The Virtual shipping address scene has changed rather quickly over the last month or so but no not all is lost just yet as discussed here before. With Brexit done there is plenty of things to consider when shopping from the UK where things will be now more expensive for consumers which is not good for the consumer or indeed Amazon. There is an extensive guide you can find HERE which explains what the new costs are when purchasing items from the UK but having said that we are not limited to shopping from the UK either. However shopping on other Amazon sites like FR and DE has seemed to gone up plus more delivery charges and with electrical goods a different plug so you need to be aware of what you are buying and if electrical goods have the option to use both two pin/ three pin plugs I am sure you have plenty at home.
With Parcel motel what I can see happening is setting up a base in other EU countries and this will work for the likes of Amazon DE/FR going forward and it is said UPS hope to get this sorted as soon as possible and it will be better for business for both Amazon and the consumer going forward and you can also think about the infrastructure of lockers here in Ireland which perhaps are all paid for now they where not cheap and I am sure they will not want them sitting there doing nothing as do the buildings they are attached to so lets think about the other possibility of Amazon lockers which again is up in the air…It is also said that AMAZON are seeking more premises here in Ireland to hold inventory but I am sure we will hear about this soon..
Address pal have just announced they are introducing new fees which are on the hefty side. You can see their terms and conditions here and shipping arrangements here
You will now be hit with the €3.50 admin fee plus €6.50 on top to be delivered to your home which will not bode well for customers and An Post see this as a filler due to other Virtual address companies get their house in order as reported in the Indo today, Note that some services are suspended which means as mentioned above they are working on resolving this by most likely using an EU option instead. Still a tough pill to swallow for the new charges and ones An Post might regret.
Another thing to watch out for is how you shop online,just because the website may have an Irish store does not mean the product is here in Ireland,You may have noticed time to time shopping online you land on a web page and your given the option to change to ie. Dig deeper here and see where they are actually based..
Check out if you have a package or not with An Post with all the scams now here is how to check..
Over the years many of us has adopted the route of using virtual shipping addresses for online shopping which is a great ecommerce solution to get products cheaper and get products that normally would not ship direct to Ireland and with big players like parcel motel and parcel wizard this made life easier most of the time but come this time of year it does turn out to be a bit of a disaster, but time may be running out for other players going forward with Brexit.
DPD are the first to step up and tell us they will cease the option for its customers to use a UK virtual address to get their packages delivered and recently Parcel Motel decided to up their prices which is shooting themselves in the foot, however it may mean a good percentage of parcel wizard customers might migrate to the service just to tide them over the xmas period which could be a risky move..
With Black Friday and Cyber Monday coming up this is typically a very busy period for the companies and to add to it Christmas does not help either and also recently DPD and UPS formerly Nightline have advertisements screaming for extra delivery drivers to cope with the demand over the next few weeks and this often runs into late Jan and sometimes later, Having worked in the industry some years ago it is a stressful time for drivers and become such a cut throat business with not so great pay and change is needed, staff turnover is huge and this is seen by the constant advertising looking for drivers throughout the year and in short needs to be addressed, I had a delivery last Saturday night in fact at 7pm which was a first and this shows the strain these companies are under.
From January 1st 2021 deliveries from the UK are changing due to customs.
When shopping online use your Home Delivery AddressPal virtual address (see below for address examples).
From this date, your Post Office/Collection Point AddressPal virtual address can no longer be used when importing items.
However, once the parcel has been processed we will let you know by email or text and you will then have the option to redirect your parcel to any of the following:
A Post Office/Collection Point
A Parcel Locker
A neighbour
A safe place
Or select an alternative date for delivery
This will apply for UK and USA AddressPal items. Payment details:
From January 1st 2021 payment for all AddressPal items must be taken from a Credit/Debit card that is saved on your AddressPal account. Without a valid card your parcel cannot be delivered. You will only be charged once we process your AddressPal deliveries.
Note: All UK items will be subject to Revenue customs rules from January 1st 2021. If there are customs fees related to your item, you will be contacted with more information.
