Conference Program

Room A The law of the jungle: the impact of recent postal legislation

The law of the jungle: the impact of recent postal legislation

The panel will consider elements of the new legislation and their impact (two panelists per issue. The unresolved issues - the lightning round, the golden rule - everyone pays for your mail and mandates, the optimal requirements for performance reporting, the sale of non-postal products, OPM fund management versus fund self-management, resolving the issue of full cost accounting, the OPM's conflicted role in pension fund management; Treasury loan reforms, lifting the US$3bn annual borrowing limit (and eliminating unnecessary borrowing), enlarging the US$15bn cap on borrowing, repayment of current loans from the prefund; postal borrowing and current debt repayment from funds, prefunding, full cost attribution, binding arbitration; and leveling the playing field of international parcel shipment.
Jim Sauber
Chief of Staff
National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC)
USA
David Williams
Former vice chairman, board of governors
US Postal Service
USA
Michael Kubyanda
Chairman
US Postal Regulatory Commission
USA
Paul Steidler
Senior fellow
Lexington Institute
USA
Moderator:
Ann Fischer, vice chairman, Postal Regulatory Commission

Room A Reverse Logistics

The e-commerce hangover

Tony Sciarrotta
Executive director and publisher
Reverse Logistics Association
USA
According to the NRF, 2021 retail returns represented 16.6% of total retail sales compared with 10.6% in 2020. As the number of returns grows, so do the costs associated with them. Returns are no longer the ‘dark side’ of the supply chain. Instead, retailers should embrace a well-managed returns process to deliver a great customer experience and competitive edge while managing the costs. In this session, we’ll share best practices in returns management and how to identify how much returns are costing your organization. In addition, we’ll share tips on how to use returns to your advantage.

Discovering opportunities for better sustainability in reverse logistics

Chuck Fuerst
Vice president of marketing
ReverseLogix
USA
Supply chain sustainability is a popular topic, but it’s typically centered on forward logistics. Learn how reverse logistics technology can manage the entire product returns process according to sustainability goals and priorities. Workflows can be configured to reflect priorities such as recycling or strict parameters for disposal. Return-to-vendor capabilities set rules for consolidating return shipments, saving on freight costs and transportation emissions. Customers can be encouraged to avoid shipping and instead return items to a local partner with return-on-behalf-of capabilities. Reverse logistics is a critical part of a sustainable supply chain, helping companies execute their goals and back up their sustainability claims.

Break

Room A The mail must get through: building a customer-centric middle mile

The mail must get through: building a customer-centric middle mile

The presentation will consider the following: If the postal service was building its network and transportation system for the first time, what would it look like for commercial and single-piece optimization? How would the plants be designed and positioned? How would the network interface with downstream entry? Would you make the system more simple or more complex? How would pricing work? What would the next evolutionary step for workshare look like? What would the role of more sortation delivery of local mail be, given advances in DPS capabilities at post offices or even delivery vehicles? What is meant by sorting to the light and what would it mean for network design? Are there other technologies that the postal service should consider integrating into its system or in the case of the FSS, should remove from plants?
Jessica Lowrance
Vice president, US postal policy
UPS
USA
Michael Scanlon
Practice area leader - policy and regulatory
K&L Gates LLP
USA
Bruce Marsh
Director, corporate public affairs
DP-DHL Americas
USA
Moderator:
Tammy Whitcomb, inspector general, United States Postal Service

Lunch

Room A Stormy Weather: Global Postal Trends.

The New Delivery Reality

Brody Buhler
Chief executive officer
Escher
USA
Escher's annual Future of Post research provides insights from over 200 executives in the industry representing over 74 countries. Brody will highlight key findings from the research combined with trends and analysis from the industry to give delivery organizations a clear path to success in the new delivery market.

tbc

Ron Stroman
Governor
United States Postal Service
USA
tbc

Imagining the future of delivery and logistics

Moses Ma
Managing partner
FutureLab
USA
Blockchain, crypto, sensors, digital twins, big data, physical internet and quantum computing technologies will form a cascade of digital revolutions that will build into a sweeping digital transformation of the postal, logistics and delivery industries. Just as decentralized finance (DeFi) is transforming financial services, decentralized delivery (DeDe) could shift the industry into a brighter, more profitable and optimized tomorrow. This presentation will provide a conceptual map for navigating the vast and undiscovered territories of the information revolution. But to surf these waves of digital disruption, businesses will need to learn how to adapt and innovate more rapidly than ever.

