US Postal Service Loses $2 Billion, Can Same-Day Delivery Help?

The US Postal Service has tried to turn the tide in the recent years and everything appeared to be head in the right direction. However, the earnings for the second quarter has the mailing company holding its' head down for the moment.

With some disheartening figures, the US Postal Service lost $2 billion in the 2nd quarter of this year. The losses were between April and June. This is a huge difference from a net loss of $740 million during the same period in 2013. Therefore, its' losses more than doubled in direct comparison. One contributor to the hit is the falling use of first-class mail, which use to be a key profit maker for the USPS. It fell 1.4 percent, yet was offset by the 3.2 percent rise in revenues for the same product

Joseph Corbett, the USPS Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President, did comment on the stunning numbers, yet appears to be focused on the operational needs as the solution. "To continue to provide world-class service and remain competitive, we must invest up to $10 billion to replace our aging vehicle fleet, purchase additional package-sorting equipment, and make necessary upgrades to our infrastructure". The delivery fleet is one of the competitive advantages for the company, which it can't do without, especially because its' trucks can be used for other business ventures.

These figures were staggering the company attempting to regroup and make a comeback from multiple years of high-digit losses. The USPS says the big hits are a result of the government's requirement to reserve billions to ensure that its' retirees have their future health benefits. The payments are made in installments of $5.7 billion, which it has already defaulted on three of its' payments, as another payment is due September 30th, which is weeks away. It can be challenging to get ahead with these constant payments required and the USPS finds what little revenue it has received since last year to quickly turn into losses.

The mailing company attempted to be innovative last year, launched PostMate, which offering same-day delivery of packages and other items. It also began working with Amazon to provide deliveries as well. Amazon knows that the USPS has the delivery system it takes to really nail down a solid foundation for delivering online orders the same day. It definitely has the robust fleet size it takes to perform same-day delivery in multiple US cities nationwide.

Can same-day delivery help the US Postal Service? With the growth of same-day delivery throughout the US, all the company needs is a strong partnership coupled with a strong business innovation in regards to e-retail. Amazon, Google, eBay and more all desire a grounded delivery fleet. The USPS appears to turning more and more towards innovation to get out of the red, which just might work. Any company can partner with a Same-Day Courier like A-1 Express and implement same-day delivery for online order fulfillment. The New York Courier has the expertise and delivery system it takes to help any company thrive delivering products the same day.

Reference: 8.12.14, www.msn.com, Elvina Nawaguna, U.S. Postal Service loses $2 billion in second quarter

Why Are Big Retailers Pursuing Same-Day Delivery?

There are a lot of retailers out there that aren't playing around when it comes to same-day delivery. These retailers have become very serious and focused about utilizing this level of service. Big retailers are definitely after the service, as two of the biggest have thrown blow for blow in the ring of retail competition. The latest news from some of them let's us know that same-day delivery must have the right key to unlock major sales, especially online, in the years to come.

Google just announced that it will begin rolling out same-day delivery of books for the biggest book retail store chain around--Barnes & Noble. The Nasdaq reported that Google is competing with Amazon for online book territory. The two retailers will be offering the service in Manhattan, West Los Angeles and in the San Francisco peninsula. Barnes & Noble is now joining the ranks with Target, Costco, Staples, Wal-Green's and more that have partnered with Google Shopping Express to get their online sales moving upward. After Barnes & Noble had to close 63 stores and Amazon's success in gaining a good portion of the digital book market share, the company had to do something different. Amazon has been like a fast-moving train against the book retailer and now it teams up with Google to make a comeback.

Barnes & Noble CEO Michael P. Huseby said in The New York Times why it made the deal with Google. Huseby stated the deal was "a test" that he viewed as a way to increase the bookseller's online reach and improve sales from its physical stores. "It's our attempt to link the digital and physical", he stated. Google is helping other physical store retailers do the same thing, and so the same-day delivery service is now in hot pursuit. It is also a way to compete on Amazon level, which recently expanded its' same-day delivery reach in 6 more US cities.

Barnes & Noble's service with Google will offer customers a choice of these same-day delivery windows: 9am to 1pm, 1pm to 5pm and 6pm to 10 pm daily. These windows are wide enough to pick up and deliver books on time as well. Google Shopping Express will have its' employees at Barnes & Noble ready to get the customer's order and deliver it to the final destination.

