DATE: 10th March 2008
Finnish TV broadcast of the new ParcelXchange service
The 'ParcelXchange' technology and its' capabilities, ensure that Itella remain at the forefront of logistic service solutions, whilst fulfilling their customers needs', identified in recent research. (Itella, CEP-Research).
Typically, an automatic parcel terminal has 50-100 parcel lockers, the size of which can be altered according to demand. The customer receives an SMS informing them of their parcel delivery, the location of the locker and the code with which the locker in the automated parcel terminal can be opened. The safety and usability of the terminal's interface corresponds to that of an automatic teller machine and the terminals are usually located along consumers' daily routes, for example in shopping centres and at traffic junctions.
Aku Happo, Director of Itella's Express and Parcel Business explained "As a market leader of parcel and postal services in Finland, we want to constantly develop our services, not only to meet current, but also to support future demand. We have identified that the affects, for example, in the growth in online shopping, changes in consumers' shopping behaviour and a pressing pace of life has indicated that our customers have expressed their desire for new and flexible ways to receive parcels.
He goes on to say, "In the future, consumers can choose to pick up a parcel from an automated parcel terminal, on the way to their place of work at a time that suits them, even at night if they wish, or they can still use our other more traditional service options such as picking up from the post office; or delivery to their home or place of work.
From a commercial view point, the modular nature of 'ParcelXchange', also provides Itella with 'flexibility and capability' to up-scale the system by increasing the number of columns or size of the boxes at a location, or by simply adding to the number of network exchange sites in the field as demand rises in the future, therefore optimising the commercial aspects and maximising the cost effectiveness of the 'ParcelXchange' network option." Happo continued.
Tim Houstoun, Managing Director of Business Direct's Global Licensing division said, "I went to the shopping centre in Helsinki to meet with Aku Happo during the installation and pilot of the exchange, the level of interest raised by the public and number of enquiries, just while I was there certainly confirmed the results of their research, in that there was definitely a demand for this type of delivery solution in Finland. We very much look forward to working with Itella in the future on other areas of their 'network solution' requirements."
The British embassy Commercial Attaché receives a parcel 
For Further Information: Visit: www.bdpx.com/global Or contact Danielle Venthen at: | For Media Enquiries: Alison Brindley, Head of Marketing, Business Direct Group plc +44 (0)7962 649 629 or +44 (0)1788 821 228. alison.brindley@bdpx.com For supporting text and image files: Rachel Parry, Marketing Executive, Business Direct Group plc +44 (0) 1788 821 235 rachel.parry@bdpx.com |
Business Direct Group is divided into three separate but complementary divisions.
In-Night division operating within the UK, which incorporates ParcelXchange, the intelligent locker distribution system, and an in-boot service, where pre-8am deliveries (next day) from as far a field as Continental Europe are made through the night to engineers' vehicles or ParcelXchange of their choice.
In addition to traditional same-day and next-day courier activities and warehousing facilities, Specialist division also provides time-specific two-man same day and retail delivery solutions as well as a number of courier technical plug and play delivery services.
Finally, Business Direct has realised the unlimited potential of the ParcelXchange solution and formed a Global Licensing division to market this unique product on a worldwide basis. The UK's leading developer of an 'intelligent' technology driven drop box logistics solution, now with over 4200 lockers in the UK, enabled Nationally based Post Offices and logistics service providers around the world to access this advanced technology in October 2007, after it was officially launched by Paul Carvell, Chief Executive of Business Direct at the 'Last Mile' Technology Workshop at the Courier and Parcel Logistics Expo in Barcelona.
Itella Corporation
Finland Post Corporation is Itella Corporation as of 1 June 2007. Presented primarily through it's service brands: Itella for businesses, Posti for consumers in Finland. Itella Group provides its logistics services under the name of Itella Logistics (formerly Finland Post Logistics). In 2006, the volume of parcels totalled roughly 27 million, or over 100,000 per day. B2B parcels and door-to-door parcels have shown the strongest growth.
Itella Logistics is a service logistics provider operating in northern Europe and, through its partners, on a global basis. Its services range from transport, forwarding and contract logistics to intelligent IT-based logistics solutions which integrate directly with the customer's own information systems. With a staff of over 2,000 in eight countries, in 2006 Itella Logistics reported net sales of approximately EUR 530 million.
The focus of logistics services lies in complete customised solutions. The solution can cover part of a company's logistics such as service transport and warehousing, or all logistics processes on an outsourcing basis, and is integrated into a well-performing whole with the help of the latest information technology. All of our solutions make it easier for customers to focus on their core business.
Itella Logistics operates in the following eight countries: Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Russia. It also provides its customers with connections throughout the world.
