percent of the successful trainees were able to remain with Swiss Post on completion of their courses.
USPS Introduces Recycling P.O. Box Mail - August 19, 2010
[Press Release.]From Dallas to Detroit, Nome to San Juan, and 115 national parks, memorials and historical sites in between, recycling mail at Post Offices has just gotten more convenient. With more than 10,000 locations across the country, nearly 50 percent more than last year, it’s even easier to be green by recycling Post Office Box mail.
Post Office Box customers can recycle mail at participating national park Post Offices, including those located at Crater Lake, Everglades, Grand Canyon, Kenai Fjords, Olympic, Redwood, Sequoia, Yosemite and Zion. Recycling is also available in Post Offices at national historical sites including Cape Cod National Seashore, Gettysburg National Military Park, Minuteman Historical Park, Natchez Trace Scenic National Trail, and near a number of presidential libraries.
Last year, the Postal Service recycled more than 220,000 tons of paper, plastics and other waste, which avoided more than 700,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions,” said Deborah Giannoni-Jackson, vice president, Employee Resource Management. “Lobby recycling is an important part of the Postal Service’s conservation efforts, because it helps divert paper waste from landfills and helps our bottom line, making us greener and smarter.”
Customers can recycle their P.O. Box mail as an easy, planet-friendly alternative to taking it home to discard. Recycling containers are locked and feature a narrow opening — about the width of a magazine, so the mail, and customer privacy, is ensured. Photos of the recycling containers and a complete list of participating Post Offices can be found in the USPS green newsroom and at usps.com/green.
“Our history of environmental efforts goes back more than 100 years when the Postal Service was recycling before there was even a universal symbol for it,” said Sam Pulcrano, vice president, Sustainability. “It’s our goal to make every letter and package a greener experience, and lobby recycling is a great way to be green by recycling discarded P.O. Box mail right at the Post Office.”
Another way customers can go green, Pulcrano said, is with 100 percent recyclable packaging supplies. The Postal Service is the only mailing and shipping company to earn Cradle to Cradle™ certification for the environmentally friendly design and health standards of Priority Mail, Express Mail and Ready Post envelopes and supplies. Priority Mail and Express Mail supplies are free to customers and can be delivered at no charge. They can be ordered from the Post Office that’s always open, 24 hours a day, at usps.com/green.
P.O. Box Lobby Recycling demonstrates the Postal Service’s award-winning commitment to being a good green neighbor, Pulcrano said. The agency has won more than 75 environmental awards, including 40 White House Closing the Circle, 10 Environmental Protection Agency WasteWise Partner of the Year, Climate Action Champion, Direct Marketing Association Green Echo, and the Postal Technology International Environmental Achievement of the Year, 2009.
The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses, and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
TNT Pursues Saudi Arabian Growth - August 19, 2010
[Press Release.]TNT SAB Express, the Saudi Arabian arm of TNT Express, is expanding the scope of its activities and services in the country.
The company will increase its workforce and transfer its main branch in Jeddah to new executive offices.
The company had recently announced a 30% increase in revenues for the first half of 2010, whilst introducing two additional retail outlets in Jeddah.
Martyn Wright, managing director, TNT SAB Express Saudi Arabia: “Saudi imports have grown significantly over the past few years and have catapulted the country ahead of other leading Middle Eastern countries in the logistics field. Our strong performance for the first half of this year especially reflects the growing opportunities in the Kingdom’s delivery services sector, and we are adopting fresh strategies to become even more visible in this growth market. Our move to new offices will further enhance our image and leverage the strong global patronage enjoyed by the TNT brand.”
The company is looking to benefit from the growing population of nationals and expatriates, and its accelerating economy.
Around 26.5m people live in the Kingdom, with an estimated 26% being expatriates. The population is expected to climb to as high as 31.7m over the next five years, with expatriates expected to number between 7.9 to 8.5m. This demographic profile along with the robust local economy requires a wide range of services such as express delivery.
U.K. Govt. Re-Hires UBS To Advise On Royal Mail Options - August 18, 2010
[Press Release.]The U.K. government Wednesday said it has appointed investment bank UBS AG (UBS) to advise it on options for the future ownership of Royal Mail, Britain's state-run postal delivery service.
UBS, which was originally mandated to advise on Royal Mail by the U.K.'s previous government, has effectively been reconfirmed in the advisory mandate following a beauty parade where other banks were invited to tender, a person familiar with the matter said.
A spokesman for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said UBS would investigate the various options for the future of Royal Mail, including a sale of part, or all, of the business, and a potential multibillion pound stock market flotation.
Legislation to enable a potential sale or flotation is currently being drawn-up and is expected to be introduced in the autumn, he said, adding that Royal Mail's pension deficit and the regulation of the postal sector would also be examined.
The new government, a coalition involving the center-right Conservative party and the traditionally left-leaning Liberal Democrat party, said earlier this summer it is assessing bringing some private ownership into Royal Mail.
