Singapore Post has expanded its range of integrated e-commerce solutions for blogshops and SMEswith new services enabling them to drop off parcels faster and easier at a dedicated counter, after
paying and printing the postage for their parcels from home or office.With this service expansion, SingPost is responding to significant growth of e-commerce inSingapore over the last few years, with volumes from ‘online’ parcels having increased by almost100% in Singapore since 2006. From the around 4 million parcels that SingPost handles on a dailybasis, 30% are e-commerce items.
To respond to a growing number of local online retailers, SingPost has launched SmartPac Lite,an envelope version of the existing SmartPac, for e-commerce items weighing up to 1kg. Measuring240mm x 330mm, the SmartPac Lite is available for S$3.80 and offers more choice to blogshops andSMEs when it comes to delivery. As consumer-based retail businesses using blogging platforms suchas Blogger, WordPress or Livejournal, blogshops are quite popular in Singapore.
Beh Jiaqi, blogshop owner of Wonderstellar, recognised the added value of the new product: “TheSmartPac Lite is a welcome addition to the popular SmartPac, providing us with another option fornext working day delivery at an affordable flat-rate. It simplifies shipping and eliminates theneed to weigh packages up to 1kg. SmartPac Lite is fuss free, quick and convenient to use. Inaddition, there is a tracking feature available and this provides a peace of mind for mycustomers.”
To provide even more convenience for blogshop owners and SMEs, the Singaporean postal operatorlaunched a new Bulk Package Counter in October last year in a 3-month trial. The initiative wasdesigned to make parcel shipping quicker and easier. The Lock+Store Serangoon North outlet wasidentified as an ideal location to house the Bulk Package Counter as it serves 15 post offices inthe proximity.
Prior to the trial, SingPost conducted a survey on customer posting needs. The results revealedthat more than 30% of the registered articles and normal packages posted are from the northeastarea of Singapore. The survey also revealed customer demand for a dedicated counter for bulkpackages.
Customers can also use Lock+Store’s short-and long-term storage facilities as an optional ‘store, pack and deliver’ service for added convenience and speed.
Dr Wolfgang Baier, Group CEO of SingPost, said: “Our focus is on helping businesses grow onlineboth in Singapore and in the region, tapping on our full suite of ecommerce logistics solutions.Leveraging on the synergies between SingPost and Lock+Store, we are able to provide one stopintegrated end-to-end ecommerce logistic services for blogshop owners and SMEs, includingcost-effective self-storage and serviced office space.”
To save time at the Bulk Package Counter, blogshops and SMEs can use the additional ‘ezy2ship’service to prepare, pay and print postages for their packages easily from their home or office andat their convenience. The ezy2ship tool also allows them to manage and track their shipmentseasily.
Based on a test conducted earlier, customers can save up to 75% of their time at the post officecounter by using ezy2ship. The usual average time required for posting 20 registered articles atthe post office is about 4 minutes compared to those using ezy2ship who spend about a minute,excluding queuing time, SingPost added.
Woo Keng Leong, Senior Executive Vice President/Head of Postal Services of SingPost, said: “SingPost is focused on helping SMEs and blogshops to expand their businesses in the domestic marketas well as extend into the region. We understand the need for SMEs to have quick, convenient andflexible solutions to cater to their various needs as their businesses grow. We believe in cateringto these needs through customised solutions like Bulk Package Counter, SmartPac and ezy2ship toolwhich accommodate the surge in e-commerce related activities. Additionally, blogshops and SMEs cantap our self-storage solutions and fully furnished serviced offices as they expand theirbusiness.”
Singapore’s e-commerce has grown from S$1.1 billion in 2010 to a forecasted S$4.4 billion in2015, according to research firm ASEAN Briefing.
