The hyper-competitive market of cross border e-commerce cannot be met by the traditional cross border postal networks. A collaborative end to end data-rich network is required for posts to deliver on customers and consumer needs and to retain, compete and win market share.

How does it work?

INTERCONNECT is a collaborative network of posts operating as a single operational network to offer e-retailers and consumers a reliable end-to-end cross-border postal delivery service with a range of must have features. Through INTERCONNECT,
participating posts are committed to receiving and delivering items from each other according to jointly agreed competitive standards for three service levels: Premium (tracked plus signature), Standard (tracked) and Economy (untracked).

INTERCONNECT covers cross-border packets up to 2kg (tracked and untracked) as well as parcels up to 30kg (tracked). Staying close to the latest market demands through ongoing development and quality improvement, INTERCONNECT aims at enabling posts to grow their volumes and their share of the e-commerce market. INTERCONNECT also features a suite of solutions aligned with customer needs: reliable end-to-end delivery times, full track and trace, easy-to-use return solutions, delivery choice, and improved customer service processes. IPC, through its central IT platform and operational supports and guides participating posts in the process of implementation, reporting, data capture and
performance improvement INTERCONNECT delivery rates are competitive and negotiated on a multi-lateral or bi-lateral basis.

Benefits for posts

Through INTERCONNECT, posts are in a position to grow their share of e-commerce volumes and traffic by offering a service that corresponds to e-retailers and e-consumers’ expectations. INTERCONNECT will also allow posts to gain in efficiency and save costs through the following features:

  • Focus on data capture and data exchange improves reliability (e.g. customs clearance, where applicable) and operational process efficiency
  • Harmonised labelling avoids overlabelling, standardises operational processing and enhance delivery quality
  • A collective improvement programme including network management services forums and IPC’s reporting systems and operational expertise, actively supports posts in their endeavours to improve quality across all Key Performance Indicators.
  • Access to competitive rates

Benefits for e-retailers and e-customers 

With INTERCONNECT, e-retailers will be able to rely on postal operators to offer their customers a cross-border delivery service in line with their expectations:

  • Reliable and competitive transit times
  • Access to a range of delivery options available in country of destination and easy-to-use return solutions based on a pre-paid label sent with the parcel or accessible through the internet
  • For Premium and Standard, track and trace during the transit process, from sending to delivery, with up to ten scanning events per item
  • A rapid resolution of cross-border customer queries (through the IPC Global Customer Service System)
  • Signature for proof of delivery for Premium service

Benefits for e-retailers and e-customers

With INTERCONNECT, e-retailers will be able to rely on posts to offer their customers a cross-border delivery service in line with their expectations:

  • Reliable and competitive transit times, depending on delivery service;
  • Access to a range of delivery options available in country of destination and easy-to-use return solutions based on a pre-paid label sent with the parcel or accessible through the internet;
  • For Premium and Standard, track and trace during the transit process, from sending to delivery, with up to ten scanning events per item;
  • A rapid resolution of cross-border customer queries (through the IPC Global Customer Service System);
  • Signature for proof of delivery for Premium service.

The INTERCONNECT™ process 

Based on data capture and exchange throughout the entire e-commerce delivery process, INTERCONNECT allows for a greater integration of posts. The backbone of all e-commerce features included in INTERCONNECT is the Central Data Store; this
platform connects all stakeholders involved from sending to delivery, as such allowing for full visibility throughout the entire delivery process and is the basis of all reporting tools.

Advanced Electronic Data (AED) is an integral part of INTERCONNECT and drives visibility, reliability and efficiency

INTERCONNECT

More information

To find out more about INTERCONNECT™, contact us via e-mail at marco.gruttgen@ipc.be.

INTERCONNECT™ members lounge

Click here to access the INTERCONNECT™ members lounge

What is INTERCONNECT™?

Read our brochure to find out what INTERCONNECT™ can offer posts