India Post taps opportunities in online business

E-commerce companies that are growing in large numbers need facilities to deliver the goods to their customers, across the country and abroad, on time and safely. The product to be delivered could be textiles, food, or even small home appliances.

According to an official of India Post, about 10 e-commerce companies in Coimbatore region have started using the international speed post facilities of the Department of Posts during the last one year to deliver goods to their overseas customers. Many of them are already using the department’s services for delivery of products in the domestic market.

Coimbatore region covers eight districts and the number of international speed post parcels or covers handled during 2010-2011 was about 10,000. It declined to 6,872 last year and this year, between April and October, 21,000 parcels and covers were delivered by the department from this region.

The Department is now focusing on exporters and e-commerce clients to increase the volume of International speed post and international registered parcels.

It offers tracking facility. Delivery to the U.S. is within six days and to countries such as Australia, New Zealand and West Asian countries, it is four days.

As for customers who offer business of more than Rs. 10,000 a month, the Department treats them as corporate customers and gives them credit and even pick-up of goods from their doorstep. Though the department accepts any article, there are country-specific restrictions.

These will be explained to customers when they bring the goods to the post office for booking. For instance, food items are accepted only when there is a bar code for the product.

If the customer wants to send home-made food, then there is no guarantee of delivery. The maximum weight of the parcel should be 21 kg.

Source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/india-post-taps-opportunities-in-online-business/article4105189.ece