The previous Labour government in July 2009 shelved plans to part-privatize the mail operator, citing poor economic conditions.
"We will seek to ensure an injection of private capital into the Royal Mail, including opportunities for employee ownership," the government said in a statement at the time. The Post Office Ltd., which operates the roughly 12,000 retail branches across the U.K., would remain in public ownership, the government said.
The previous government had said private ownership of Royal Mail would be capped at 49%.
The new government hasn't clarified its position on this and it is unclear whether it favours an initial public offering, a sale or another option.
In an interview with the Daily Telegraph in June, the lawmaker with responsibility for the Royal Mail, Ed Davey, said the future of the service is in doubt because of a "lethal combination" of a sharp decline in revenue due to changing communication patterns, and a gaping hole in its pension scheme.
Hiring UBS appears to move the new coalition government a step closer to at least a part-privatization of Royal Mail. However, any such privatization would be politically sensitive with communications industry unions that have historically opposed such moves, and the government would likely proceed with caution.
A person familiar with the matter told Dow Jones Newswires the process is at an early stage and the government's intentions for Royal Mail remain unclear.
The BIS spokesman declined to comment on the fees being paid to UBS due to commercial sensitivity.
Qantas And Australia Post Renew Partnership - August 17, 2010
[Postal Technology International.]Qantas and Australia Post have confirmed the renewal of their partnership in joint ventures Australian Air Express and Star Track Express, in addition to signing a new five-year mail contract with a combined value of US$100 million per annum.
Qantas CEO, Alan Joyce, said Australian air Express and Star Track Express were strategically important assets and, as such, Qantas and Australia Post had committed to remain equal partners in both ventures. Details of a future direction for Australian Air Express and Star Track Express will be released once this has been completed.
“We recognise the significant value that exists in Australia Air Express and Star Track Express and we’re also in agreement that we’ve yet to tap into the full potential,” said Australia Post CEO and MD, Ahmed Fahour.
Joyce said that Qantas and Australia Post had also signed a five-year contract for air transport delivery of international and domestic mail on Qantas aircraft as well as a contract for domestic space with Australian Air Express.
FedEx Expansion Plans Affirm Commitment to Indian Businesses - August 17, 2010
[Press Release.]FedEx announced plans to strengthen the company’s international and domestic services across India. FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX), and the world’s largest express transportation company, has launched a new flight from Bengaluru establishing direct connections to Europe and the Middle East and the U.S. With this, Bengaluru becomes the third Indian gateway for FedEx joining Delhi and Mumbai and enhancing FedEx customers’ access to the global marketplace.
FedEx premium domestic express delivery service is also expanding its next business day service from 14 to 58 origin cities over a period of months from August 2010.
“India has witnessed exceptional levels of economic expansion, and despite the global economic downturn, the economy reflects strong performance in manufacturing and export-oriented industries,” said Kenneth F. Koval, vice president, Operations, FedEx Express India. “The launch of the new flight from Bengaluru, coupled with the domestic service expansion, broadens market opportunities for customers doing business locally as well as internationally by leveraging the reach of the FedEx worldwide network.”
Bengaluru and its surrounding cities are a major component of India’s economic expansion , with South India contributing to approximately 20 per cent of India’s GDP,” added Koval. “By launching our flight from Bengaluru, we’re confident that businesses in South India will gain from greater global access.”
The 58 cities selected for the domestic express service expansion contribute to 40 per cent of India’s GDP and allow FedEx to offer a more defined and diversified product portfolio to and from major cities across India. FedEx will add satellite cities such as Secunderabad, Tirupur, Chinchwad, Pimpri, Thane and Navi Mumbai into the service points from August 2010—with more cities benefiting from the services in the months ahead.
These service enhancements are part of an ongoing focus by FedEx to strengthen its foothold in India whilst bolstering the trade lane between Asia and Europe. Enhancements by FedEx started in March 2005 with the launch of the air cargo industry’s first express direct flight from mainland China to Europe. It was followed in September 2005 by a second flight doubling the capacity between Europe and Asia, with a stop in Delhi, making it the first overnight express daily flight between India and China.
Swiss Post Tests New Letter Delivery Processes - August 17, 2010
[Post and Parcel.]As of autumn, Swiss Post will carry out tests on the delivery of letters in the St Gallen region, the city of Lausanne and the Kriens/Sarnen area.
The main focus of the tests is the automated sorting of items to individual house letterbox level. The time-consuming manual sorting of items by the postal carrier is thus reduced. The postal carriers’ delivery rounds will be adjusted for the tests, meaning that delivery times will change for some customers. However, all customers will receive their mail by the end of the midday period at the latest.
Swiss Post wants to use the findings of these tests to increase the efficiency of delivery and continue to meet customers’ requirements for a cost-effective, high-quality, modern service in the future. Only the results of these tests will ascertain exactly how the various customer groups and employees will be affected. Decisions as to the next steps are due to be made in spring 2011.
