Postal Hub podcast

Laura Shields and Garrett Byrne from An Post, along with Peter DeSantis from Giro, share how An Post was able to deliver 48% more parcels to more delivery points without increasing the number of hours worked in its last mile delivery network. Taking a test-and-learn approach to route optimisation and network design Key pressure points for An Post, including falling letter volumes, growth in parcel volumes, and dealing with fixed costs in a competitive market Parcel growth trends for An Post Implementing change across numerous sites Need to keep staff and unions engaged during periods of change Creating a fair day's work for workers Merging collections and delivery in route optimisation Redesigning the last mile to reflect current letter/parcel mix Tuning Giro's Georoute solution for different postal operators Early buy-in from senior An Post executives National Route Design project objectives Parcel volumes up 48%, with 8% increase in delivery points, but final mile hours have not increased The need to stretch for peak season Tips for last mile transformation success This episode is sponsored by GIRO. GIRO's route optimisation solution GeoRoute has been deployed by some of the world's most advanced postal and parcel networks. For more information about GIRO, visit giro.ca

Kate Muth, Executive Director at IMAG (International Mailers Advisory Group), shares an update on tariffs, de minimis, and international low value parcels. Update on US Supreme Court hearings on tariffs Next steps for US tariffs Expectations and timings Scope of Supreme Court case What happens if the Supreme Court rules the President doesn't have power to impose tariffs? The prospect of a refund process Separate de minimis case Postal operators collecting and remitting US duties for postal items Low value goods in the international postal stream UK low value threshold for customs duties EU customs reforms and parcel fees  

Why is out-of-home delivery popular in Norway? And can parcel lockers work in the freezing cold? Håvard Femtehjell, Head of Parcel Locker Development at Posten Bring, discusses: Overview of Posten's out-of-home delivery network, including parcel lockers and parcel collection points Long-term trends in out-of-home delivery in Norway Delivering small packets with letters Partnering for retailers parcel collection points Finding parcel locker locations Parcel locker performance in very cold climates Evolution of customer delivery preferences Role of proximity in customer delivery preferences Competition in the last mile in Norway, including from PostNord and Instabox Strategies to reduce parcel dwell times - especially during peak season Increasing parcel network utilisation during peak season Håvard is one of the many expert speakers appearing at Parcel+Post Expo this year. Go to ParcelAndPostExpo.com for more information about this year's event being held in Amsterdam from 21 to 23 October.

Tim Davies, Head of Out of Home and SME Accounts at DPD UK, talks about PUDOs, parcel lockers, and out-of-home delivery. We cover: Growth in DPD UK's out-of-home delivery network Composition of the OOH network How the DPD Parcel Shop PUDO relationship works Partnerships with major retailers Exclusivity vs carrier-neutral PUDO approach from retailers DPD UK's relationship with the UK Post Office - more than just PUDOs In-store parcel scanning technology, including integrations Trends in UK OOH delivery, including parcel lockers Retailers' interest in OOH delivery Returns via OOH In-flight parcel redirections and DPD UK's OOH network Consumer notifications Dealing with customer complaints The customer experience Redirecting undelivered parcels to PUDO points Tim is one of the many expert speakers appearing at Parcel and Post Expo this year. Go to ParcelAndPostExpo.com for more information about this year's event being held in Amsterdam from 21 to 23 October.

President Trump has decided to suspend duty-free de minimis for the USA, effective 29 August. Aaron Bezzant, Head of Supply Chain at Zonos, discusses the background to the President's Executive Order, what it means for e-commerce and the postal world, and what steps need to be taken to be compliant. The details of President Trump's Executive Order Previous attempt at eliminating de minimis for the postal stream Customs and Border Protection and USPS collection processes Duties for China Post and Hongkong Post shipments Tactics used to exploit previous de minimis crackdown on Chinese-made goods Compliance that has to be in place to meet 29 August deadline Effective mandate on DDP Bona fide gift exemption for low-value items How postal operators can start the journey to be compliant by 29 August Temporary simplified tariffs Remittance requirements and options from 29 August MFN and IEEPA tariff rates Role of third party in collecting funds and remitting to CBP Who ends up paying the duties? How Zonos can help pre-collect duties and taxes Why building a postal DDP network is central to winning in e-commerce delivery The importance of DDP for goods shipped to the USA Zonos tools and systems for postal operators for handling tariffs, including collection Other Zonos tools for posts to help e-commerce retailers Zonos app to facilitate over-the-counter lodgement of international parcels Simplifying the start online finish in-store process for post office parcel lodgement Helping postal operators no matter what stage of the digital transformation journey they're at Simple calculation tools  

Dr Selene Silvestri, Research Scientist at the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics, discusses the environmental impact of e-commerce packaging. Measuring the cost of e-commerce packaging Growth in e-commerce and impact on packaging Benefits of recycling cardboard packaging E-commerce shifting the cardboard recycling burden from retailers to consumers Obstacles to higher recycling rates Current models to encourage recycling Regulations on reducing empty space in parcels Reducing the weight of packaging Reverse logistics framework to support recycling Efficiency and convenience of doorstep recycling collection Reusable packaging Consolidated recycling drop-off points  

