Key Statements

How Postal Operators support Cross-Border Parcel Delivery through innovation and high-level of interoperability

Parcel delivery is the lifeblood of e-commerce. As online purchases have grown dramatically over the past decade, parcels operators are adapting their operations to deal with a much larger number of parcels and consumers’ demands for efficient and reliable deliveries across Europe.

We work directly with e-retailers to integrate our IT processes. Down the chain, interoperability between parcel operators is constantly being improved, standardised labels and label scanners are being introduced, and we are also building stream-lined sorting centres. This has led to greater synergies and has allowed parcel operators to deliver parcels more efficiently and quicker to end-consumers.

But innovation does not just cut costs and delivery times. It increases flexibility in the way we deliver parcels in response to what our customers want. We offer a broad range of services which were not widely available a few years ago: parcel-lockers delivery, track-and-trace or electronic notifications, to name a few.

Behind the Scenes of a Modern and Innovative European Parcel Delivery Service

European postal operators have come a long way in reinventing their business model and operational structures to meet the needs of the 21^st century.

Now e-commerce retailers and consumers are our core customer groups. In order to make sure our customers are happy, we are constantly investing in innovative solutions to meet their needs.

Here are some examples of some innovations European postal operators have put in place to facilitate the growth of e-commerce:

Europe – the world’s most vibrant and diverse e-commerce marketplace

We deliver for the whole of Europe: in both mature and younger e-commerce markets, and through support to online retailers of all sizes. The growth of e-commerce itself opens the door to faster, better delivery across Europe.

According to the European Commission, the UK, Germany and France account for 60% of e-commerce in the EU. Postal operators are committed to taking e-commerce beyond mature markets. It is a business opportunity for us and we wish to make sure that growing markets enjoy the same opportunities and have a variety of offers to choose from.

Volumes, among other factors, matter in the fiercely competitive parcel business. As a result, postal operators are going out of their way to service new clients.

Why Europe’s consumers and retailers choose the Post

Postal operators offer a wide range of delivery services with high quality and affordable prices from basic to value added delivery services. We cater to the specific needs of both consumers and retailers.

Postal operators offer a wide range of delivery services with high quality and affordable prices from basic to value added delivery services. We cater to the specific needs of both consumers and retailers.

Retailers also choose to offer delivery services by postal operators because we are partners in developing e-commerce: we help them sell online through our innovative online platforms, we offer them different pricing options, and we are constantly working on improving our services through new technological and creative solutions.

Above all, consumers are able to benefit through our good service and affordable prices. The retailers can then choose how prices can be passed on to the consumers according to their marketing strategy.

Consumers also benefit from the number of choices they have in delivery options:

On average, European customers can choose from 7.68 different operators for domestic parcel delivery and 6.75 different operators for cross-border delivery (2016 figures).
There are big geographical variations across Europe. The Czech Republic tops the list: today, Czech customers can choose from 20 major domestic and 14 cross-border providers.

Challenges and Opportunities: Working Together for the Growth and Expansion of e-commerce in Europe

Competition is fierce in the parcel delivery market. Numerous new actors have entered the market in the last decade. E-commerce undoubtedly provided a great boost to the sector overall.

One of the biggest challenges is price transparency for end consumer.

When sending an individual parcel, most of Europe’s major postal operators publish their tariffs online and comparison portals exist, making it easy for consumers wishing to send a parcel to make an informed choice of parcel operator.

When buying online, it is online retailers, not parcel delivery companies who established the delivery prices you pay. Postal operators do not dictate the final price for delivery of products shopped online, unlike with budget airlines, mobile telephony or some other sectors.

Another challenge is the appearance of new models of parcel delivery, for example for last-mile express deliveries in cities. In order to anticipate and react in time to rapid market changes, postal operators have to be flexible and fast enough to adapt their business strategy.