Axel Dekker, CEO and co-founder of Packaly, discusses delivery optimisation, reducing emissions, and reporting emissions. Overview of the Packaly network Freelance riders and local partners Consolidating orders Ship-from-store and ship-from-hub Choosing the right vehicle for delivery routes Managing volumes (size) and routing for delivery vehicles …

Kati Nevalainen, Director, Parcel Services at Matkahuolto, discusses parcel delivery across Finland and the Nordics: History of Matkahuolto carrying parcels Matkahuolto's public transport roots B2B, B2C and C2C deliveries Interacting with C2C via mobile apps as well as in-store Residential delivery and out-of-home delivery Matkahuolto's service poi…

Peter Dunn, Director of European Relations, Cullen International, discusses the USO, how European postal operators are reacting to falling letter volumes, and more. The purpose of the Postal Services Directive, including letters USO and quality of service How local universal service obligations can be changed Flexibility provisions in Postal Servic…

Professor John Colley from the Warwick Business School discusses developments in gig economy delivery and ultrafast grocery delivery (q-commerce). We cover: Demise of rapid, ultrafast delivery Difficult economics of ultrafast delivery High costs of q-commerce never passed on to consumers Supermarket chains acquiring failed rapid delivery startups A…

Rob King, CEO and co-founder at Zedify, discusses customer experience in the last mile, sustainability, greenwashing, and cargo bike delivery. Creating better delivery for customers and the environment Large vehicles vs small vehicles in urban delivery Microhubs in cities The last mile as an extension of the online retailer's brand Retailers paying…

Phil Read, Managing Director at Varamis, talks about using electric trains to transport parcels overnight in the UK: The inspiration behind Varamis Advantage of using high-speed passenger trains for moving parcels Acquiring electric trains Overnight parcel train service between Birmingham and Glasgow Proving trains can meet demands of parcel delive…

Myrthe Rosema, founder of social-inclusive delivery start-up Scootbezorgd, discusses the practical and social impact of last mile delivery via mobility scooter. The inspiration for Scootbezorgd Changing perceptions of mobility scooters Current operational area Using customised mobility scooters to ensure range Empowering people of differing physica…

Carmen Cureu, Market Research Director at Geopost, discusses some of the details in the 2023 edition of Geopost's e-shopper barometer. The factors driving modern e-commerce Why convenience is important E-commerce allowing customers to find bargains Decisions shoppers make when purchasing online Products need to be aligned with consumers' expectatio…

How can delivery companies build efficient out-of-home delivery networks? Cédric Hervet, co-founder and Chief Product Officer at Kardinal, discusses the challenges industry players face in finding the best locations for PUDOs and lockers in terms of profitability and customer coverage: Why delivery companies are considering out-of-home delivery Dif…

Luke Lloyd, Head of Markets at the IPC, discusses some of the key findings from the IPC's Global Postal Industry Report. GPIR based on various postal operators' reports Overview of post-pandemic parcel volume and revenue trends Letter volume trends Impact of pandemic on letter volumes Diversification of revenue, including letters, parcels, and fina…

Titus Bütler, Head of Transport at Swiss Post, explains why and how Swiss Post is moving more mail and parcels by rail. How demands for speed and flexbility drove growth of road freight in the past Energy efficiency of rail vs trucks Rail terminals at Swiss Post logistics centres Ecological and economic benefits of prioritising rail Hybrid locomoti…

Vienna has set up a carrier-neutral parcel locker network called Wienbox. Some of Wienbox's key proponents discuss the parcel locker network's development and future. Monika Unterholzner, Deputy Director General of the Wiener Stadtwerke Group, whose responsibilities include logistics, Prof. Dr. Andreas Breinbauer, Head of the Logistics Department a…

Mustafa Tonguç, Managing Director at DHL Express Germany, discusses supply chain resilience and the growth in global B2B e-commerce: Why supply chain resilience is crucial Manufacturing being stimulated around the world DHL helping customers create new supply chains Enabling late customer checkout times for next-day delivery Omni-shoring, near-shor…

