Advertise on podcast: Postal Hub podcast

Gordon Steward, Marketing Director, The Information Factory, shares how cost allocation can help drive profitability in parcel delivery and avoid the race to the bottom. We cover: What senior executives need to know about cost allocation in the last mile Balancing costs with USO obligations Parcel volume growth while revenue per parcel is under threat Cost allocation and the letters service Responding to regulators' USO demands How to be profitable in parcels and avoiding being in the race to the bottom Identifying unprofitable customers Measuring end-to-end costs - including hidden costs such as customer service The importance of understanding the true floor cost position The risk of reducing prices to win business Bringing operational, sales, finance and business data together Identifying avoidable costs Pricing for profit Creating a new service and setting profitable pricing

InPost UK Chief Commercial Officer Jon Nicholson shares an overview of InPost UK's operations, the Yodel acquisition, and standing out in a competitive market. Overview of InPost UK's operations Journey from being a locker network to being an end-to-end carrier Offering returns as well as delivery InPost UK's PUDO network, including identifying potential PUDO sites InPost's acquisition of Yodel Creating national coverage and taking control of end-to-end logistics Investment in Menzies How does InPost UK try to stand out in a competitive market? Competitors shifting focus to out-of-home delivery Importance of quality and convenience at the right price Learning from InPost's experiences in Poland

Dominique Mamcarz, Director of Sustainability at Geopost, discusses Geopost's sustainability strategy and its recent Sustainability Report. Embedding sustainability in the Geopost business Geopost's sustainability programme A pragmatic approach to reducing Geopost's carbon footprint Measuring emissions reliably and customers' emissions reporting The role of Geopost's Carbon Calculator Breakdown of Geopost's carbon emissions Replacing diesel vehicles with electric vehicles Advances in electric vehicles and TCO Challenges in line haul, including biofuels and electrification Charging infrastructure and scheduling challenges Solar panels and making best use of Geopost facilities Producing and storing electricity at Geopost sites Future of sustainability at Geopost Preparedness for extreme weather events Low-emission, low-traffic, and green zones in city centres

Serial returners might think they are environmentally conscious, but new research shows they contribute a disproportionately high amount of emissions compared to other online shoppers. Assistant Professor Heleen Buldeo Rai from VUB Mobilise discusses: Increasing purchases and increasing returns The very high return rates for fashion Higher returns online compared to in-store purchases How to define "serial returners", including minimum threshold of purchases Environmental awareness of serial returners What causes serial returners to return goods bought online? Does the e-commerce sector have to take responsibility for encouraging this behaviour? Returns policies and consumer behaviour What tools could e-commerce retailers use to reduce returns? Retailer practices for resellable returned items Resale potential of returned items Sustainability implications of returns, and of serial return behaviour The distances returned items have to travel Serial returners are responsible for a disproportionate amount of emissions The research "Consumer heterogeneity behind e-commerce returns and emissions" can be downloaded via a link on the Postal Hub Podcast website - thepostalhub.com

Phil Sambrook, EMEA Transport and Logistics Strategy at Zebra, discusses technology in the middle mile and last mile. We cover: The demand for speed How the middle mile sets up the last mile for success Using data to reduce WISMO queries Implementing technologies in sorting centres Productivity gains through implementing RFID Removing manual tasks through readily available automation technology Supply chain integrity improvements through machine vision and data driven insights Improving working conditions and safety for warehouse workers FedEx case study - photo proof of delivery with integrated AI Improving reliability and accuracy of photos, along with customer data security Evri case study - self-service parcel drop-off solution Queue busting and reducing waste Episode sponsored by Zebra. Visit zebra.com for more information.

Kate Muth, Executive Director at International Mailers Advisory Group (IMAG) brings us up-to-date with the latest news on de minimis and EU customs reform. Indefinite suspension on US de minimis Customs and Border Protection (CBP) testing new informal entry type for shipments under $2500 Changes to de minimis around the world Implications for postal operators Tariffs and the post De minimis exemption for genuine gifts EU customs reform Impact on goods under €150 entering the EU DDP, DDU, and EU customs reform Other cross-border and customs news

Scott Ashbaugh, CEO of DHL eCommerce Americas, discusses DHL's deal with the USPS and future trends in the US parcels market. We cover: A brief overview of DHL eCommerce Americas and its B2C delivery business The $10bn deal with US Postal Service How the partnership with the USPS works Direct injection of DHL parcels via USPS Parcel Select into USPS facilities How DHL eCommerce decided to partner with the USPS The reach and reputation of the USPS The future of the US parcel market The gig economy model's need for scale and its expansion issues in the USA Light and heavy parcels in the US parcel market DHL's history with smaller packages, and its growth to take on larger parcels Impact of COVID on automation and flexibility Using AI in back office operations Role of AI in sorting DHL eCommerce partnering with universities

Kristof Horvat, Innovation Projects at Eurosender, discusses solving fragmented cross-border e-commerce parcel delivery. Cross-border pain points for SMEs that are growing Contrast between domestic e-commerce and expanding into cross-border e-commerce Problems merchants face in managing multiple carriers across different countries Understanding parcel pricing, surcharges and dynamic pricing The role of platforms in cross-border e-commerce delivery The different kinds of platforms available to e-commerce sellers How postal operators can help e-commerce sellers expand beyond their domestic market Options available to postal operators for better international coverage Post Luxembourg case study