Swiss Post is continuously improving its internal processes and systematically examining new technological possibilities. This enables Swiss Post to achieve the objective defined by the Federal Council to provide high-quality postal services without financial assistance.
U.S. Postal Service Products Available at Office Depot - August 16, 2010
[Press Release.]Customers at almost 1,100 Office Depot stores across the country now have another option for shipping services.
U.S. Postal Service shipping and mailing products now are available at 1,083 Office Depot stores across the country. Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes and envelopes, Priority Mail service, Express Mail service, Parcel Post, stamps, Delivery Confirmation and Signature Confirmation now are available at those Office Depot stores.
Priority Mail Flat Rate shipping is one of the best options for small businesses and consumers alike. With Flat Rate Boxes, customers pay one, low rate to any state without worrying about weighing the package — and there are no surcharges when using Postal Service shipping products.
“We’re excited to extend some of the best shipping values in the country to Office Depot customers, at a time and place that’s convenient to them,” said Susan Plonkey, acting president, Mailing and Shipping Services. “Small businesses, especially, will be able to compare shipping companies side by side and see for themselves that Postal Service prices are very competitive and affordable.”
The partnership with Office Depot is one more example of how the Postal Service is adjusting products and services to better fit the changing needs of its customers, while finding creative solutions to generate much needed revenue.
As an Approved Postal Provider, Office Depot is the first national retailer to offer Postal Service shipping products and services.
“Office Depot is all about helping our customers take care of business, and by providing smart mailing services through the Postal Service in our stores, customers can enjoy the convenience of shipping while they shop,” said Kevin Peters, president, North American Retail for Office Depot.
Office Depot and the Postal Service worked together to ensure Office Depot employees could answer any customer concern or question on Postal products. Customer convenience and service are key to both companies.
Expanding access to products and services is one of the key components of “Delivering the Future,” the Postal Service’s action plan for the future. That plan also identifies shipping as one of the key growth opportunities for increased financial stability.
NZ Post Allows Iphone Users to Create and Send Greeting Cards - August 16, 2010
[Post and Parcel.]The iPhone application - which can also be used on Apple’s iPad and iPod Touch and personal computers - is free to download. Cards cost $5 to create and send from any country to any country.
Users select an image from their image library or snap a photo on their phone and write a message to appear in the card. They then add the delivery address, view a preview of the card and pay for it with their credit card. Standard data traffic charges from internet providers will also apply.
NZ Post market engagement manager Fiona Woolley says it wants to make it easy for people to send cards and postcards. “We had feedback from lots of people saying they still liked - if they’re sending things to husbands, wives, kids at university or nanas - getting things out of the letterbox. It’s the tangibility of it. “So if you’re an American tourist standing at the top of Mt Cook, you can take a photo on your iPhone and just send it straight off.”It’s instantaneous and it’s fun.”
Stefan Korn, an e-commerce analyst, says NZ Post is trying to leverage off new technology without letting go of its “snail mail” business model.
NZ Post says there are 38 million iPhone users around the world and the potential for its service is huge, but Mr Korn says few people outside New Zealand would know of NZ Post.
SkyPostal Changes Name to SkyShop Logistics - August 16, 2010
[GlobeNewswire.]SkyPostal Networks, Inc. announced that it has changed its name to SkyShop Logistics, Inc. to better reflect its positioning as a cross border shopping facilitator. Capitalizing on SkyPostal's efficient and low cost international delivery network, SkyShop has developed integrated shopping solutions which allow U.S. merchants to offer their international customers a simplified and cost effective buying experience from the moment of purchase to the cross-border delivery.
SkyShop's solutions cater to two audiences; the International online shopper who otherwise could not buy from U.S. e-tailers and U.S. merchants that want to access foreign consumers with an interest in purchasing U.S. merchandise and be able to service them without the complexities of cross-border deliveries.
SkyShop's consumer offering, PuntoMio (www.puntomio.com), gives non U.S. residents a U.S. address which they can use to make online purchases as if they lived in the U.S. Its Global e-Cart product (www.globale-cart.com) gives U.S. merchants integrated options with which to sell to the international client without the risks inherent in cross-border transactions: credit card fraud, high shipping and import costs, and complex import procedures. The U.S. merchant sells to the international shopper in the U.S. and SkyShop assumes full responsibility for shipping, clearance and delivery. The SkyShop delivery system features shipping rates less than those of express carriers and similar to parcel post rates, but with track and trace visibility.
Swiss Post To Offer Over 750 New Training Places In 2011 - August 20, 2010
USPS Introduces Recycling P.O. Box Mail - August 19, 2010
TNT Pursues Saudi Arabian Growth - August 19, 2010
U.K. Govt. Re-Hires UBS To Advise On Royal Mail Options - August 18, 2010
Qantas And Australia Post Renew Partnership - August 17, 2010
NZ Post Allows Iphone Users to Create and Send Greeting Cards - August 16, 2010