Roel Gevaers, professor in last mile logistics and supply chain at the university of Antwerp, discusses moves to impose fees on inbound low-value parcels from outside the EU. EU and EC proposal to add €2 fee for inbound international parcels Fee for cross-dock parcels from overseas Focus on import-free parcels Huge volumes of Chinese parcels entering Europe each year EU and EC intentions with this fee - is it a symbolic action? Timeframes - contrasting Europe with the USA Future plans for full customs reform Consumer protection and standards How the €2 fee will be collected Passing costs on to the consumer Likelihood of impact on low-value cross-border parcel volumes Impact of US tariffs on Chinese exports to other nations Is the proposed fee legal? EU member countries' responsibilities for customs Also in this episode: An update on Belgium's legislation compelling parcel locker networks to be carrier neutral.

Lars Pruijn, Innovation Director at Prime Vision, breaks down different aspects of innovation and describes how innovation can work in the postal and logistics sectors. How do we define innovation Taking responsibility for innovation in the company Internal innovation - optimising and increase External innovation: core, adjacent, and transformative innovation Adding new technology to existing products Reshaping products and keeping core products relevant Being disruptive in specific markets or segments How can companie stimulate innovation? Internal and external cooperation on innovation Innovating with clients - not innovation in a basement. Case study of innovation in automated sorting Computer vision applied to sorting machines to detect sorting errors Hazardous material detection and computer vision Reading difficult barcodes    

Jan Van Roey, Head of International at Poste Italiane, discusses cross-border parcel volumes and recent improvements to digital customer experience. He covers: Cross-border volume growth New Poste Italiane outbound international product Domestic parcel trends Coping with volatility and uncertainty in international parcels Retailers moving warehouses to Europe Poste Italiane's partnership with DHL eCommerce for inbound and outbound Locker Italia joint venture in parcel lockers with DHL Strategic reasons for setting up partnerships Parcel lockers and international delivery Recent changes to Poste Italiane's app and digital customer experience  

Rohit Gunavanthe, Head of Fulfilment at Pos Malaysia, discusses the postal operator's e-commerce fulfilment business Pos Fulfill. Background to creation of Pos Fulfill Storage, order fulfilment, pick and pack, real time inventory management, and end-to-end-logistics solutions Warehousing, customs clearance, in-store deliveries Geographic coverage across a diverse region, including East Malaysia Integrating with Pos Malaysia's distribution network Eight sites across Malaysia Cross-border capabilities Handling e-commerce returns, including inspecting returned items Business growth Importance of certainty of service  

International postal expert Alan Barrie along with CEP-Research Chief Editor Paul Needham have their say on 10 years that have changed the delivery world.   Alan Barrie discusses: Keeping letters profitable to avoid draining postal businesses of cash The e-commerce runaway train Data and the digitisation of the post Transformation in the last mile Growth in out-of-home parcel delivery Facilitating international e-commerce via data   Paul Needham covers: Consumer behaviour changed by the pandemic Overall parcel volume growth trend in B2C and B2B International parcel flows and the growth in new lanes Fast growth in China and Asia Amazon's emergence challenging growth of traditional parcel carriers The profitability challenge Consolidation in the delivery sector Postal privatisation Diversification of last mile delivery options Sustainability Innovation and the impact on availability of labour

The third part of the 10-year anniversary series features Cathy Morrow Roberson, Managing Director at Logistics Trends and Insights, Mike Richmond VP Returns at Blue Yonder, and Mark Fallon President and CEO at the Berkshire Company. Cathy Morrow Roberson discusses: Competition in the last mile in the USA, and the death of the duopoly Retailers building out their own last mile delivery networks Role of gig workers in US last mile delivery Regional parcel carriers E-commerce returns, including returns policies and fraudulent returns Mike Richmond covers: Disruption in the last mile... and what has stayed the same Evolution of out-of-home e-commerce delivery Mark Fallon shares perspectives on: The post and print industry's perfect storm: print technology, Louis DeJoy's plan for the USPS, and impact on tariffs on print Previous review of the USPS in President Trump's first term, and current speculation on privatisation of the USPS  

The second part of the 10-year anniversary series features Achim Dünnwald, Group Area Managing Director for Central Europe at GLS Group, Kate Muth, Executive Director at IMAG, and Brody Buhler, CEO at Escher Group. Achim Dünnwald discusses: Drivers of B2C parcel volumes and the return to "normal" post-COVID-19 The growing emphasis on demands for flexibility over speed and reliability in parcel delivery. Role of out-of-home delivery in fulfilling customer needs Retailers such as Temu and Shein driving volume The role of AI in delivery Brody Buhler covers: Changes in how consumers buy online Inventory placement and fulfilment Competition in delivery - even from marketplaces and retailers - leading to fragmentation in the delivery market Importance of delivery speed to retailers How technology is changing the postal sector and last mile AI driving change in consumer interactions Kate Muth discusses: The evolution of Advance Electronic Data, including UPU initiatives Data, tariffs, de minimis, and the global exchange of data Demand for information on "what's in the box"  

