03-03-2022

Overall INTERCONNECT tracked volume in 2021 reached over 143.5m items, representing a 46.5% increase compared to 2020. Letter packets accounted for a total of 116.7m items and parcels for 26.9m items. Letter packets grew by 40% whilst parcel traffic has seen a record high increase of 86%.
The huge increase in parcel traffic is mainly due to the migration of parcel traffic from the E Parcel Group (EPG), successfully completed by the end of 2021. 

Throughout 2021, INTERCONNECT also saw its network extending further with four new posts joining: Flamingo Express Dutch Caribbean, Cyprus Post, Bulgarian Post and Emirates Posts. The  total number of posts participating in INTERCONNECT currently stands at 34 posts worldwide. 

With the recent changes in customs regulations, INTERCONNECT is now focusing on the development of a new ITMATT data validation solution to enhance the quality of ITMATT data and hence, facilitate customs processing. This new solution will complement the existing efforts INTERCONNECT devoted to ITMATT availability and data compliance in 2021. Furthermore, INTERCONNECT members have agreed to launch a new joint return solution for tracked packets, building on IPC’s successful Common Return Platform. The solution is planned for launch by summer 2022. An easy solution for returning e-commerce packets has always been a key condition for consumers to buy online cross-border as packets represent about 80% of INTERCONNECT volumes and remain clearly the preferred option for e-retailers to send goods through the postal network. According to the latest edition of the IPC Cross-Border E-Commerce Shopper Survey, 14% of consumers have returned all or part of their online purchase. 

INTERCONNECT is a unique undertaking of posts worldwide, joining forces to offer e-retailers and consumers reliable end-to-end cross-border postal delivery network, and a range of solutions that are crucial for the success of today’s e-commerce businesses. Through INTERCONNECT, participating posts are committed to receive and deliver items from each other according to jointly agreed very competitive standards for three service levels: Premium (tracked plus signature), Standard (tracked) and Economy (untracked).