Emerging Robotic Technologies that Solve Real World Problems Can Drive Value for Retailers and their End Consumers

Stephanie Cannon
SVP, head of global platform & network
Pitney Bowes
USA
Ecommerce fulfillment and logistics is full of challenges. From labor wage pressures and staffing shortages, the need for speed and quality to the end consumer, flexibility for changing profiles, and capacity constraints in warehouse and transportation due to increased consumer demand, retailers need to find the most effective way to automate operations. Robotics in your fulfillment and logistics operations can not only deliver that value by giving retailers unique ways to solve real world problems but provide significant competitive advantages.

Addressing middle-mile strategies

Satyen Pathak
Account executive
Designed Conveyor Systems
USA
The presentation will define the middle mile versus the final mile, and outline strategies and technology that may be utilized.

Break

Third Party Fulfillmet Solutions

Maintain a competitive e-commerce advantage with 3PL automation

Alex Haines
New business development specialist
Bastian Solutions
USA
Automation in the world of third-party logistics (3PL) has unique considerations. Global market changes in supply chain networking have amplified the need to have an agile supply chain. With an increasing number of technology options available, having an expert integrator to analyze your business objectives can help you find the ultimate solution. This presentation reviews the pros and cons of in-house fulfillment versus using an experienced 3PL. Bastian’s experts will also navigate you through considerations like improved order accuracy, faster fulfillment, longer facility uptime and highly integrated software solutions to make your network more efficient and reduce pain points.

Third-party fulfillment – trends and opportunities for merchants

Dr Steven Rifai
General manager
Auctane
USA
Third-party fulfillment garnered a great deal of attention during the pandemic. Having long been a tool for shippers when volume became unwieldy, it is now being used to locate inventory closer to end consumers, among many other reasons. This session will explore the growth of fulfillment providers, trends to watch in 2022 and beyond, including micro-fulfillment, kitting/bundling, local delivery/same day, how to segment inventory for the right channels and a host of other trends, as well as the criteria shippers should use when selecting a fulfillment provider.

Room B Startup and Innovation Session

Startup pitches

• Five or six startups present their solutions • Pitch about five minutes followed by Q&A (five minutes) with a small expert panel (about three industry experts such as heads of innovation, strategy or operations • Interactive session with lively discussions
Jasper Deprez
CEO & co-founder
Tradler
Spain
Lora O’Toole
VP - business development
Dronedek
USA
Edward Shelton
Vice president of business development
ThorDrive
USA
Irina Filippova
Chief Operating Officer
Electrada LLC
USA
Brandon Pargoe
AirBox inventor and co-founder
AirBox Technologies
USA
Moderator:
Bernhard Bukovc, chairman, Postal Innovation Platform

Driving innovation – the ideal innovation architecture

The presentation will discuss how the innovation department/unit is integrated into the organization (mandate, architecture, etc); sourcing of innovation through startups; from sourcing to implementation – success criteria and risks; in-house-developed innovation versus startups or other external partners; advantages and disadvantages of being an investor or partner.
Ben Perlson
Robotics & automation lead
DHL Americas Innovation Center
USA
Naashom Marx Marx
Director of strategic innovation - advanced mobility
CVG International Airport
USA
John Callan
CEO
Ursa Major Associates LLC
USA
Andrew Kelley
VP of Corporate Development & Venture
five9
USA
Moderator:
Bernhard Bukovc, chairman, Postal Innovation Platform

Break

Room B New Technologies and the Transformation of the Supply Chain

The transformation of supply chains advances with high speed. Postal, logistics companies and retailers are transforming their processes and operational tools. The transformation, digitization, and automation of processes starts with the manufacturer or the entry of an item into the chain, changes sorting and transport as well as loading of vans, and brings new efficiencies to the delivery process. Digital transformation, data and automation are the key drivers for tomorrow's logistics and supply chain solutions. Panelists will discuss the opportunities, new technologies and challenges which will define the transformation of the industry.

