"We use the data to help us determine which locations are suitable for a post office"
TNT Post
“Now that the
250 jointly operated main post offices are disappearing from our streets as
part of our cooperation with ING, we are rolling out our own network of TNT
Post sales outlets in shops,” says Location Policy Advisor Paulien Koeten. “We use Locatus data to help us formulate and
implement our location policy for all TNT Post sales outlets.”
“We embarked on
this process in 2008. As the 250 main post offices that come under our joint
venture with ING (formerly Postbank) disappear, they will be replaced by TNT
Post sales outlets in shops. Postal services and banking services are deliberately
being kept separate. For every main post office that closes, two or thre
e TNT
Post sales outlets will open in shops. We will be opening a total of 750 postal
outlets. Our location policy advisors use Locatus data to identify suitable locations
and our Acquisition Managers act on their location advice.
“We use several different sets of data for this purpose: data from the Catchment Area Explorer, a selection of data from the Retail Outlet Explorer and data from the Benchmark Explorer. This enables us to determine which retail outlets will serve as the best location for a TNT Post sales outlet. One of
our primary considerations is convenience for the consumer. So you will find many of our postal outlets in supermarkets, because supermarkets have longer opening hours and because that’s where consumers go to do their daily shopping. Tobacconists, newsagents and bookshops are also suitable locations because their product ranges are in keeping with our products and services.
“This particular project will be completed by the end of 2011. But even after that the Locatus data will continue to be an important resource for us. There are currently approximately 2500 TNT Post sales outlets in the Netherlands and the number of outlets is always changing. For example, if a retailer shuts down one of its outlets, we use the data to help us identify a new suitable location. And if a retailer wants a TNT Post sales outlet in their shop, we use the Locatus data to help us assess their application. The data from the Catchment Area Explorer enables us to determine how attractive a location is to the consumer. We are also constantly in the process of optimising our network of postal outlets. We examine how many locations are required to provide the best possible service for the consumer. The Locatus data helps us to determine whether we have the right number of TNT Post sales outlets in a particular area.”