Google's approach to same-day delivery is partnering with brick-and-mortar retailers that already have the physical stores that act as order fulfillment centers to meet online demand. This removes an extra expense for Google, yet at the same time, it will utilize a Same-Day Courier to pick up and deliver the online orders. On the other hand, Amazon has strategically built warehouses to create a very comprehensive network for sourcing these items and will use its' own trucking fleet to deliver them. With these logistically-efficient warehouses in close proximity to big US cities, Amazon feels confident that their business strategy will beat out the competition.

Same-day delivery via Google's Shopping Express could be what Barnes & Noble needs to compete online. Amazon and Google aren't the only ones chasing same-day delivery, even Wal-Mart, eBay, Macy's and others all offer some form of the service. It is in pursuit because of e-commerce and technology are changed the way we have to do business. More and more physical store retailers have to shift to survive and thrive. Shoppers are at home now , therefore, retailers have to come to them and make it attractive online. A-1 Express is a Charlotte Courier that can help retailers thrive this year.

Reference: 8.10.14, www.nasdaq.com, Motley Fool, Can Same-Day Delivery of Books Help Google Take on Amazon?

Barnes & Noble Partners With Google For Same-Day Delivery

Google matches Amazon again as it moves forward with same-day delivery in an area that will certainly help one large book retailer in a big way. CNN Money recently reported that Barnes & Noble has partnered with Google to provide same-day delivery. The two retailers will work together to offer the service in Manhattan, West Los Angeles and the San Francisco peninsula.

It is an interesting, yet unsurprising concept that Barnes & Noble has decided to venture into with Google. The book retailer may be turning all of the stores within those cities, including the Manhattan Union Square store in New York City, into an actual warehouse in which Google will deliver books for the company same day. This gives us insight on the wave of innovative selling that same-day delivery is injecting into the retail industry for brick-and-mortar stores.

Jaime Carey, Barnes & Noble's chief merchandising officer, stated in the report, "The way the program is set up, they're using our local stores as the hub for this". Google employees will essentially pull the books for Barnes & Noble shelves, then give them to Google couriers who then deliver the books to the end customer. This is a set up that will probably work, as a Same-Day Courier like A-1 Express will have the delivery expertise and routing optimization tools to get it done. As more and more books are ordered, a strong delivery base will be a must.

Barnes & Noble will have delivery windows for customers to choose from. The windows will be 9am to 1pm, 1pm to 5pm and 6pm to 10 pm daily. The report didn't state any information regarding any time constraints in which the customer must placed their order. However, these windows are wide enough for couriers to pick up and delivery books on time. Couriers are use to delivering within very short windows, therefore, Barnes & Noble should be able to create a good foundation for same-day delivery, including working our any kinks that arise.

Online customers are now who Barnes & Nobles has its' sights on, as same-day delivery will give it the market entry strategy it needs. "For us, it's fantastic that we can bring new customers to those local stores," Carey said. Online retail has consistently grown 16% in recent years and is getting stronger, therefore, it's a good move for Barnes & Noble to venture into the market. Also, being a brick-and-mortar store with today's e-commerce just won't due any more. Your strategy has to be dual, aggressively pursuing business from both physical store and e-retail fronts.

Google's Shopping Express is proving to open doors for the retailer to get it's same-day delivery service in the hands of other physical store companies that need help selling their products. It appears this is the objective for partnership with Barnes & Noble. With the convenience of technology, customers are able to order online with ease and from anywhere. Therefore, it gives reason to not have to leave home, but rather save time and gas to do other things. A-1 Express is a New York Courier that retailers like Barnes & Noble can turn to deliver books nationwide.

Reference: 8.7.14, CNN Money, Aaron Smith, Barnes & Noble teams with Google for same-day delivery

Modern Distribution Management Talks Same-Day Delivery And It's Growth

With the emergence of e-commerce and online retail, shopping has become easy, efficient, and for retailers, very competitive. Retailers have been looking for the next big thing to grab a hold to in order to take consumer buying to the next level. What was not even considered in the past as having no imprint on retail, is now perhaps what is creating something so revolutionary, it is paving the way of the future of business.

Same-day delivery, which use to be commonly known as "local delivery", is what has become a premier driver in the retail and distribution industry. Modern Distribution Management recently released an article discussing how same-day delivery has become well-known as it has been made more logistically feasible due to modern fleet technology. In times past, local delivery was simply involved getting a package, item or freight, from one point to another within a short radius. It was only conceivable to have certain products shipped in this fashion, especially with transportation costs accounting for 25 to 35 percent of a seller's overall overhead. Yet now, distributors have the type of technology-based delivery network suited and innovative enough to handle same-day delivery.

