CROSS-BORDER: CRONOS challenge was that the total volume handled through CRONOS during the peak period in 2023 far exceeded the expectations of both the IPC and the member posts,” adds Kwisthout. “These challenges resulted in some backlogs at the central hub, which handled them on a first-in, first-out basis to minimize delays.” Cross-border reliability and cost Reliability, cost and sustainability (see How will CRONOS help the postal industry reduce emissions? , page 51) were the key drivers for setting up CRONOS, according to Kwisthout and PostNord’s Larn. “Many posts prefer to provide customers with a slightly longer transportation time that they can abide by, instead of giving a shorter time that might end up being extended by several days,” says Kwisthout. “This is exactly the strength of the CRONOS network. IPC has backup vehicles available from transporters contracted for the CRONOS network, providing ad hoc capacity solutions where needed to maximize the reliability.” PostNord realized the benefits of a ground-based cross-border network during Covid-19 when it had to “improvise and swiftly build its own truck network across Europe to handle international mail”, Larn notes. “After a short time, we began sharing the European trucks with the other European postal companies and built a functioning truck network,” he adds. “Along the way we all realized that this could work on a more permanent basis, and at a lower cost than this ad hoc crisis solution came with. We also realized that the network we established was quite stable with regard to delivery times and more sustainable than air delivery.” PostNord became one of the first posts to join the CRONOS initiative, delivering both inbound and outbound mail. “Costs are shared on a link-by-link basis and based on volume,” explains Larn. “The IPC handles the day-to-day running of the network, providing full data on the actual movement of the mail inside the network to the members.” For some high-volume destinations PostNord still uses its own trucks for delivery. These trucks, combined with the additional CRONOS destinations, mean that almost all the post’s European volumes are now being delivered on the road. “We are also planning to add more destinations in the coming year,” says Larn. Reflecting on the first year of operations within CRONOS, Larn says, “CRONOS gives us better stability over time. In airlift we are in full competition with the ABOVE: PostNord was one of the first posts to join CRONOS for inbound and outbound mail delivery other logistics operators booking volume with the carriers. Also, as we mainly use passenger flights, the space we have for mail depends on the number of passenger tickets sold. “Finally, we are quite dependent on the performance of individual local ground handlers. By shifting to a postal controlled road network, driving from our sending postal facility directly to the recipient postal facility, we not only get much better end-to-end control on the transportation itself but we also skip a lot of the uncertainties with the additional partners involved in airlift,” he adds. The IPC is now working with PostNord and its other member posts to explore ways to make the CRONOS network even stronger. “We are currently setting up a plan for CRONOS 2.0, taking all the lessons learned during the first year to provide better reliability and visibility to all the members,” Kwisthout explains. “Our aim is to provide an extremely reliable road service and attract new posts to join CRONOS.” As part of CRONOS 2.0, the IPC hopes to increase the volumes and routes served. If there is enough demand, additional hubs like the one in Findel will be considered. The IPC is also open to considering other ground-based transportation networks – such as rail – to strengthen CRONOS. “We are currently set up as an exclusive road network, but if future requirements from the member posts would lead to more efficient transportation by rail, this will definitely be considered,” Kwisthout concludes. THE NETWORK WE ESTABLISHED WAS QUITE STABLE WITH REGARD TO DELIVERY TIMES” Knud Larn, PostNord CRONOS 2.0 At launch, CRONOS was transporting 140 tons of mail per week 52 www.ParcelandPostalTechnologyInternational.com March 2024 Taina Sohlman – stock.adobe.com