A new player has entered the Australian domestic express market to take on the likes of Star Track Express, Toll-IPEC and AaE, following the acquisition and consolidation of six local Australian companies into a single entity called ParcelDirect Group. ParcelDirect Group is a joint venture between New Zealand Post and DHL.
The new entity, specialising in intrastate and interstate road express freight services and nationwide small parcel courier services, benefits from the local expertise of the six heritage businesses: Parcel Overnight Direct, Hills Transport, Northern Kope Parcel Express, Vicfast Couriers, PEP Transport and Couriers Please.
These businesses were acquired in 2008 and during the past twelve months have been consolidated into an extensive national network of 800 vehicles and 1,500 employees, contractors and drivers located across 56 branches, positioning the group as a leading market player.
Harlis Malkic, chief executive officer of the ParcelDirect Group said: “Individually the acquired businesses offer a uniquely personalised service in their state of origin and this is only enhanced in the new business structure.
“We’ve gained significant understanding and local knowledge from these businesses and want to ensure the local service enjoyed by customers is maintained throughout the national network.”
With a focus on market leading technology, the new group claims to have already become a leader in end-to-end supply chain visibility by rolling out in excess of 1,200 ‘sign-on-screen’ scanners to the network.
The next phase will involve a re-brand to refresh the current CouriersPlease branding and the addition of the ParcelDirect brand name to each of the state businesses. Progressively all of the ParcelDirect Group will introduce a red and yellow theme to vehicles and contractor uniforms.
“For our customers we have retained the business brand that they are used to, and the addition of the new joint name of ParcelDirect acknowledges the businesses are part of a new larger family.
“Our arrival to the market provides an exciting new nationwide alternative for customers requiring express distribution services,” said Mr Malkic.
Harlis Malkic, CEO
Harlis Malkic joined Parcel Direct Group as CEO in April 2009. Prior to this, Harlis was vice president Oceania for DHL Express.
Harlis joined DHL in 1989 as human resources manager Oceania, a role he held for five years, before taking up the position of human resources director at Westfield Holdings. Harlis returned to DHL in 1997 as general manager of DHL New Zealand, followed by a stint as general manager Saudi Arabia. Prior to joining DHL Express, Harlis worked at Coles Myer Ltd, starting in the Graduate Trainee program and culminating in an appointment as personal manager, Coles New World NSW.