Royal Mail has launched new e-commerce and direct mailing services for corporate customers togrow its business in the two market segments.
The British postal group announced it has created a new e-commerce fulfilment tool to helponline retailers manage their inventory, accounts and logistics across multiple online and offlinesales channels, saving them time and money.
The Royal Mail E-commerce Engine is ideal for store-based, online and multi-channel retailerswho want to expand their presence to new sales channels to grow their businesses. It is aimed atonline retailers with a turnover generally above £500,000. The launch of the engine complementsRoyal Mail’s delivery and warehousing offering for online retailers and creates a truly integratedend-to-end service.
The internet-based tool will integrate seamlessly with a retailer’s existing processes to enablecomplete visibility and management through a single platform. Functions include sales orders,automated and manual customer communications, total inventory and stock control with suppliermanagement, pricing by channel, webstore and eBay store creation, management of eBay and auctionsite listings and sales, returns and refund processing as well as reporting and maintenancetools.
Dan Hewett, Head of Small Business Goods Fulfilment at Royal Mail, said: “Opportunities in theonline retail market continue to increase as the range of sales channels expands and manybusinesses either don’t have the time or expertise to take advantage of them in a cost-effectiveway. The Royal Mail E-commerce Engine has been developed to give small and medium-sized companiesthe capability to open and exploit new online sales channels efficiently, while ensuring excellentcustomer service remains at the core of their business.”
Meanwhile, Royal Mail has announced that more than 4,000 direct marketing industryprofessionals, including top advertising agencies, have signed up to its direct mail media centresince the launch one year ago. The free mmc.co.uk website was launched to provide insight, trainingand innovation for marketers and help them make the most of direct mail in their integratedmarketing campaigns.
Antony Miller, Head of Media Development at Royal Mail, said: “We are delighted with the successof mmc.co.uk in its first year. The site receives high levels of traffic and has so far exceededall our expectations. The number of registrations by advertisers and agencies reflects the factthat the site caters for all our target audiences. It also highlights the continued strength ofdirect mail in the communications mix.”
Furthermore, the Strategic Mailing Partnership, a joint initiative between Royal Mail and the UKmailing house industry, has signed up its 100th member since its launch three months ago. Thepartnership was set up in January 2010 to drive developments and shape the future of the mailinghouse industry in the UK. So far 112 mailing houses have joined the joint initiative. Mailinghouses handle around 90% of all Royal Mail bulk mailings.