Panel: New Technologies and the Digitization of the Supply Chain

Postal and logistics companies are transforming their processes and operational tools. The digitization of processes starts in the post office, changes sorting and transport and loading of vans and brings new efficiencies to the delivery process. Digital transformation, data and automation are the key drivers for tomorrow's postal and logistics solutions. Panelists will discuss the opportunities, new technologies and challenges which will define the transformation of the industry.
Oliver Brandl
Customer integration
Graphmasters GMBH
Austria
Brody Buhler
Chief executive officer
Escher
USA
Tim Sweeney
Sector Director, Advanced Manufacturing and Aerospace
JobsOhio
USA
Moderator:
Bernhard Bukovc, chairman, Postal Innovation Platform

Lunch

Room B Robotics and Automotion Innovations

Robotic induction of parcels and label detection for smart packaging

Herbert ten Have
CEO
Fizyr
Netherlands
Autonomous picking of parcels from bulk is Fizyr’s specialty, successfully performed for years. From white-on-white small envelopes and letterbox parcels to big boxes and overlapping bags of 32kg, we robustly detect non-conveyables, find the labels and place them correctly on the infeed of any sorter. Thanks to our deep learning algorithms, we can even pick directly from 3D bulk on a conveyor.

Approachable last-mile automated sortation – safe, quiet, scalable, efficient

Brad Gossard
Global general manager – RegalRexnord Modsort
RegalRexnord
USA
As intralogistics package volumes increase dramatically each year due to the impact of e-commerce coupled with manpower shortages and safety concerns, unit material handling applications continue to search for automated package diversion and sortation solutions. Sophisticated fixed automation sortation solutions for large facilities exist today but most of the last-mile applications remain manual. Converting manual package diversion or sortation to an automated solution across a wide variety of package types, sizes and weights is problematic. We will discuss the last-mile sortation application needs with an eye to throughput, safety, scalability, condition monitoring and efficiency.

The T.A.L.E. – four factors that could save you millions

Scott Eisenberg
Regional sales manager
EuroSort
USA
The T.A.L.E. of automated sortation can largely determine the success of your organization. Throughput, Accuracy, Labor and Efficiency. Whether you are a first/middle/final-mile carrier, 3PL, retailer or running an e-commerce operation, you want to optimize the T.A.L.E. factors to fit the story of your organization. We will discuss each factor and show you when, where and why you can expect improvements in each as a result of automating your parcel sortation. We will then analyze the ROI of an investment in this type of technology, so you have the tools to start analyzing the T.A.L.E. for your own operation.

AI robotics in the real world: addressing real-world production

Ariana Eisenstein
CTO
Pickle Robot Company
USA
The warehouse dock door and floor are very different from laboratory environments. Robotic systems deployed in the real world need to handle a wide variety of production volumes, timing and variability while still being easy to use by frontline warehouse associates. In this presentation, we walk through several real-world examples demonstrating Pickle Robot’s unique approach to addressing the various types of scenarios when parcels are handled sub-optimally, known as exceptions.

Launch your own international e-commerce shipping service with one API

Chad Schofield
Chief digital officer and co-founder
BoxC
USA
Amazon is poised to become the largest US package delivery carrier by early 2022. “These things don’t happen overnight,” said Dave Clark, CEO of Amazon’s worldwide consumer business. “We’ve been building the logistics infrastructure, the technology platform that drives it, for two decades now.” BoxC’s e-commerce logistics management platform empowers e-commerce businesses in logistics and retailing to take control of package delivery much like Amazon has, but without the investment in infrastructure and technology. Learn how e-commerce businesses can launch their own package delivery service, internationally and domestically, in 20 days rather than 20 years.

Break

tSort3D Innovates eCommerce Order Fulfillment for Customers

Mike Futch
President and CEO
Tompkins Robotics
USA
Tompkins Robotics launches the innovative tSort3D. This solution expands the capabilities of the tSort product suite by significantly multiplying the destination density and volume. tSort3D can be integrated into the existing tSort solutions, allowing delivery to thousands of sortation destinations from any point of induction into a much smaller footprint. Further, tSort3D can handle the widest range of product compared to other automated sortation solutions. Finally, tSort3D is modular adhering with the Tompkins Robotics passion to deliver adaptive, flexible, quickly deployed, low-cost solutions that our customers can implement quickly and grow and change as their operational requirements evolve.

