SupplyChain Magazine July 2015 | Page 21

THE CUTTHROAT UK PARCEL INDUSTRY

“ I think we ’ re seeing a bit of a sea change where retailers are looking for people who will provide the volume they ’ ve promised and if they provide over that volume it is not possible to take it . So for the first time we are aligning ourselves together ”

- Dick Stead on collaboration your customers will be loyal and you will build up your business by reputation . If you just go for the single order and say it is dead important just to get that single order today and promise next day delivery so they don ’ t go anywhere else ; it is high risk because if you fail that delivery you ’ ve lost that customerand they have gone forever .”
Yodel is creating an environment where people can believe in the longterm benefits of attaining and growing loyalty from individual customers . There is a transition underway but it is a gradual transition , and Stead hopes as a result next day deliveries won ’ t be completely outsold again .
The company certainly looks set for a healthier future , backed up by major shareholders with a vision instead of looking for a short-term investment . So far it has built five major service centres which are very large infrastructures capable of holding 30-40,000 parcels a day all with the most up to date IT systems which incidentally , has also been completely updated .
This multi-million pound commitment to infrastructure and quality of service has put Yodel in a much healthier position , and now the group looks set to sail into more prosperous waters .
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