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If I Were Advising a Parcel Delivery Company CEO…

Parcel delivery companies face a defining moment. Trust in traditional players remains high, but the industry is at risk of falling behind in innovation and progress. The market is noisy, the customer expectations are soaring, and competitors—fueled by cutting-edge technology—are setting new standards.

Let’s take Royal Mail as an example. While recent partnerships, like their collaboration with Wiliot for IoT-enabled tracking, are a step in the right direction, they risk falling into the trap of surface-level initiatives without a coherent, bold strategy to transform the core business.

If I were advising a parcel delivery CEO, this would be my approach to reimagine their business and rise above the noise:

1. Build an In-House Tech Powerhouse

A strong in-house technology team isn’t just a department—it’s the future engine of a delivery company. By embedding technology talent directly within the organisation, you gain:

• Control and Customisation: Tailor solutions to fit your operations seamlessly. AI-powered delivery scheduling, real-time route optimisation, and personalised customer interfaces become uniquely yours.
• Immediate Responsiveness: Faster development and problem-solving mean you're not waiting on external providers.

A strong in-house tech capability transforms a parcel company into a technology-first logistics leader.

2. Partner with Startups Aligned to Innovation

Why reinvent the wheel? The most transformative innovations are often born in agile startups. I’d recommend bringing 6–10 carefully selected startups into the fold—startups focused on:

• AI for predictive logistics.
• Last-mile delivery optimisation.
• Green tech solutions like EV fleet management or carbon-neutral packaging.
• IoT for smarter asset tracking, like Royal Mail’s use of tagging on its York containers.

Acquiring or partnering with these startups would allow the company to rapidly inject innovation into its operations while fostering a culture of entrepreneurship.

3. Collaborate with Technology Giants

While startups bring agility, collaboration with major players like Amazon, Google, or Microsoft offers unparalleled scale. Imagine leveraging Amazon’s expertise in AI, logistics, and customer data while integrating their parcel delivery elements. Such a partnership could unlock:

• Access to superior AI models to optimise delivery routes and predict demand.
• Shared technological infrastructure to scale efficiently.
• Exposure to global best practices in logistics.

This would establish a future-ready foundation for innovation and collaboration.

4. Data-Driven Insights for Smarter Campaigns

Turn operational data into actionable insights that empower businesses to:

• Deliver Targeted Mailouts: Help businesses reach the right audience with precision, enhancing value while reducing waste.
• Optimise Campaign Performance: Provide tools for tracking and adjusting mailouts based on engagement and outcomes.
• Promote Sustainability: Minimise unnecessary mail by sending only what’s relevant, aligning with eco-conscious practices.