Nine strategies to cut packaging costs

David Rose
Marketing manager
Veritiv
USA
Your packaging cost is made up of much more than just the cost of your materials. Before you create a strategy to cut costs, it’s important to get a clear understanding of the bigger packaging picture. Look beyond the box. Then you can start to understand how you can reduce costs in the long term instead of making short-term – and often short-sighted – efforts to cut costs. For example, through SKU consolidation, waste reduction, automation, package design and more.

E-commerce has evolved – the intersection between WMS and sorter automation

J P Thorpe
Director of business development - parcel solutions
BlueCrest
USA
Fulfillment and third-party logistics providers are looking to counter the rising costs of labor and carrier rate hikes while gaining more control over delivery timeframes and visibility. There are opportunities to accomplish both in the last mile, but one main consideration is the operational complexity of adding new data flows, processes and reporting. Sorter automation can apply shipping business logic independent of the warehouse system, using data output from the WMS for the collection of parcels, to sort items into an optimized workflow, including labeling and manifest preparation.

Room A In the clearing stands a boxer: the future of parcel shipping and e-commerce

In the clearing stands a boxer: the future of parcel shipping and e-commerce

This presentation will consider the following questions: What are the forces and commercial currents that will determine the demand for e-commerce fulfillment in a post-covid world? Which will energize growth? Which could result in smaller demand? What can be done to avoid risks and optimize opportunity? What are the various outcome scenarios given this business environment and customer demand? Which do you predict is most likely? What will influence the velocity of change (its speed and direction)? What will be the impact of such outcomes on the world of e-commerce and the coming world of the metaverse?
Brody Buhler
Chief executive officer
Escher
USA
Michael Plunkett
President and CEO
Association for Postal Commerce
USA
Moderator:
David Williams, former vice chairman, board of governors, US Postal Service

Room A The high price of loving you: command and control for postal pricing

The high price of loving you: command and control for postal pricing

What is the problem with the manner in which postal pricing is set and overseen? What alternatives do you see for postal pricing that support customers yet enable a sustainable postal service? What is the next logical evolutionary stage for setting postal prices? The presentation will address these questions and more.
Michael Plunkett
President and CEO
Association for Postal Commerce
USA
Robert Taub
Commissioner
Postal Regulatory Commission
USA
Rafe Morrissey
VP, Public Affairs
Greeting Card Assoc.
USA
Moderator:
Larry Buc, president, SLS Consulting, Inc

Break

Room A Big Data Solutions

Delivery Data: A Competitive Tool for the Integrated Customer Journeys

Dana von der Heide
Founder & chief commercial officer
Parcel Perform
Germany
The e-commerce boom has shifted global customer expectations and market leaders like Amazon have shown how critical it is to prioritize the delivery experience. Businesses can stay competitive by using powerful delivery data insights, real-time performance reports and accurate delivery promises to differentiate with the best customer experience after checkout. In this session, we discuss how extensive carrier mapping and streamlining last mile, order and warehousing events will help businesses create better personalized delivery experiences for customers. We will leverage case studies of leading brands who have derived actionable insights from standardized delivery data to achieve a higher customer satisfaction.

Impacts of Import Taxation Changes on U.S. Export

Devin Knight
Sr. director, operations & logistics
GlobalPost
USA
We will start with a brief overview of recent and past tax changes on imports and then we will share data from a recent study of our over 50,000 active U.S. exporters using GlobalPost today. The study will provide insights on of our shipper habits to see what the real impacts of the import tax changes over the past few years. Aside from our data on shipper habits we will also share common shipper complaints and thoughts regarding how these changes will impact the future of U.S. exports.

Parcel negotiation advice from former carrier executives

Mike Erickson
CEO
AFMS
USA
This presentation will offer expert carrier contract negotiation advice that will reduce your shipping costs. Many changes are happening today with UPS, FedEx, DHL and TNT and the levels of complexity surrounding today’s contracts. Gain valuable insight to negotiate better transportation pricing contracts and manage carrier contract changes. Learn how you can achieve best-in-class pricing and reduce overall shipping costs by 15-25%. You will walk away from this informative session with a new perspective on how to negotiate with the carriers.