Kate Muth, Executive Director at IMAG (International Mailers Advisory Group) discusses developments in international mail. Being awarded the Megan J Brennan Award by Women in Logistics & Delivery Services (WILDS) US de minimis threshold - currently $800 Modernisation of US Customs STOP Act 2.0 update AED / EAD exemptions Opioid crisis, counterfeiti…

Luke Lloyd, Head of Markets, IPC (International Post Corporation) discusses the 2022 results of the IPC Sustainability Measurement and Management System. Background to development of the IPC's SMMS Carbon emissions, health & safety, circular economy 31 postal operators report under SMMS, including 100,000 buildings, 600,000 vehicles, and 1.3m emplo…

In this special end-of year episode, Jonathan Bouaziz (Kardinal), Kevin Seller (Escher), Will Simpson (Kantar) and David Spottiswood (Hurrican) cover different aspects of the postal and delivery world. Jonathan Bouaziz, CEO at Kardinal, discusses: Optimising PUDO networks Understanding the implications of making changes to a PUDO network Merging le…

Mike Plunkett, President at PostCom, and Mark Fallon, President of the Berkshire Company, discuss the state of affairs at the US Postal Service. Vacancies on USPS Board of Governors and impact on day-to-day USPS operations Employee headcount Letter pricing and price increases PRC's role in postal pricing Letter volume decline Ambiguity in the USA's…

Dean Maciuba, Managing Partner (USA) for Crossroads Parcel Consulting, analyses the major trends in the US last mile over the past 12 months. Observations on 2023 peak season parcel volumes Technology allowing shipper diversifications and managing multiple carriers Surcharges pushing shippers to find alternatives to UPS or FedEx UPS and FedEx being…

Denmark has been at the vanguard when it comes to changes to letter delivery and digitisation of letter services. But new changes to the universal service obligation will have far-reaching implications for letter and parcel delivery in Denmark. Mindaugas Cerpickis and Jacob Østermann from Copenhagen Economics analyse the changes and implications fo…

Roel Gevaers, Professor in Last Mile Logistics and Supply Chain, University of Antwerp, discusses new Belgian legislation targeting last mile parcel delivery. Definition of parcel delivery companies under the new law Obligations on delivery companies Minimum payment rates Intention behind this legislation Past scandals in Belgian parcel delivery Pa…

Jack Hopkins, CEO and co-founder of Tradeaze - a same-day delivery service for the building and trades sector - shares how Tradeaze started and the delivery need it fills: What drove Jack to found Tradeaze The need for tradespeople (tradies) to have access to fast supply of parts How the parts market works How merchants service spare parts needs Th…

Thibault Guez, Out-of-Home Project Director Europe at Geopost, discusses out-of-home delivery, including PUDOs, parcel lockers, delivery preferences and more: What is out-of-home delivery? Size of Geopost's out-of-home network Getting closer to the consignee Dominance of residential B2C delivery in some European markets Understanding local cultural…

Robert Jordan, CEO at the Information Factory, discusses how data can be used to drive profitability in delivery and logistics. We cover: Harnessing logistics and delivery data Data is not just about reporting Falling letter volumes, volatile parcel volumes, labour pressures Postal operators dealing with operational issues in the network and the la…

Dean Maciuba, Managing Partner (USA) for Crossroads Parcel Consulting, discusses the ramifications of the UPS - Teamsters deal, FedEx’s cost-cutting, USPS reform, and Amazon delivery contractors. Impact of UPS’s deal with Teamsters How UPS was travelling prior to striking a deal with the union FedEx’s efforts to reduce its operating costs Amalgamat…

Margaret Persico, Senior Director of Postal and Logistics Unit at Kantar, and Will Simpson, Client Director at Kantar's Postal and Logistics Unit, discuss what external measurement means for postal, parcel, regulators, and e-commerce players: Transformation of postal operators Changes in capturing and reporting transit measurements Accurate real-ti…

