Autumn 2009

With luck, the strike action by postal workers may have been called off by the time you read this. If is hasn't been, you may find some useful wisdom in this one-off News Extra special, written for us by Andrew Starkey, a long-time specialist in the mail market. Even if reason has prevailed, it should give you some food for thought about your future postal policy

In the event of an all-out strike, the honest news is that there are limited options because Royal Mail still provides the 'final mile' delivery for most letters and packets, regardless of how many other postal companies now operate in the UK. But there is some hope.

Letters, statements, documents

Contact your customers and make sure you have their e-mail address and permission to use it. Advise them that you will and communicate with them online until the industrial action is over.

 

If you have access to a branch or retail network, set up the facility for customers to collect urgent documents from their nearest postcode-defined location.

Some companies can deliver pouches of mail to business addresses without the need to use the Royal Mail network – for example DX and TNT.

Consider creating your own mail storage capacity, with items sequenced and ready for despatch when the network comes back on line.

Alternatively, find an alternative (downstream access) postal operator. It's true that they rely on Royal Mail for the final delivery, but in the short term they will collect your mail – clearing out your production space – and deliver it to Royal Mail at the point nearest delivery. When that area returns to work your mail will have bypassed many of the pipeline backlogs and will have a better chance of being delivered with less delay.

They can also provide tracking information, letting you know when and where your mail entered the Royal Mail network. This is only a short-term option, as these companies rely on Royal Mail providing them with mail bags etc to keep their operation going.

For international mail, consider using an international consolidator who will collect your mail and route it out of the country without touching Royal Mail. An even better option is to use a hybrid electronic/physical distribution service (transmit your file electronically for conversion to a physical document and posting at local rates.

Packets (up to 2-3kg)

You can't send packets electronically, and once there is a backlog of packets in the Royal Mail network it takes a time to clear. Also packets often contain goods that people have specifically asked for, for so the customer expectation is higher. But there are still things you can consider.

Ask customers for a business address you can deliver to. Not all employers will allow this, but some companies will deliver packets to businesses at a reasonable cost that they won't deliver to homes – DX for one.

There are also some companies who will deliver packets to homes at a competitive price, including Hermes and (soon) Home Delivery Network. Other options include the recently-launched Collect+ network of petrol stations and convenience stores, and Useyourlocal (delivery to pubs).

Parcels

Fortunately there are many parcels companies who can deliver without any reliance on Royal Mail, so you should be able to find a competitive contingency. However if you only expect to use them while the strike is on, don't expect their best rates.

Andrew Starkey is a consultant with special expertise in the mail and parcel market. Tel 07952 813622 or email him on spiralstrategies@aol.com.