For now however you can use the alternatives such as An Post( Address Pal/ Delivery box at your house) , Parcel Motel, and there is some drop off point/collect points, there is some other smaller operators around but this is not a service for ecommerce etc but more so intra company services and special sectors in some areas of business. There is also word of alternatives that might be arriving soon but more on that as it becomes more transparent and solid. But I would be looking at Amazon going forward. With Amazon being a key player and recently opened a warehouse here in Ireland it makes sense going forward and they are also seeking new premises from what I have heard and this is most likely to hold stock which would be a real win and the right route for Amazon to take with its customer base.
Looking ahead there will be another issue for consumers with Brexit and that is returns, With the option to return packages it was a great business move over the years giving people a quick option to return packages via virtual addresses easily and the main problems here was wrong size, wrong item and wrong colour, when it comes to colour everyone’s screen is different and the brightness settings differ and was one of the most problems for consumers buying online. This may all be about to change in the coming weeks but stay tuned for more..
Parcel Motel has been the most prominent player in the locker business and have also issued notices to its customers however things could be weighing up different here as they claim their service is suspended with a new Virtual Dublin address just a stones throw away from their main office, UPS bought the business if you remember and have now in the EU more channels to work with there has been talk of amazon lockers due to the infrastructure already here but also setting up new bases in the EU which makes sense, Whilst many people shop on Amazon UK they have other stores like de and fr you can shop from and is often cheaper and this again makes sense for setup in such countries particularly for the likes of Amazon and also Amazon now have a base here in Ireland but this is not a fulfilment centre but does now open the doors for them to set up such warehouses and there is rumour they have been. Many in the logistics industry do know more and did know they where looking for units here in Ireland and that today still is the case. Amazon is here for the long haul..
UPS, a global leader in logistics, global packaging experts Sealed Air (SEE), Smurfit Kappa and top UK distributor Macfarlane Packaging are today launching a new range of packaging specially designed for shipping individual bottles of spirits and wine, to help producers in the UK and Ireland expand their markets and reach new customers.
“Ecommerce presents a huge opportunity for drinks producers wanting to grow their businesses, as a fifth of alcohol consumers in key export markets are already purchasing their favourite brands online,” said Mark Vale, President, UPS UK & Ireland. “We designed this new packaging to simplify the process and bring peace of mind that these fragile products will arrive safely at their destination. By combining this specialised packaging with UPS’s smart global logistics network, brokerage expertise and service coverage, distillers can focus on their passion and sharing their savoir-faire with the world.”
With alcohol e-sales in the UK and Ireland experiencing double digit growth this packaging addresses the challenge of how to safely pack and ship individual bottles that come in a range of shapes and sizes. It has been developed and tested by UPS, in partnership with leading packaging companies Smurfit Kappa and Sealed Air, and is distributed by Macfarlane Packaging. Alcohol producers shipping with UPS benefit from damage cover when they use this UPS Approved packaging.
“At the moment, people are ordering more goods from online retailers so that they can stay at home,” said Laurel Granville, Marketing Director, Macfarlane Packaging. “There is a growing demand for bottle packs as there is a need to effectively pack and distribute these products without damage. At Macfarlane, we offer our clients the most innovative and environmentally friendly protective packaging options for their businesses and we are proud to work with UPS to offer this pack to ecommerce customers.”
There are four customisable versions of the new one-bottle packs that can accommodate most of the wine and spirits bottles on the market. The packaging is also fully recyclable. It features the Korrvu®Retention technology by Sealed Air that allows the bottle to be suspended in transparent film, the pack can be used for display in a shop or bar, or sent to family or friends as a gift.
UPS also provides a direct-to-consumer wine shipping export service from selected countries in Europe to destinations in 60 countries across North America, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Africa, in addition to its global business-to-business alcohol shipping services.
For more information on the new packaging, visit ups.com/spiritspack. To download UPS’s full guide to shipping alcohol, visit the UPS website.
Aramex, a leading global provider of comprehensive logistics and transportation solutions, today announces the launch of “Aramex SMART”, an innovative and comprehensive delivery, payment and returns solution for e-tailers that enhances consumers’ online shopping experience, increases payment optionality and delivery flexibility, and promotes the overall growth of e-commerce industry in the region.
“Aramex SMART” is the world’s first all-in-one stack delivery, payment and returns solution offered by a logistics and transportation company. It enables e-tailers around the world to deliver a premium experience for their shoppers in Aramex’s core markets. Consumers that use this solution benefit from a convenient online shopping experience which gives them access to fast deliveries, easy returns, and allows them options to complete their payments within a period of 14 days after the delivery of their shipment, using a payment method of their choice.
