Royal Mail exceeds parcel delivery targets but scores poorly with First Class

Royal Mail showed a strong performance in delivery of standard retail parcels well ahead of thetarget set during the second quarter of 2012 but failed to meet its First Class mail delivery

During the April-June 2012 period, 97.1% of standard retail parcels were delivered on timesurpassing by far the target of 90%. In terms of Second Class mail, Royal Mail slightly exceededthe target of 98.5% with 98.6% delivered within three working days of posting.

However, it just missed the target of 93% for on-time delivery of First Class mail the nextworking day after posting with a performance of 92.9%, according to independent research. The FirstClass mail target now includes single piece pre-paid items as well as stamped and metered mail, asa result of the new regulatory framework introduced by regulator Ofcom in April 2012.

Royal Mail highlighted the positive performances for standard parcels and Second Mail as itcontinues to modernise. “This is one of the biggest transformation programmes underway anywhere inUK industry. New technology and better equipment is being deployed nationwide and the workingpractices of postmen and women are changing,” the company said.

Mark Higson, Managing Director of Operations and Modernisation, said: “The UK has one of thehighest and most challenging sets of quality targets in Europe. Our postmen and women havesurpassed two of the three key quality targets and narrowly missed the third, against the backdropof one of the biggest industrial transformation programmes ever undertaken in the UK. Our people’sjobs are changing, the process is difficult and we are all working hard to ensure Royal Maildelivers the service the public expects.”