Postal and delivery expert Alan Barrie discusses the UK delivery scene, with a particular focus on out-of-home delivery. How InPost and Amazon fired up out-of-home delivery in the UK Royal Mail's Deliver to Neighbour service Mapping parcel delivery in London The inconvenience of online shopping Residential parcel lockers for home delivery Future of e-commerce parcel delivery When consumers order heavy or bulky goods online Helping shoppers make the delivery choice that's right for them Carbon measurement tools in delivery Outlandish claims about sustainability in delivery Nationwide walkable networks

Dean Maciuba, Founding Partner at Crossroads Parcel Consulting, discusses the future of out-of-home delivery in the USA. What the FedEx-InPost transaction means for FedEx exposure in Europe Learning from InPost about parcel locker operations The opportunity for parcel lockers in the USA Future opportunities to combine FedEx and InPost operations in Europe FedEx and Flying Tigers Parcel locker failures in the USA Targeted rollout of parcel lockers in key US markets FedEx's existing PUDO relationship with retailers Partnering with retailers or the USPS for parcel lockers Are parcels a priority for PUDO partner retailers? Is 24-hour access really a selling point? USPS and parcel lockers Leveraging the USPS post office network for parcels Understanding US consumer behaviour in parcels= Residential and rural delivery surcharges UPS and FedEx and e-commerce parcel delivery density Consolidating deliveries to out-of-home parcel collection points Residential parcel lockers

Julia Lockman, Junior Partner at OMNIC, explains how a parcel locker system is more than just infrastructure. We cover the key considerations for building a successful and coherent parcel locker system. There's no one-size-fits-all guide to launching a parcel locker network - context is crucial A systematic approach is needed when building a parcel locker network Start with the data, including peak volumes, customer ha Systems shape consumer behaviour Systems have measurable value, both for customers and for network operators Parcel locker systems must be natural - they don't care about the same things that delivery companies care about! Importance of external factors, such as access, car parking Choosing the right locker network for the market Factors such as climate and lifestyle have a huge impact on parcel locker networks Using data to increase chances of success in parcel lockers Interpreting data to build good business processes User experience is more than just the customer interface - processes are important Analytics should support forecasting, capacity planning, and proactive intervention How analytics can support decision logic, such as maximising utilisation rate Using data to optimise parcel locker networks, e.g. location management Parcel lockers aren't automatically "green" - customer behaviour and location management are crucial Bad decisions can destroy network efficiency

Khazalin Ghuzal, Chief Retail Officer at Pos Malaysia, shares how Malaysia's postal operator is working to create a modern postal retail network. This interview was recorded at the 6th International Postal Retail Benchmarking Workshop held in Ljubljana in 2025. In this conversation, we cover: Overview of the Pos Malaysia post office network Mobile post office services and technology USO for postal access The challenge of declining footfall Pos Shop concept - monetising unutilised space in post offices Customer behaviour and convenience PUDO partner pilot programme Self-service options to assist with queue management The omnichannel experience Creating a super app

Mindaugas Cerpickis, Partner at Copenhagen Economics, and Jacob Østermann, Lead Economist at Copenhagen Economics, analyse the changes in the Danish letters market, including PostNord's exit. Recap of the USO shake-up in 2024 Alternative letter delivery service via DAO Targeted measures for shipments for the blind, letters to island communities, and international mail Service levels post-abolition of the USO Letter pricing over past two years Exemptions from Denmark's mandated digital mailbox Frequency of letter delivery How inbound and outbound international mail is handled after PostNord exited domestic letter delivery PostNord Denmark's defunct street posting boxes International parcels Lessons to be learned from the Denmark example How DAO is able to deliver letters, despite not being the traditional postal operator

Jakub Rymkiewicz, Market Research Manager at the IPC, shares some key findings from IPC's Cross-Border E-commerce Shopper Survey 2025. China's continued dominance in cross-border e-commerce Growth of Chinese marketplaces - in particular Temu Delivery speed for cross-border orders Shrinking delivery times from China Moving fulfilment centres closer to the consumer EU fees on cross-border orders Trends in delivery locations, including out-of-home delivery Continuing prevalence of residential delivery in some markets What powered growth in parcel locker usage Dwell time for out-of-home delivery How consumers travel to out-of-home delivery points for parcel collection Cross-border returns, including paid returns Retailers targeting serial returners Sustainable cross-border e-commerce delivery Who should fund sustainability in delivery?

Miloš Zlatković (Mily Technologies), Erik Wilhelm (Kyburz), Gordon Steward (The Information Factory), and Jorn Spiertz (Shiptimize) discuss delivery technology.   This special episode was recorded at the OMNIC stand at Parcel+Post Expo 2025.   Miloš Zlatković, Founder & CEO at Mily Technologies, covers practical applications of AI in the postal, delivery and last mile space: Moving fast with the right data set Using AI to select OOH delivery partner locations Leveraging publicly available data Erik Wilhelm, Head of Research at Kyburz, discusses electric delivery vehicles: Factors driving interest in electric delivery vehicles Trend towards carrying greater parcel volumes in EVs Increase in battery capacity Experience with Swiss Post in battery life Customising to different local operating environments Gordon Steward from The Information Factory discusses analysing delivery costs: Understanding direct and indirect costs in parcel networks Updating underlying costs Identifying and analysing potential cost savings Jorn Spiertz, co-founder and COO at Shiptimize, covers shipping technology, inclyding: Automating delivery solutions The post-purchase experience Understanding e-commerce marketplaces