Lunch

Room A Connecting the dots

“Connecting the Dots” – Providing Full Supply Chain Visibility

5-10 minute intro about the challenge of providing full visibility to all parties of parcel movement along the entire supply chain Panel of up to 4 experts will analyze technical challenges, examine state-of-art methodoligies and propose new solutions Interactive session with lively discussion
Amir Khaleghi
Co-Founder and CEO
CurbHub
USA
Tony Sciarrotta
Executive director and publisher
Reverse Logistics Association
USA
Oliver Brandl
Customer integration
Graphmasters GMBH
Austria
Moderator:
John Callan, CEO, Ursa Major Associates LLC

Room A Cross-border challenges and opportunities

Cross-border challenges and opportunities

Based on the PIP Cross-Border Report 2021 (published in February 2022), panelists will present and discuss current challenges for providing a ‘seamless’ cross-border service to their customers, and discuss new market opportunities for cross-border business as well as solutions to cope with new legal requirements. They will focus on new cross-border requirements and challenges; how postal and logistics companies can provide a seamless solution (focusing on e-commerce market needs); new solutions and technologies that will help to seize market opportunities.
Kate Muth
Executive director
International Mailers Advisory Group (IMAG)
USA
Michael Pakula
CEO and Co-Founder
BoxC
USA
Moderator:
Bernhard Bukovc, chairman, Postal Innovation Platform

Break

Room B Door Wars

Crossing the Threshold – Getting the Goods into the Customers’ Hands

5-10 minute intro about the problem of “porch piracy,” its high cost to industry, merchants, service providers and negative impact on customer experience (CX); and the need to actually get the goods into the customers’ hands Panel of up to 4 experts in criminology, security technology and product design will analyze challenges and propose new solutions Interactive session with lively discussion
Dr Ben Stickle
Associate professor of criminal justice administration
Middle Tennessee State University
USA
Martin Nevison
Founder and CEO
Real Time Logistics
USA
Glenn Lombino
Senior Consultant
Ursa Major Associates, LLC
USA
Moderators:
John Callan, CEO, Ursa Major Associates LLC
Moderators:
John Callan, CEO, Ursa Major Associates LLC
John Callan, CEO, Ursa Major Associates, LLC

Room B Innovation and Sustainability Solutions for the Last Mile

Making the last mile more sustainable

Michael Richmond
Chief commercial officer
Doddle
UK
Sustainability is the most important theme of our generation, and parcel carriers and postal organizations are spending millions in their efforts to make the final mile more sustainable. But with the incredible growth in e-commerce over the past few years, those organizations are struggling to contain the impact e-commerce is having on greenhouse gas emissions. This presentation takes a look at one significantly overlooked ‘easy-win’ in the sustainability debate and challenges those moving our e-commerce packages to do more.

The Green Last Mile - sustainablity through a fleet strategy

Dan Bourgault
CEO
The FRONTdoor Collective
USA
The ever growing need for first and last mile delivery has shippers looking to add sustainability as an important feature to draw more loyal and repeatable customers to their shopping experience. From the manufacturing of the products, to packaging, to the delivery to the frontdoor are all vecoming important things to consider for attraction and growing a customer base. There are many things to consider when shippers are looking for greener options to deliver beyond their customers expectations. Electric vehicles are not the only consideration. This presentation will cover all points including the debate of fleet vs gig driver network.

Break

Sustainable retail: designing the future of commerce

Scot Case
VP, corporate social responsibility and sustainability
National Retail Federation
USA
As retailers race to decarbonize their businesses and to facilitate the decarbonization of their entire value chains, packaging creates a unique conundrum. Consumers, by far the most significant stakeholder for any retailer, are concerned about the environmental impacts of packaging even though, from a retail sustainability perspective, packaging is not the most significant impact. Learn how retailers are addressing consumer concerns while keeping their eyes on the broader sustainability issues important to investors, scientists and governments around the world.