Grand Junction, cloud-based software company that helps distributors manage their delivery network, had input on the rise of same-day delivery in the article. Its' founder and CEO Rob Howard commented, "(Local delivery) has been around, but it's starting to hit the prime time. One of the reasons is because Amazon, eBay, Google – bunches of people – are starting to offer same-day delivery programs for consumers. And they have to use the local delivery industry for that, and that is a forcing function to force the professionalization of local delivery and kind of move it to the prime-time." This is in fact true as these large e-retailers are making huge investments into this level of service, as shoppers' access to online use grows.

Online sales have experienced growth year after year and there's a reason why. Technology has also opened the door wide for convenience, as consumers can virtually shop from anywhere they are. The best deals are online and shoppers enjoy the hunt. Once they find it, some of them don't want to wait multiple days to get their purchase in their hands. Same-day delivery is literally bridging the gap, as shoppers aren't getting their products from a distribution center far away. What they just bought can be sourced from the local physical store and delivered to their front door within hours.

With the direction of technology, distribution and logistics, same-day delivery is going to become a household option for shipping products, whether it comes from a local warehouse, physical store or a delivery truck. It would be wise for companies that are looking to thrive online and in their local stores, to partner with a Same-Day Courier like A-1 Express. The Portland Courier can help expand your online business quickly to enter into new markets and can be a one-stop source for same-day delivery nationwide. A-1 Express can help get your local delivery system headed upstream with the flow of current fulfillment trends, so as logistics move, you'll move with it.

References: 7.7.14, www.mdm.com, Scott Merrill, Same-Day Delivery, Fleet Tracking Gain Focus in Distribution

Atlanta Business Chronicle Nominates A-1 Express As Second Fastest Growing Company

With all of the work involved in the courier industry, it is a great achievement to be recognized on a large scale. For this to be done, a same-day courier must be doing something right . A-1 Express is growing fast and The Atlanta Business Chronicle not only took notice, but highly awarded the courier for its’ superior efforts.

A-1 Express was honored on Friday by the Atlanta Business Chronicle as the second fastest growing private company in Atlanta. The award was given at the 19th. Annual Pacesetter Awards, an event recognizing Atlanta’s 100 fastest growing private companies. This is a very prestigious award and the courier is very pleased to not have only been named as one of the fastest growing companies, but to have also been so highly ranked. The courier finished second, only behind tech company Cloud Sherpas, which developed cloud technology services.

The qualifications for the award consisted of being privately-owned, based in the Atlanta or Metro Atlanta area and a non-subsidiary of another company. The company also had to be established in the first quarter of 2011 or earlier, experienced a two-year growth of over 50% in sales, and generated between $1 million and $300 million in sales. Companies were ranked by a growth index formula, used to balance all business involved for accuracy also.

The courier service has had some major revenue growth offering same-day delivery in the past few years. A-1 Express has more than doubled its’ revenue in 2012, jumping from $6 million to $14.5 million last year. To be a company performing well in a slow economy is something A-1 doesn’t take for granted either. CEO Mark McCurry mentioned in the Atlanta Business Chronicle that A-1 Express is ready to provide same-day delivery services that meet customer challenges via web solutions, GPS tracking, signature capture, and unsurpassed customer service.

With a goal of $40 million annually by 2015, the nationwide courier is implementing many strategic moves in order to handle the growth headed its’ direction. Their major online retail partner is doing the same and A-1 Express has to keep up. The retailer has launched same-day delivery in California and is planning to enter into a number of major US markets, including Atlanta.

Since 1997, the same-day courier has been providing same-day delivery, messenger, and a number of other transportation services nationwide. The Atlanta Courier offers a variety of courier services and solutions including same-day delivery, nationwide courier services, same-day bike messenger service, multiple location courier services, mail route logistic solutions, long-distance freight same-day delivery, straight truck delivery services, payroll deliveries, less-than-truckload shipping and more.

The driver is same-day delivery, which has been in major headlines more and more in recent years. Amazon, Wal-Mart, eBay and more are all in the same-day delivery race, even with groceries, seeking after the key to unlock more business online. A-1 Express is a premier same-day courier and has a national footprint, enabling it to implement efficient same-day delivery services to any online company desiring growth.

Reference: 4.25.14, Atlanta Business Chronicle, Byron E. Small, 19th Annual Pacesetter Awards