Royal Mail sees surge in packets thanks to e-commerce boom

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.roadtransport.com/Articles/2 ... mmerce.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Royal Mail has seen a surge in the amount of packets and parcels it delivers as e-commerce has taken off, according to its boss.
Speaking at the Marketforce/IEA Future of UK Postal Services conference this week, Royal Mail chief executive Moya Greene, said: "The white envelopes are going down, [but] thankfully e-retailing has taken off, so that gives us an opportunity to put through our network more packets and parcels."

Greene claims packets and parcels have been growing by 5% in volume terms per year for the group, with its UK parcels division Parcelforce recording an 8% increase in volumes.

"When I look at what has happened in Parcelforce, which had really serious difficulties five or six years ago, it is now one of two or three profitable parcel delivery companies in the UK.

"It’s not the lowest price, but it’s one of the highest quality companies".


Meanwhile, the group’s European parcels arm, GLS, is "probably the most profitable parcel delivery company in all of Europe", according to Greene.

Royal Mail is starting to see the benefits of its on going modernisation plan, with an increase in group operating profit in its most recent results.

[not me]

should be a breeze with those massive drops in mail volumes

[pants123]

so royal mail say that letters are down 5% per year ,but packets are up 5% per year... so they should be no, royal mail is skint and got no money bull...

[Judgee]

so royal mail say that letters are down 5% per year ,but packets are up 5% per year... so they should be no, royal mail is skint and got no money bull...

Don't be silly of course there's no money... they have given it all to Moya and her cronies in bonuses!

[CORTINA]

The reality of the power of the internet is gathering pace in regards to shopping. Not only is cheaper in many cases it saves time and money travelling to shops.,,,and free delivery in a lot of cases.

Each year since 2000 has seen an increase every year and as more people treat it as the norm to buy online, shops will shut as footfall through their doors reduces. The massive shopping mails built maybe also be victims of constant online shopping success in 10 years time....

Which is good news for RM packets and parcel deliveries, and post offices to take in all these parcels that people send on e-bay etc....with a current 1 million items ordered online each day.... far more at the christmas period.....probably 2 million a day in 10 years time and delivery vans everywhere taking over our roads....... and even more 739 cards to fill in.

At the pace things are now, each decade is different from the last one as constant changes take effect.

[nightsorter]

Repeat after me:

Mail volumes are falling - we must cut back.
Mail volumes are falling - we must cut back.
Mail volumes are falling - we must cut back.
Mail volumes are falling - we must cut back.
Mail volumes are falling - we must cut back.

[CORTINA]

But Packets and Parcels will increase as online shopping will gain more customers, because of costing less and E-Bay purchases. Other carriers will of course gain from more parcel traffic, RM will not have it all their own way.

[RedBagMan]

Trouble is ... we don't all (yet !) have vans ...

[CORTINA]

As the demand in parcels grows, more vans will be needed.....Where as the high street was the shopping domain 20 years ago, with the internet the whole world is now the high street and shops are not so much needed....and as the financial world crisis continues we will no doubt rely on any cheap deals from the internet...with Millets and Barratts in major trouble now, after xmas more will follow as it is the worst time of year for retail trade......E-Bay and the lidols and the pound shops will prosper as in any recession...... The rents still have to be paid by Debenahams and John Lewis sites etc, who will find their sales in shops reduce to lower levels after xmas.......as peoples debts rise and youth unemployment stay high.....So those using the internet for bargans will keep RM etc going.

[Budfrog]

Moya may be rubbing her hands as millions of packets hit the network ... but out structure is designed to deliver when most people are out at work (though this figure may be dropping steeply) and standing in line at the callers officer, 739 in hand, does nothing to endear us to the customer receiving the packet. Dedicated evening deliveries will be the norm in the future and I think you all realise how these new changes will be introduced ... casual staffing !!!

[TrueBlueTerrier]

I think you all realise how these new changes will be introduced ... casual staffing !!!

Yes, and the current experiment is not exactly covering itself in glory either.

[Royal_Fail]

Parcels are going up we all know it so why the hell have we changed our working practices so we deliver less parcels first time and P739 them instead.

Also we should be looking into evening deliveries for parcels like the private firms do.

[slave]

Evening deliveries, what about the old dears, they won't like opening doors later on? And of course we live in a (shudders at using the terminology) 24/7 world - not everyone is in during the evening, people work then too or they go out and enjoy an evening (Friday evening deliveries anyone?)
Could have it specified noon or evening or try noon then if not in again in evening but both involves more processing and more cost - would people be willing to pay to cover for such a service?

Unfortunately we still deliver mail, I don't think we can be all things to all men without it costing us or one part of the business suffering to some degree, but that's just my thinking, maybe others think different...

[CORTINA]

Evening deliveries in some areas when dark is surely a no go. There is no way I`ll being delivering 6pm to 9pm plus you can`t see the house numbers very easy at night, wasting even more time. Will it mean extra money for unsocial hours. Double parking a van in poor lit roads is not easy ......as more packets and parcels will require delivery in future, there is limit to how many can be delivered in dark evenings and in bad winter weather...not for me....

Employ someone out of work requiring a job.