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You are in: Press Releases |
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Independent Specialist Services to the Mail Express Freight and Logistics Industries |
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2 April 2001 |
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World Mail Review confirms that post offices are succeeding in foreign markets whilst disappointing mailers at home |
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National postal operators are struggling to provide a service in line with the changing demands of international bulk mailers. Furthermore, customers are favouring the use of foreign post offices for international mail delivery over the traditional method of passing mail to the public postal operator in the country of origin. These are two of the major findings of a recent survey of the international mail market just published by Triangle Management Services. Postal operators have been under increasing pressure in recent years, not least due to the development of electronic alternatives in business communication and the gradual liberalisation of postal markets around the globe. These forces, in addition to the increasingly complex demands of customers, are causing post offices around the world to develop strategies they hope will ensure they can at least maintain some degree of market leadership in the coming years. Elements of these strategies have varied considerably, from the defensive protection of operators’ home markets to aggressive expansion and acquisition in foreign territories. Whilst some operators have moved into the provision of value-added services, particularly for customers mailing large volumes of advertising material, others have worked hard at developing a strategy aimed at placing the post office at the leading edge of electronic mail services including bill presentment and payment and secure electronic document transfer. The liberalisation of postal markets has been a particular consideration in the formation of postal strategy in recent years. Although the European Parliament recently halted a proposal by the European Commission to reduce the limit of the legal monopoly of postal operators to the delivery of items weighing less than 50 grams (the limit is currently 350 grams), a number of European member states, and others around the world, have been pushing liberalisation at an even greater pace. To the slow-moving incumbent operator, liberalisation presents a very clear threat of losing volumes to competitors. However, to those post offices with a more ambitious outlook it heralds an opportunity to expand their dominance beyond their national boundaries to postal markets around the world. Triangle Management Services has produced an annual review of the international mail industry since 1995 and the latest phase of the World Mail Review has found that the development of post offices outside their national borders has been warmly appreciated by those overseas customers using their services. In fact, customers now perceive the service and price of these international divisions to be on a par with international mail services provided by the integrators such as TNT and DHL, companies historically viewed to offer a more reliable and better value for money alternative to traditional mailing methods. The latest phase of research has also shown an increased proportion of customers using direct injection services. In these services the postal operator in the country of mail origin transports the international mail to the country of destination, where it is inserted into the domestic mail stream of the delivering post office. 52% of those surveyed had used this type of service with usage especially high amongst publications mailers. Results also showed that this method was less common in Europe than in Asia/Australasia and North America. The study segments types of mail, countries and regions. Drawing on Triangle’s position as a leading consultancy and research organisation to the express, mail and logistics sectors, the World Mail Review benefits from Triangle’s experience and access to key customer segments, associations and operators. It reports on the results of in-depth face-to-face interviews with more than 200 senior decision-makers, users and service providers in 17 countries in North America, Europe, Asia and Australasia. It is also supplemented by extensive secondary research in order to provide market sizing, description and analysis on a regional level. The 2001 World Mail Review is now available to purchase either as a 500 page global report in paper and CD format or in separate regional editions for Asia-Pacific/Australasia, Europe and North America. |
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Triangle Contacts: |
Triangle Links: |
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For further information please contact:Sue
Cornwall Tel: +44 (0)870 950 7900 |
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