Commenting on the launch, Bashar Obeid, Chief Executive Officer of Aramex, said: “The launch of ‘Aramex SMART’ is a milestone not only for Aramex, but for the entire e-commerce industry as it brings together a full stack of delivery, payment and returns solution in a single offering. As one of the leading industry players, part of our strategy is to continuously improve the ecosystem by identifying gaps and coming up with innovative solutions to help resolve bottlenecks that will ensure a healthy and uninterrupted growth of e-commerce. With ‘Aramex SMART’ we aim to support businesses that wish to grow their online sales channels, and improve the online shoppers’ overall experience, especially during the current unprecedented challenges brought by COVID-19. Through the launch of this innovative solution, we aim to boost growth in the digital economy and support resurgence in retail demand.”
Arun Singh, Aramex’s Corporate Treasurer and Head of Aramex SMART,said: “We are very excited to launch ‘Aramex SMART’ in response to evolving consumer needs and e-commerce industry trends. Through our extensive market research, we identified a need for a full suite solution that will address disparities between an increased consumer preference for cash-on-delivery shipments in spite of limited digital payment options offered by e-commerce players. Our research showed that one of the main reasons for preference for cash-on-delivery is due to the trust deficit consumers have in the e-commerce experience. Our studies also revealed that businesses suffer from slower deliveries, high rejection rates, and inventory inefficiencies with cash-on-delivery shipments. To address these gaps, we have developed this innovative platform that provides shoppers convenient and flexible payment options when making online purchases, as well as supporting e-tailers with cash flow management, ensuring seamless and efficient transactions, higher acceptance rates, improved consumer trust and enhanced bottom line growth.”
“Aramex SMART” is the latest addition to the suite of other innovative solutions that Aramex developed as part of its digital transformation journey. Earlier this year, the company introduced a fully revamped mobile App that includes real–time shipment and courier tracking, and seamless connection to Aramex’s WhatsApp chat-bot.
In 2018, Aramex launched “Aramex Fleet”, a crowd-based delivery platform that connects Saudi Nationals to flexible last mile delivery work to leverage Saudi Arabia’s sharing economy and support fluctuating demand in the Kingdom. This was followed by the launch of Aramex Spot, a partnership with retail outlets to support last mile delivery access across Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Valentines day is approaching quickly and beside chocolates and flowers people always like to chose a new perfume or aftershave for their other half. So now you have no excuse with this app at your fingertips to pick out a new scent for the one you love,the app is free and on Android and iOS..
‘My Fragrance App’ has been developed by the experts at The Fragrance Shop. With over 170 stores nationwide, all staff undertake rigorous training to become fragrance consultants with second-to-none knowledge when it comes to helping customers find the right fragrance. With a Feefo Gold Trusted Merchant Award under its belt and millions of happy customers, The Fragrance Shop delivers unparalleled understanding and first-class customer service packaged together with outstanding value. ‘My Fragrance App’ brings this superior expertise direct to your phone.
‘My Fragrance App’ has been developed by the experts at The Fragrance Shop. With over 170 stores nationwide, all staff undertake rigorous training to become fragrance consultants with second-to-none knowledge when it comes to helping customers find the right fragrance. With a Feefo Gold Trusted Merchant Award under its belt and millions of happy customers, The Fragrance Shop delivers unparalleled understanding and first-class customer service packaged together with outstanding value. ‘My Fragrance App’ brings this superior expertise direct to your phone.
Features
My Taste Profile
Build your own unique Taste Profile –by answering questions about your style and personality, as well as building a profile of what you wear regularly and which perfume traits you prefer and don’t – to create a unique understanding of what you’re looking for. My Try List
Based on your profile MyFragranceApp will create a top five TRY LIST of fragrances you are most likely to enjoy. Each time you try a new fragrance you can rate them – refining your profile even further!
MyFragranceApp includes latest fragrance releases, and updates its database constantly to deliver relevant results. As well as your profile MyFragranceApp gives insider info on what fragrances top celebrities wear, and shows how similar their tastes are to yours.
