Postal Hub podcast

Doddle Chief Commercial Officer Mike Richmond gives a new perspective on e-commerce parcel delivery, in particular delivery to pick-up drop-off points (PUDOs). We cover:

• Customer-centric parcel delivery
• Pricing incentives for click-and-collect
• Personalising the shopping experience
• Same-day instant click-and-collect
• Collaboration between retailers (online and bricks-and-mortar)
• Consolidation of PUDO networks
• Subscription delivery services
• Why payment and delivery are inextricably linked, including "buy now pay later" options
• Returns - how PUDO networks can assist, including refunds
• Dynamic pricing in delivery

Ukrposhta acting CEO Igor Smelyansky shares his vision for the Ukrainian postal operator. We cover:

• The size and scale of the Ukrposhta post office network
• Post office ownership model
• Mobile post offices
• Future plans for the post office network, including technology
• Delivery services for smaller towns
• Ukrposhta's obligations in pension payments
• Postal banking and financial services
• Parcel delivery in rural areas
• Ukrposhta supporting Ukraine's export sector

Mark Harrison, Head of Markets at International Post Corporation joins me to discuss recent IPC research into cross-border e-commerce. We cover:

• Who is delivering the last mile for cross-border e-commerce?
• Trends in delivery direct to the post office
• Domestic delivery preferences vs international delivery
• Postal service points
• Cross-border packets weighing under 2kg
• Free shipping
• Parcels that fit in customers' letterboxes
• The importance of signature on delivery
• How much cross-border traffic comes from the dominant retailers
• Free delivery
• Delivery speed
• Returns
• Direct mail and e-commerce

DHL Parcel CEO Dr Achim DÃÆ'¼nnwald is my special guest. We cover:

• Markets with e-commerce growth potential
• Measuring e-commerce penetration
• Overcoming rising trade barriers
• Creating a pan-European network through acquisitions and partnerships
• Network density, including parcel shops and post offices
• Speed, transparency and flexibility in delivery
• Expanding delivery options (including lockers, in-car delivery)
• Insights into the development of the Deutsche Post DHL StreetScooter
• PostBot autonomous delivery unit

Shipping With Amazon will soon kick off in the USA, with implications for the major parcel carriers. Joining me to separate the hype from reality are Marek Rożycki and Dean Maciuba from Last Mile Experts. They have extensive experience in parcel delivery, including Amazon Logistics and FedEx.

How could autonomous vehicles be used in the postal delivery sector? The USPS OIG has identified a variety of use cases for autonomous vehicles in delivery.

Frustrated with failed delivery attempts to residential addresses? Delivering to a neighbour is not a new idea, but how about paying the neighbour? This episode features Bryan See Toh, co-founder and CEO of parcel delivery startup Park N Parcel. Also in this episode: Asian air freight trends, and the implications for cross-border e-comemrce.

My special guest is Dan Arriola, owner and CEO of iD Commerce + Logistics, reviews peak season surcharges, factory direct e-commerce (and small parcels), changes to selling on Amazon, social media and e-commerce, free vs fast delivery, and much more.

How can a city of 200,000 people in mainland UK be classified as remote? Nina Ballantyne from Citizens Advice Scotland joins me to talk about research into higher shipping charges for people living in rural and remote areas and what can be done to fix the problem.

Dean Maciuba, Managing Partner North America at Last Mile Experts, joins me to kick off 2018 with an analysis of PUDO (access point) networks and how they help cut delivery costs.