PD CEN/TS 17073:2020 - Postal Services: Interfaces for Cross Border Parcels

In the ever-evolving world of global commerce, the need for efficient and standardized postal services is more critical than ever. Introducing the PD CEN/TS 17073:2020, a comprehensive standard that addresses the interfaces for cross-border parcels. Released on August 25, 2020, this standard is a pivotal resource for businesses and postal services aiming to streamline their international parcel operations.

Overview of PD CEN/TS 17073:2020

This standard, identified by the number PD CEN/TS 17073:2020, is a technical specification that provides guidelines and requirements for the interfaces used in cross-border parcel services. With a total of 38 pages, it offers detailed insights and protocols to ensure seamless integration and communication between different postal systems across borders.

Key Features and Benefits

• Comprehensive Coverage: The standard covers a wide range of topics related to cross-border parcel services, ensuring that all aspects of the process are addressed.
• Enhanced Efficiency: By standardizing interfaces, this document helps reduce delays and errors in international parcel delivery, leading to faster and more reliable services.
• Improved Communication: Facilitates better communication between different postal systems, ensuring that parcels are tracked and managed effectively throughout their journey.
• Global Compatibility: Designed to be compatible with international postal systems, making it easier for businesses to expand their reach globally.

Who Can Benefit from This Standard?

The PD CEN/TS 17073:2020 is an invaluable resource for a variety of stakeholders in the postal and logistics industry, including:

• Postal Service Providers: Enhance your service offerings and improve customer satisfaction by adopting standardized interfaces for cross-border parcels.
• Logistics Companies: Streamline your operations and reduce the complexity of managing international shipments.
• E-commerce Businesses: Ensure that your products reach international customers efficiently and reliably.
• Regulatory Bodies: Use this standard as a benchmark for evaluating and improving postal services in your region.

Technical Details

For those interested in the technical specifics, here are some key details about the PD CEN/TS 17073:2020:

• Standard Number: PD CEN/TS 17073:2020
• Pages: 38
• Released: August 25, 2020
• ISBN: 978 0 539 15096 4
• Status: Standard

Why Choose PD CEN/TS 17073:2020?

In today's interconnected world, the ability to send and receive parcels across borders efficiently is crucial for businesses and consumers alike. The PD CEN/TS 17073:2020 standard provides a robust framework for achieving this goal. By implementing the guidelines and protocols outlined in this document, organizations can ensure that their cross-border parcel services are not only efficient but also reliable and customer-friendly.

Moreover, adopting this standard can lead to significant cost savings by reducing the need for custom solutions and minimizing the risk of errors and delays. It also positions businesses to better compete in the global market by offering superior service quality.

Conclusion

The PD CEN/TS 17073:2020 is more than just a standard; it is a strategic tool for enhancing the efficiency and reliability of cross-border parcel services. Whether you are a postal service provider, a logistics company, or an e-commerce business, this standard offers the guidance and protocols needed to excel in the international market.

Embrace the future of postal services with the PD CEN/TS 17073:2020 and ensure that your cross-border parcel operations are second to none.

PD CEN/TS 17073:2020

This standard PD CEN/TS 17073:2020 Postal services. Interfaces for cross border parcels is classified in these ICS categories:

• 03.240 Postal services
• 35.240.69 IT applications in postal services

This document will specify the interface between the e-merchant (any commercial customer sending parcels) and the first logistic operator, including both public and private carriers. For the application of this document, a cross border parcel is a parcel crossing a border into and within Europe.

The interface is composed of two items:

• the physical label attached on the parcel: contents, sizes, minimum requirements to guarantee the quality and efficiency of the logistic process (sorting, delivery).

• the electronic exchanges between the sender and the logistic operator with the description of the data to be provided, the format of the exchanges.

While designated operators of UPU have drawn up business requirements using proprietary standards and related data components, online merchants have developed open, not-for-profit standards for final delivery which are integrated into their existing supply chain management environment.

NOTE 1 The data element enables the growth of integrated, data-driven systems which support highly efficient and customer-driven cross-border ecommerce. This reflects the current trend to B-to-B-to-C delivery solutions in the European and international cross border e-commerce markets. Delivery from original source to final consumer can be split over more than one service provider.

NOTE 2 C-to-B-to-B-to-C solutions will be an extension, in particular when returns are specified. The “first C” would indicate that consumers wishing to return items, or induct items themselves, will be able to print labels following the fundamentals specified in this standard.

E-merchants exchange data with logistic operators (i.e. the postal operators, but not limited to those designated to fulfil the rights and obligations of UPU member countries) to help, simplify and enable the consequential logistic and transactional tasks. The establishment of common definitions and electronic formats safeguards the reliability and decreases the overall costs by avoiding software development costs, multiple printing equipment, over-labelling during the process, and the manual sorting.