ECS Group's Mail & More volume up 87% in 2023

ECS Group, the only GSSA to offer a unique parcel-focused service solution bringing international postal operators, e-commerce retailers and airlines together with Mail & More, transported 900 tonnes in 2023- an increase of over 87 percent compared to 480 tonnes in 2022.

"When it comes to air cargo commodities, the distinction between mail and e-commerce is becoming ever more blurred. Two common denominators set them apart from general cargo: they increasingly consist of small, individual parcels and their processes fall out of the air cargo handling norm. ECS Group’s Mail & More offers a scalable solution to all airlines looking to place greater emphasis on this rapidly growing product niche," says an official release.

Jonathan Fredericks, Managing Director, Mail & More, ECS Group says: "“Mail & More completely removes the challenges and complexity that mail or e-commerce bring to an airline’s operational processes. We act as an affiliated, specialised team to our airline customers, and cover the entire process from commercial responsibilities to capacity sourcing and allocation, all the way through to digital support. To date, we are the only GSSA to offer this service as a comprehensive package, developed based on our long-standing experience in airmail. Mail & More is not just unique but also constantly being adapted to ensure that our customers always receive the best service without having to deal with any of the complexity.”

In less than a decade, the number of e-commerce parcels has more than tripled and cross-border e-commerce has doubled, the release added. "Over 131 billion parcels were carried across the world in 2020, and it is predicted that in just two years from now, this number will have grown to 266 billion. Almost 80 percent of cross-border e-commerce travels by air, and the commodity already constitutes around 20 percent of all air freight carried. e-commerce is therefore not simply an increasingly attractive base-load opportunity but a key component for success, driving airlines to adapt to today’s changing logistics market. Major airlines have begun initiating change, allocating warehouse and staff resources, and restructuring or partnering with 3PLs so as to provide optimum parcel handling. Many opt for ECS Group’s Mail & More Ability to cover the commercial side of operations."

Adrien Thominet, Executive Chairman, ECS Group adds: “With Mail & More, we build a bridge between two very parallel and often separate transport systems: our customers are airlines and e-commerce or postal operators. We offer a fully functional and highly experienced interface on two essential levels: Commercial and System. Commercial ensures that parcel flows are matched with regular, available cargo capacity. System and consultancy refer to set-up procedures that enable airlines and postal operators to continue using their documentation processes, regardless of whether they use CNs or AWBs. Our plug & play Mail EDI system, at no extra cost, is the digital interface translating and linking the two digital data channels.”

The inhouse digital support solution, Mail EDI, increases operational efficiency, allows end-to-end transparency and tracking, and ensures quality compliance in line with airlines’ and postal operators’ processes and Universal Postal Union (UPU) regulations. It also allows reporting, performance steering, tracking and tracing, accounting, and billing, the release added.