Ann Snitko, UC Berkeley Researcher and Chief Product Development Officer at Omnic on parcel lockers, delivery efficiency, and emissions. Reducing emissions in transport under the European Green Deal Optimising routes with parcel lockers Modes of transport consumers use for collecting parcels Parcel locker density and encouraging consumers to walk L…

Kardinal's Head of Business, Michael Anderson, discusses key findings from Kardinal's recent research into last mile strategy and last mile operations: Understanding postal and delivery companies' priorities in the last mile The importance of service quality in parcel delivery Environment and sustainability as a high level strategic priority Profit…

Brody Buhler, CEO at Escher Group discusses key findings from Escher's 2023 Future of Posts research. We cover: Acceleration of letter volume declines Fluctuating parcel volumes Major challenges currently facing postal operators Postal operators struggling to achieve profitability Changing letter and parcel delivery Capacity constraints or lack of …

Should parcel locker networks be compelled to be “open”? Roel Gevaers, Professor in Last Mile Logistics and Supply Chain, University of Antwerp, discusses moves to force Belgian parcel lockers to accept parcels from other carriers. bpost and Budbee operate the two most significant Belgian parcel locker networks Where Budbee parcel lockers are gener…

Heleen Buldeo Rai, assistant professor at VUB, discusses her research into how urban logistics facilities can be good neighbours. Warehouses and logistics centres getting closer to the city centre What makes NYC an interesting city for studying urban warehouses Population density, strength of e-commerce and zoning Cross-docking operations in NYC De…

Daniel Rueda, CEO at Open Pricer, and Jonathan Bouaziz, CEO and co-founder at Kardinal, on the combined power of route optimisation and dynamic parcel pricing. What parcel volume decreases mean for parcel and postal operators Retaining delivery drivers Optimising parcel margins - even to a postcode level Parcel pricing variations by the day of the …

Mark Cross, Engagement Director at JICMAIL, and Dr Christopher Thresher-Andrews, Research Director at Kantar, discuss measuring mail's impact and unlocking mail's new capabilities: Creating the mail equivalent of TV audience measurement Demonstrating the value of mail, including business mail JICMail's background and ownership Helping marketers und…

Kate Muth, Executive Director at IMAG, discusses cross-border delivery and the US Postal Service, including: USPS plans for international mail USPS's focus on domestic matters and business What pushed USPS rates high? Why USPS lost business during COVID What's the plan to win business back Competing on price Alternatives to competing on price Highl…

Sustainable urban logistics expert Johan Peeters discusses reducing last mile emissions, including: The gap between what consumers say they want and what they're prepared to pay for when it comes to "green" delivery The seduction of free delivery Opportunities for delivery companies to improve cities Green zones in European cities Urban planners se…

Julien Le Signor, Head of Environment at Geopost, discusses measuring and reporting last mile emissions. Calculating and processing delivery emissions in real time in Geopost's Carbon Calculator tool Taking data from scanning events for millions of parcels per day Differing emissions for different vehicle types Reporting emissions for residential a…

Omnic CEO Dimash Syzdykov and Chief Product Officer Ann Snitko discuss a new era of parcel lockers. Why parcel lockers networks fail Making parcel lockers more than just luggage storage lockers The risks of weak customer experience Comparing parcel lockers to non-automated alternatives Omnic combining expertise in locker manufacturing, software dev…

Cpost International CEO, Thomas Roggendorf, details how a unique set of circumstances in Curaçao demanded an innovative response from the national postal operator. How the post became Cpost International Falling letter volumes Why the post couldn't fall back on local e-commerce What a semi-government company is The quest to be profitable Cross-bord…