Understanding the complex transformative journey required for full fleet electrification

Rahul Gangal
Partner & leader, automotive and industrials canada, roland berger
Roland Berger
Canada
Roland Berger developed a full-fledged transformative decarbonization plan for one of the leading postal service providers for electrifying their entire vehicle fleet (14k+ vehicles). Phases of support included the selection of an appropriate BEV platform basis their usage requirements (considering market availability, vehicle performance, TCO evaluation, etc.), creation of a charging infrastructure plan, redesign of their vehicle procurement process and finally, design of their operational roll-out for the developed plan (scenario-based approach). As a part of the exercise, we also highlighted relevant non-fleet measures that can further support the client's overall emission reduction objectives.

Decarbonizing the last mile of delivery

Steve Hornyak
Chief revenue officer
BrightDrop
USA
Demand for global e-commerce is soaring as we order more online – from clothes to groceries – while expecting our deliveries to arrive faster than ever. Meanwhile, consumers increasingly want their packages to arrive at little cost to the environment. This explosive growth in online shopping is adding convenience to our lives but leading to a multitude of challenges for companies trying to keep pace with the demand, including dramatic increases in greenhouse gas emissions and congestion. This session will provide thought-provoking discussion on the trends shaping the future of e-commerce, and innovative solutions designed to tackle these challenges head-on.

Lunch

Contactless smart delivery to your porch

Brandon Pargoe
AirBox inventor and co-founder
AirBox Technologies
USA
Smart mailbox receptacles will control the security of your packages by bike, bot or drone. Free shipping days are behind us. The first wave of e-commerce was mostly about price, while the second wave is all about the customer experience. Eighty-four percent of a company’s existing customers state that they won’t return to the brand after one poor delivery experience. A negative order delivery experience will have an irreparable impact on your relationship with customers. Frustrated customers won’t consider shopping with you again. Today’s customers choose who to purchase from based on their overall experience.

Automation and the future of logistics/supply chain

Lora O’Toole
VP - business development
Dronedek
USA
From the beginning of the supply chain to last-mile logistics, autonomous systems can make the industry more sustainable, secure and efficient for businesses, employees and customers alike. With unprecedented +32% growth in e-commerce in 2020 largely due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the logistics industry is growing rapidly to keep up with demands. This talk will explore the broader impacts of electric vehicles (EVs), autonomous systems and smart infrastructure in the space to discuss how these technologies can make our lives simpler, safer and more connected.

Overcoming the challenges of the LAST MILE – It is not only about selecting the best suited service for the location, but also the right tech solutions to execute it

Mirja Nissen
Director of eCommerce Solutions
International Bonded Courier Inc.
USA
The idea of the presentation is to focus on the FINAL part of the transportation chain, also known as the LAST MILE delivery portion; and show which factors impact the service levels and ultimately a customer’s experience, but also a business’ margins and overall costs.

Break

The Prime problem: how Amazon steals your market share and what to do about it

Jason Murray
CEO and co-founder
Shipium
USA
Join Jason Murray, former 19-year Amazon veteran, as he demystifies the secrets of Amazon Prime’s biggest competitive edge: its last-mile fulfillment tech stack. Walk away with a plan to fight back as he arms you with the playbook to make your last-mile deliveries as fast and profitable as Prime.

What’s next for last-mile fleets

Mark Thomas
VP - marketing and alliances
Ridecell
USA
Fleet automation is the next frontier for last-mile fleets. Automated roadworthiness checks and remedies, vehicle assignments with digital keys and self-securing vehicles when in service are all aspects of the digital transformation of last-mile delivery fleets.

Business, economic and safety impacts of autonomous deliveries

Ted Fagenson
Chief commercial officer
Udelv
USA
What are the business, economic and safety impacts of autonomous deliveries for B2B and B2B2C companies? Lower delivery costs associated with electric vehicles coupled with unmanned vehicles have the potential to create enormous value to a company’s bottom line, but do the economics actually deliver? Are consumers accepting of this radical step forward, or will the reaction be “not in my neighborhood”? We will explore the quantitative and qualitative data gathered to date.

Simplifying driver safety for last-mile fleets

Ted Chen
Co-founder
LifeSaver Mobile
USA
Driver safety is a top pain point for last-mile fleets. With challenges like driver retention, the global chip shortage and limited budgets, it's even harder to move the needle on top issues like driver safety. Working with some of the largest last-mile fleets in North America, LifeSaver Mobile will explain how it helps last-mile fleets overcome these challenges to improve driver safety.