Xpress launches "Speedmail deliveries"

Chennai, Aug 20 (UNI) The Chennai-based Xpress Deliveries, a leading corporate courier services company, today launched "Speedmail Deliveries", marking its entry into the retail courier business.

Talking to reporters, its Directors S Vijayakumar and R Muthukumaran said at present the company would operate in Chennai with 30 franchisees by the end of this month.

''We will will expand to operations to other cities in Tamil Nadu with 300 franchisees by March 2009'', they added.

They said the 300 franchisees would come up with an investment of about Rs four crores.

''At present we are handling about 20 lakh documents for corporate customers. By venturing into retail courier business, we are targetting one crore document deliveries per month by 2012, while expanding the business to entire South India and later to North''.

''We will gradually venture into parcel service also'', they said.

They said in spite of the technological advancements in transferring data electronically, the need to transport important documents, letters and packages in a safe and secure manner was constantly on the rise, giving way to new, highly lucrative and challenging business opportunities in the courier service industry, which was estimated at around Rs 7000 crores.

''We have already made our mark in the corporate sector, across Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Bangalore and Hyderabad, having some of the biggest corporate companies as our clients. Speedmail Deliveries is our attempt to extend our services to the retail market.'', they said.

Mr Vijayakumar said Speedmail Deliveries has fully equipped with the necessary delivery infrastructure and manpower required to cater to the retail market. The company has about 1,500 delivery staffs, 200 back office staffs, 140 branch offices, eight hub offices and the capacity to handle over 20 lakh covers per month.

The corporate and retail courier divisions put together would employ 2,500 people in 2009 and the staff strength would go up to 3500 by 2010.

''We are expecting the turnover to touch Rs 15 crores by 2009 and Rs 25 crores by 2010'', he added.

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