Cédric Hervet, Chief Product Officer and Co-Founder at Kardinal, discusses a technology-assisted approach to delivery resource management. How postal and parcel delivery companies manage resources Deciding who does what and where, and moving beyond planning via spreadsheets Productivity lost thanks to suboptimal route organisation Maximising driver…

Markus Reckling, CEO Germany at DHL Express, discusses cross-border e-commerce, delivery preferences, and sustainability. Growth in B2B e-commerce Post-pandemic trends in B2C e-commerce and bricks-and-mortar retail Food delivery Global opportunities for B2B retailers in supply markets and in customers Why cross-border is important for B2B Offering …

Pos Malaysia Group CEO Charles Brewer discusses the postal operator's transformation strategy and its sustainability push: Board's remit to transform and turnaround Pos Malaysia No glitter without the basics! The need to focus on core logistics functions, including parcel delivery performance Understanding customers' needs The three parts of Pos Ma…

Dean Maciuba, Managing Partner (USA) for Crossroads Parcel Consulting, shares some insights into the negotiations between UPS and the Teamsters - the union representing UPS employees. UPS driver employment model - including a lower-paid class of driver Why are these negotiations attracting so much media attention? Change in Teamsters leadership and…

Cathy Morrow Roberson, founder and lead analyst at Logistics Trends and Insights, discusses what trends in consumer spending power and in-store shopping mean for e-commerce parcel volumes. Trends in US consumers' spending power What consumers are buying Consumers looking for bargains, and retailers looking to offload inventory Discretionary spendin…

David Spottiswood, co-founder of Hurricane, and Cyril McGrane, Director International Trade at An Post, discuss An Post's experiences in implementing HS codes for inbound and outbound international parcels. Why data is king in cross-border e-commerce delivery Governments no longer ignore cross-border e-commerce Ireland was an early adopter of cross…

It's episode 300! First up, Dean Maciuba (Crossroads Parcel Consulting) briefly discusses FedEx's plans to merge its Ground and Express delivery networks. Then the USPS Inspector General, Tammy Whitcomb Hull, joins me to discuss the role of the Inspector General. The role of Watergate in the origins of Inspector General roles Oversight of the US Po…

Paul Buijs, Assistant Professor in the Department of Operations at the University of Groning, and co-author of “A greener last mile: Reviewing the carbon emission impact of pickup points in last-mile delivery,” joins me to discuss just how green out-of-home delivery might be: Defining pickup points (out-of-home alternatives to residential delivery)…

Daniel Rueda, CEO at Open Pricer, on how parcel pricing can be leveraged to help deliver sustainable logistics solutions. The relationship between pricing and sustainability How can investments in new technology and new delivery vehicles be Are consumers ready to pay for environmentally sensitive delivery solutions? Paradoxes in delivery: price, sp…

Jonathan Bouaziz, CEO and co-founder at Kardinal, discusses next-generation route optimisation: The traditional use case for route optimisation in the delivery sector Why doesn't classic route optimisation work any more? Inability of some route optimisers to deal with dynamic parcel volumes and volatility Impact of B2C parcel volumes on route optim…

Mindaugas Cerpickis, Managing Economist at Copenhagen Economics, discusses the state of the European postal sector, including declining letter volumes, growing parcel volumes, competition in the last mile, sustainability, and more Postal sector in Europe is expanding in terms of revenue and headcount Growth in total carbon emissions Larger, heavier…

Luke Lloyd, Head of Markets at the IPC, discusses some of the key findings from IPC's most recent Cross-border E-commerce Shopper Survey. How IPC surveys customers on their delivery preferences Reasons why consumers are overall buying less The value of free delivery E-retailers most used for most recent cross-border purchase Do consumers really kno…

Dean Maciuba, Managing Partner North America at Crossroads Parcel Consulting, discusses the two US retail giants - Target and Walmart - and the competition with Amazon in the last mile: Walmart and Target's retail footprint, and where their stores are located Grocery as part of Walmart's retail offering Target and Shipt - and its success in BOPIS (…