The Postal Hub Podcast is 10 years old! To mark this milestone, postal and delivery experts from around the world are sharing their perspectives on the last 10 years in the sector. The first part of the series features Holger Winklbauer, CEO at International Post Corporation, along with international postal and delivery experts Peter Somers and Derek Osborn   Peter Somers discusses: Trends in e-commerce growth Postal operators transforming to focus on parcels Domestic vs cross-border parcels Covid upending the delivery landscape 20-minute delivery in UAE Competition in the last mile Response to declining letter volumes Customer delivery preferences in Middle East, including residential vs out-of-home   Holger Winklbauer covers: Small parcels originating from China in the international postal system Demand for faster cross-border delivery Changing international rates and impact on parcel flows Role of consolidators, forwarders and airlines in cross-border e-commerce Getting warehouses closer to customers Online retailers taking logistics in-house   Derek Osborn discusses: Change in the postal industry Managing the USO  Culture change Predictions of postal doom Recognising the value of the post Repositioning the post

Parcel volumes are fluctuating, there's downward pressure on parcel pricing, and staff retention is increasingly important in warehouses and sorting centres. Dirk Van Lammeren, Chief Commercial Officer at Prime Vision, shares how robotic sorting solutions enhance sorting centre operations. We cover: The major challenges facing sorting and warehousing Planning and organising challenges in warehouse operations Investment considerations when planning sorting centres Capacity and the pressure on pricing Striking a balance between investment and looking for efficiencies Growing industry focus on employee wellbeing Role of warehouse tech in attracting and retaining staff Shift from automating to reduce staff, to automating to help retain staff Example of technology improving working conditions for staff Robotic sorting - using autonomous machines to assist workers Fully autonomous vehicles requiring no navigational assistance Integrating robots with sorting systems (e.g. belts and chutes) How robotic sorting can help with flexibility and volume Improving throughput Flexibility of robotic sorting, including moving sites Worker safety in sorting centres How staff interact with their robotic co-workers  

Mario Treinen, Director Post Courrier and Logistics at Post Luxembourg and CEO of Inflow, talks about Post Luxembourg's big move into B2B parcels. Letter volume trends in Luxembourg Growth in B2C parcel volumes The B2B parcels opportunity Taking the B2C experience to B2B customers Inflow subsidiary coming out of its Michel Greco business Expanding beyond express B2B deliveries into transport and logistics The full range of Inflow services, including temperature-controlled delivery, warehousing, customs services, and more On-premises value added services for some customers How the B2B and B2C businesses interact Leveraging the postie network for selected B2B deliveries Cross-border B2B opportunities, including European next-day Managing mail rooms and other value added services  

Kate Muth, Executive Director at IMAG, and Ellen McClain, Special Advisor to International Bridge and former deputy assistant secretary at Homeland Security, discuss reform of de minimis arrangements in the USA and Canada. Future Borders Coalition report on low value shipments History of de minimis in the USA Purpose and current rules for de minimis shipments Inbound de minimis volumes Concerns about illegal and illicit goods being imported using de minimis Benefits to consumers and some online sellers Weaknesses in the current de minimis system Areas that require reform, including poor data Collecting better advance data on cross-border shipments Using technology for pre-screening of goods prior to shipment Pre-clearance of goods Laws on fulfilling orders cross-border and eligibility for de minimis Would harmonisation on European regulations assist? Treatment of postal items vs courier items Missing data elements on cross-border shipments Difficulties in determining country of origin Compliance tools  

Professor John Colley from the Warwick Business School, discussing mergers and acquisitions in the food delivery sector. Just Eat Takeaway's acquisition of GrubHub, and the pandemic demand for home delivery Post-pandemic food delivery trends Sale of GrubHub and Just Eat Takeaway's acquisition by Prosus Immense demand for businesses in 2021 and early 2022 Timing of M&A activity Avoiding high prices in M&A Factors that inflated GrubHub's value Investors betting on industry consolidation Does size matter in M&A, and how big is big? Delivery companies being bought by private equity  

Cathy Morrow Roberson, founder and principal at Logistics Trends and Insights, analyses UPS's recent shift from Amazon to B2B parcels. UPS reducing its Amazon volumes by 50% Current Amazon volumes and revenue for UPS Amazon taking parcel volumes in-house Cost in the UPS network SurePost and the USPS announcement that discounts would cease SurePost pricing and destination regions UPS profitable parcels, parcel pricing, and the competition Growing emphasis on B2B delivery at UPS, including pharmaceutical and healthcare Return to the office edicts and consumer delivery preferences Retailers taking control of their own parcel volumes, eg Walmart Spark  

Jenn Morris from Ship Happens joins us to analyse the opportunities for postal operators in food delivery. Understanding the current food distribution network set-up Opportunities in semi-perishable food delivery Refrigerated and temperature-controlled transport Food products already being distributed via the post Temperature ranges and compatibility in transport The direct-to-consumer opportunity Specifications for shipping food items Practicalities of food delivery. including doorstep delivery, temperature monitoring Sailing schedules for food pickup and delivery, and implications for pricing Optimising space in refrigerated vehicles Setting up a pilot programme for food delivery First steps for a post setting up food delivery concept