The rise of parcels and the current system.

[trevjim]

So as we keep hearing mail is dying down (yea right!)

and parcels are increasing (this is defiantly true)

The way I see it, the current way we deliver the post, will not be able to sustain the increase in parcels. The bags are not big enough, and it can take several minutes to deliver/leave a p739 card for a parcels which makes it harder to finish on time. obviously the more the parcels increase, the bigger the problems become.

What happens when it simply gets too much? will royal mail have to restructure how they deliver?

[krussel]

Nope.

The parcels will be split from the business and set up as a separate company with min wage employees and contracts.

[glenfiddich]

what like parcelforce

[Brain Fury]

There is a structural decline in the number of letters posted of around 4 - 6% a year. In addition the growth of direct delivery will increase the decline.

The number of parcels is increasing but the expected growth for RM will probably be impacted by the competition especially Amazon and the demand for 7 day delivery which it will be difficult for us to do.

The competitive leverage for RM is being able to deliver letters and parcels together through the same network. All the efforts have been to make this happen so there won't be a separate parcels network.

[trevjim]

There is a structural decline in the number of letters posted of around 4 - 6% a year. In addition the growth of direct delivery will increase the decline.

The number of parcels is increasing but the expected growth for RM will probably be impacted by the competition especially Amazon and the demand for 7 day delivery which it will be difficult for us to do.

The competitive leverage for RM is being able to deliver letters and parcels together through the same network. All the efforts have been to make this happen so there won't be a separate parcels network.

thats all well and good, but what about my question? the way we deliver at the moment P&L. HCT's etc, are in my opinion, struggling with the amount of parcels, and I can not see them being able to cope with much more.

[Brain Fury]

There is a structural decline in the number of letters posted of around 4 - 6% a year. In addition the growth of direct delivery will increase the decline.

The number of parcels is increasing but the expected growth for RM will probably be impacted by the competition especially Amazon and the demand for 7 day delivery which it will be difficult for us to do.

The competitive leverage for RM is being able to deliver letters and parcels together through the same network. All the efforts have been to make this happen so there won't be a separate parcels network.

thats all well and good, but what about my question? the way we deliver at the moment P&L. HCT's etc, are in my opinion, struggling with the amount of parcels, and I can not see them being able to cope with much more.

If you are asking if we are going to see more changes in the way we do things then the answer is yes, definitely. But I don't see any chance of splitting the letters and parcels network

[DGP1]

In the end, we'll all have vans, larger number of houses but less mail.

[UnhappyGremlin]

There is a structural decline in the number of letters posted of around 4 - 6% a year. In addition the growth of direct delivery will increase the decline.

The number of parcels is increasing but the expected growth for RM will probably be impacted by the competition especially Amazon and the demand for 7 day delivery which it will be difficult for us to do.

The competitive leverage for RM is being able to deliver letters and parcels together through the same network. All the efforts have been to make this happen so there won't be a separate parcels network.

Repeated excessive price rises won't help either.

[Postie45]

the best system would probably be to take ALL parcels that wont fit through letterboxes off of walking postman, and have actual separate packet deliveries. Of course this wont happen now that RM have put so much money into the current system with van sharing.

[postiewafu]

the best system would probably be to take ALL parcels that wont fit through letterboxes off of walking postman, and have actual separate packet deliveries. Of course this wont happen now that RM have put so much money into the current system with van sharing.

Totally agree, we need to have separate parcel and letter systems in place but as said will not happen!

[clashcityrocker]

Either virtually all these postmen only delivering letters will be part time or the deliveries will be beyond the capabilities of mere mortals.

[Judgee]

Still looking for this drop in mail. Haven't found it yet but I am looking!

[spiderj]

Industry standard=3 mins per parcel

Actual time=variable

Result=extended then a docket negotiation

[Brain Fury]

We renegotiated the regulatory controls a couple of years ago which allowed us to set our prices at the correct level but it's recognised that we can't continue to increase them. The greater efficiency that the regulator is looking for is going to have to come from reducing costs. Creating separate parcels ands letters networks would increase our costs so obviously cannot happen.

[Budfrog]

the best system would probably be to take ALL parcels that wont fit through letterboxes off of walking postman, and have actual separate packet deliveries. Of course this wont happen now that RM have put so much money into the current system with van sharing.

Makes far too much sense ...

There is still a major issue with the high volume of parcels undelivered and returned to office, this is one area that RM needs to addressed (no pun intended) before the competition does.