World Postal Business Forum

Postal leaders are confronted with unprecedented challenges to the sustainability of their businesses. Having experienced the global economic crisis and its effects, the emphasis is now on developing business models to fit the environment of the new decade. The session will consider how posts have reacted to the global financial crisis, and which strategies they have adopted to ensure future success. Visions of the likely postal business environment five years from now will be discussed. CEOs from around the world will share their experience and insights with the audience.

Chairman - Kristian Sund, senior lecturer, Middlesex University, UK

Liberalisation of postal markets continues to occur. On the eve of European market liberalisation, this session will examine how companies are positioning themselves to succeed in a more competitive environment. Expert speakers will describe the current trends and directions vis-a-vis investment in postal businesses in different regions. Other issues to be discussed include strategic alliances that are being formed in the current environment, and whether liberalisation presents new investment opportunities.

Chairman - Ingemar Persson, consultant, Sweden

The digital era presents enormous challenges and many opportunities for the postal sector. The 1.75 billion internet users and the 1 billion mobile broadband users of the world are revolutionising the way in which businesses, governments and citizens interact. In this forward-looking session, experts will define and describe the new frontiers of postal business and tell us who the pioneers in this new territory are. Solutions that are already in place will be identified, along with benefits for all postal sector players. Other issues to be discussed will be the global impact of e-commerce, whether e-communications will become a core postal business and customer choice regarding delivery solutions.

Chairman - Dirk Palder, vice president, Capgemini, Germany

The postal sector is one of the oldest network industries. Postal retail and distribution networks have continued to grow over centuries, driven by factors such as commerce, population growth, nation building and expanding government services. However, while access to postal services remains a key element of government policies, the nature of the postal business is changing rapidly. Eroding mail volumes, increasing package volumes and alternative means of communications are in their own way putting strains on the traditional model of a postal service provider. Panellists will define and discuss the principal issues that are now confronting postal strategists, including what is being done with 'legacy' networks, lessons from other network industries, new models and new opportunities for posts.

Chairman - Marten Buettner, director, European School of Management and Technology, Germany

This session will bring a range of views on the subject of addressing, and contribute to the broader UPU initiative 'Addressing the world: an address for everyone'. Private-sector and postal stakeholders will share their perspectives and experiences on the global issue of addressing, paying particular attention to technological developments and solutions. The audience will hear about significant ground-breaking advances already made in matching physical and electronic addresses.

Chairman - Charles Prescott, editor, Prescott Report, USA

Postal leaders are confronted with unprecedented challenges to the sustainability of their businesses. Having experienced the global economic crisis and its effects, the emphasis is now on developing business models to fit the environment of the new decade. The session will consider how posts have reacted to the global financial crisis, and which strategies they have adopted to ensure future success. Visions of the likely postal business environment five years from now will be discussed. CEOs from around the world will share their experience and insights with the audience.

Chairman - Kristian Sund, senior lecturer, Middlesex University, UK

Liberalisation of postal markets continues to occur. On the eve of European market liberalisation, this session will examine how companies are positioning themselves to succeed in a more competitive environment. Expert speakers will describe the current trends and directions vis-a-vis investment in postal businesses in different regions. Other issues to be discussed include strategic alliances that are being formed in the current environment, and whether liberalisation presents new investment opportunities.

Chairman - Ingemar Persson, consultant, Sweden

The digital era presents enormous challenges and many opportunities for the postal sector. The 1.75 billion internet users and the 1 billion mobile broadband users of the world are revolutionising the way in which businesses, governments and citizens interact. In this forward-looking session, experts will define and describe the new frontiers of postal business and tell us who the pioneers in this new territory are. Solutions that are already in place will be identified, along with benefits for all postal sector players. Other issues to be discussed will be the global impact of e-commerce, whether e-communications will become a core postal business and customer choice regarding delivery solutions.

Chairman - Dirk Palder, vice president, Capgemini, Germany

The postal sector is one of the oldest network industries. Postal retail and distribution networks have continued to grow over centuries, driven by factors such as commerce, population growth, nation building and expanding government services. However, while access to postal services remains a key element of government policies, the nature of the postal business is changing rapidly. Eroding mail volumes, increasing package volumes and alternative means of communications are in their own way putting strains on the traditional model of a postal service provider. Panellists will define and discuss the principal issues that are now confronting postal strategists, including what is being done with 'legacy' networks, lessons from other network industries, new models and new opportunities for posts.

Chairman - Marten Buettner, director, European School of Management and Technology, Germany

This session will bring a range of views on the subject of addressing, and contribute to the broader UPU initiative 'Addressing the world: an address for everyone'. Private-sector and postal stakeholders will share their perspectives and experiences on the global issue of addressing, paying particular attention to technological developments and solutions. The audience will hear about significant ground-breaking advances already made in matching physical and electronic addresses.

Chairman - Charles Prescott, editor, Prescott Report, USA