The New Zealand Post Group has announced a foundation sponsorship agreement with the newlyformed industry body Ecommerce New Zealand, as it bolsters its credentials in New Zealand’s
e-commerce marketplace.The group said online and mobile shopping was “coming of age” in New Zealand and the company was“deploying its resources and extensive international connections to help Kiwi businesses accessexport markets and grow online”.
New Zealand Post’s executive general manager for e-commerce and customer solutions, SohailChoudhry, said the adoption of e-commerce by companies in this country was low by internationalstandards but that was now starting to change – particularly in e-tailing.
“Online and mobile shopping is coming of age in New Zealand and New Zealand Post is uniquelyplaced to help companies develop their ecommerce operations to meet the growing demand,” Choudhrysaid. “New Zealand Post already does a lot for businesses selling online, to connect them withtheir customers and help grow their businesses, but we believe we’ve just scratched thesurface.”
The Nielsen Online Retail Report for 2014 shows that New Zealanders shopping online on mobiledevices increased significantly last year. Nielsen reported there are now 655,000 people shoppingon their smart phones – growth of 127% year on year, and 414,000 on their tablet (a 73%increase).
In addition, recent research shows that Kiwi businesses could add $34 billion to the New Zealandeconomy if they made more effective use of the internet.
Dr Choudhry said the New Zealand Post Group, including CourierPost, had refocused the way itpackaged its services and global networks to customers to support this growth. This includedfree, smart online tools, such as addressing or tracking notifications tools, managed warehousing,sea and airfreight, specialist Customs clearance and in-market distribution.
“We provide full supply chain services – including demand generation, supply chain managementand after sales and loyalty support,” Choudhry said.
New Zealand Post’s foundation sponsorship of Ecommerce New Zealand (www.enz.org.nz) was designed to help Ecommerce New Zealand makeit easier for Kiwi companies not already online to get started and to help companies focus on what’s important to win and retain online customers, he said.
One of New Zealand Post’s first contributions as a foundation sponsor is to be part of ENZ’sEcommerce Fulfilment Day tomorrow in Auckland – the first module of ENZ’s “How to…” TrainingSeries.