The transport business in Ireland is a very cut throat game today and has been for some years now due to the recession and competition,and i myself is involved in this business around 20 years now along with mobile tech.
The days of using an atlas is long gone and i remember them so well and its now moved to a digital era.
We now have sat navs,and mobile phones which can offer us turn by turn navigation at ease but even today these are still not 100% fully efficient although they are a great benefit for the consumer,personally myself i dont really use them much as i have my own sat nav mind with 2 decades of hard real time travelling and seeing probably every road there is,but i do like to test maps and products to see how far we have come.
We now have come into an era where on-line shopping is king,its killing retail (bricks and mortar stores) mainly due to less cost,less overheads,but people still like to go and physically shop,i like to myself but been honest i buy mostly from the internet.But there will always be people that like a hands on experience,again i like this but tend to avoid ques and shop online.
Open website-shop-click on buy-pay-deliver…
Yes that’s how it works but what happens after this?
We get a tracking number in most cases,some don’t offer,some charge extra for this and some companies more expensive than others but going forward tracking is king we want information that we can keep an eye on.
After this we can log onto the respective couriers website and get some info,again some can provide more than others but we are not certain as to what time the package arrives at,this can be an issue for some and not for others,but Xpreso is here to alleviate this,How?
What is Xpreso?
Xpreso solves the “sorry we missed you” problem by connecting couriers and consumers in real-time; putting consumers in control with precise delivery alerts, rescheduling and re-routing options.This saves courier companies money while providing a Hailo-like delivery experience for on-line consumers.
We are the first in Ireland to test this new product and had CEO Eamon Keane with us and gave us a full demonstration on how it works and i myself have been putting Xpreso to the test and it just works..
The solution consists of:
An app for couriers
A mobile optimised website and eventual app for consumers
A dashboard for the ops team and call centre.
How does it benefit the customer ?
You are given a time window,this is a great way for you to organise things in advance and you can talk to the courier.
Track the courier in real time.
How does it all happen?
Most if not all courier company’s now use handheld terminals which run again mostly windows mobile embedded which i dont know why as its clunky and can be slow,Xpreso runs on Android and have also mentioned they are not ruling out windows products(tabs) yet,there is just no product that’s commercially viable yet to use and cost effective in the tablet range for just yet.
The courier scans the packages as per schedule and The Xpreso servers pull the information and it syncs to your tablet,this gives an identical list as per the drivers physical hard copy that he needs for a P.O.D (Proof of delivery)
As pictured above is an example of what the driver sees on the screen.A time window,distance and directions,also the option to call the customer from the tablet by tapping one icon.
Also what happens here the Xpreso app gives you the location of the next delivery and also a suggested route to take if you need so,Also you can call the customer from the tablet which will be in your vehicle placed in where suits you best,of course it runs via a sim card and data to work.
Naturally when it comes to properties in the countryside there may not be a location provided due to our current postcode system,or simply not mapped, this is an anomaly any maps based app struggles to provide but you can get an estimation.
So this is where geo tagging comes into place,when the courier has located the customer its saved in the system,this is huge benefit to the customer and courier company alike,for an example if you have a regular driver on the run and he is out sick or on holidays this data is there already saved building up a data base of customers for the future.
Another thing is if you need to change route you simply continue on as is and select next delivery on screen and it will continue on as normal so you just can not go wrong here,i have personally put this to test and tried to trick it,it didn’t work im pleased to say,it beat me.
So that’s how Xpreso works and its a great idea and i think this can be a success with other possibilities down the line.
Who runs Xpreso.? You can click the image to see LinkedIn profile.
Xpreso solves the last mile problem in eCommerce by delivering to people, not places. Xpreso’s SaaS solution allows delivery companies to increase first-time success rate by offering online customers dynamic tracking and accurate arrival times. This is complemented by re-direction options to fit parcel delivery around consumers’ busy lives. Xpreso’s communication platform uses an intuitive Android tablet interface for the parcel delivery driver and requires no upfront capital to deploy. Xpreso’s solution also works across courier companies, allowing consumers to have one place to track all their parcels and store their preferences.
We would like to thank Eamon for his time and giving us the opportunity to be part of testing this app and also giving suggestions over the last few months and wish Xpreso the best in the future.Its also worth a note that Xpreso have now also brought HERE maps on board this app which is excellent for offline use..
