Determining Universal Postal Service Accessibility in Postal System by Applying Transport Connectivity Criterion

Univerzalna usluga u poštanskom sustavu omogućuje svakomu stanovniku pojedine države pristup osnovnom skupu poštanskih usluga prema jednakim uvjetima uz određenu razinu kakvoće usluge. Većina zemalja Europske Unije propisuje određene obveze, odnosno kriterije koje davatelji univerzalne usluge moraju ispunjavati vezano uz gustoću elemenata poštanske mreže. Kriteriji se razlikuju od zemlje do zemlje te ne postoji općeprihvaćen način za određivanje gustoće poštanske mreže. U dosadašnjim istraživanjima, dostupnost univerzalne usluge korisnicima analizirala se prvenstveno s aspekta davatelja usluge optimizacijom broja pristupnih točaka poštanske mreže, pri čemu kriterij prometne povezanosti nije bio primijenjen. Gustoća elemenata poštanske mreže u Republici Hrvatskoj uređuje se kao i u većini europskih zemalja nacionalnim regulatornim okvirima. U ovom radu provedena je analiza dostupnosti elemenata poštanske mreže prema postojećim kriterijima te određen pokazatelj dostupnosti usluge, kao osnova za usporedbu i određivanje dostupnosti usluge primjenom kriterija prometne povezanosti. Poseban je naglasak na određivanju dostupnosti poštanske usluge u ruralnom području. U tu svrhu definirano je područje obuhvata usluge, uzimajući u obzir prihvatljiva vremena putovanja za korisnike usluga u ruralnim područjima, te su određene vrijednosti pokazatelja dostupnosti usluge, primjenom kriterija prometne povezanosti. Analizom prihvatljivih vremena putovanja za tri načina pristupa korisnika poštanskom uredu: pješačenjem, bicikliranjem i osobnim vozilom, istražen je utjecaj i promjene vrijednosti pokazatelja dostupnosti. Razvijeni model za određivanje dostupnosti univerzalne usluge korisnicima usluge, primjenom kriterija prometne povezanosti, predstavlja podlogu za analizu utjecaja varijacija broja i rasporeda elemenata poštanske mreže na dostupnost univerzalne usluge.Universal service enables each resident of a certain country access to a basic set of postal services, with equal terms and a certain level of quality of service. Most countries of the European Union regulate certain specification, or criteria that universal service providers must meet, in connection to the density of elements of the postal network. The criteria vary from country to country, and there is no generally accepted method for determining the density of postal network. In previous research the accessibility of the universal service is mostly analysed in terms of the service provider, implementing the optimization of the number of access points of the postal network, where the transport connectivity criterion is not applied. Density of the elements of the postal network in in Republic of Croatia are similar as in most European countries, and is set by the national regulatory frameworks. In proposed research, a detailed analysis of the availability of elements of the postal network under the existing criteria is carried out, where service accessibility indicator is determined as a basis for comparison and determination of the service accessibility, according to the transport connectivity criterion. Special emphasis is on the accessibility of postal services in rural areas. For this purpose, service catchment area will be defined, bearing in mind the acceptable travel time for customers in rural areas, and accessibility indicator is determined, taking into account transport connectivity criterion. By analysing acceptable travel time for three possible travel modes: walking, cycling and by personal vehicle, impact and variation of the accessibility indicator for the proposed travel modes will be determined. Developed model to determine postal service accessibility is a basis for analysing impact of the variation of the number and formation of elements of the postal network on the universal service accessibility

Determining Universal Postal Service Accessibility in Postal System by Applying Transport Connectivity Criterion

Univerzalna usluga u poštanskom sustavu omogućuje svakomu stanovniku pojedine države pristup osnovnom skupu poštanskih usluga prema jednakim uvjetima uz određenu razinu kakvoće usluge. Većina zemalja Europske Unije propisuje određene obveze, odnosno kriterije koje davatelji univerzalne usluge moraju ispunjavati vezano uz gustoću elemenata poštanske mreže. Kriteriji se razlikuju od zemlje do zemlje te ne postoji općeprihvaćen način za određivanje gustoće poštanske mreže. U dosadašnjim istraživanjima, dostupnost univerzalne usluge korisnicima analizirala se prvenstveno s aspekta davatelja usluge optimizacijom broja pristupnih točaka poštanske mreže, pri čemu kriterij prometne povezanosti nije bio primijenjen. Gustoća elemenata poštanske mreže u Republici Hrvatskoj uređuje se kao i u većini europskih zemalja nacionalnim regulatornim okvirima. U ovom radu provedena je analiza dostupnosti elemenata poštanske mreže prema postojećim kriterijima te određen pokazatelj dostupnosti usluge, kao osnova za usporedbu i određivanje dostupnosti usluge primjenom kriterija prometne povezanosti. Poseban je naglasak na određivanju dostupnosti poštanske usluge u ruralnom području. U tu svrhu definirano je područje obuhvata usluge, uzimajući u obzir prihvatljiva vremena putovanja za korisnike usluga u ruralnim područjima, te su određene vrijednosti pokazatelja dostupnosti usluge, primjenom kriterija prometne povezanosti. Analizom prihvatljivih vremena putovanja za tri načina pristupa korisnika poštanskom uredu: pješačenjem, bicikliranjem i osobnim vozilom, istražen je utjecaj i promjene vrijednosti pokazatelja dostupnosti. Razvijeni model za određivanje dostupnosti univerzalne usluge korisnicima usluge, primjenom kriterija prometne povezanosti, predstavlja podlogu za analizu utjecaja varijacija broja i rasporeda elemenata poštanske mreže na dostupnost univerzalne usluge.Universal service enables each resident of a certain country access to a basic set of postal services, with equal terms and a certain level of quality of service. Most countries of the European Union regulate certain specification, or criteria that universal service providers must meet, in connection to the density of elements of the postal network. The criteria vary from country to country, and there is no generally accepted method for determining the density of postal network. In previous research the accessibility of the universal service is mostly analysed in terms of the service provider, implementing the optimization of the number of access points of the postal network, where the transport connectivity criterion is not applied. Density of the elements of the postal network in in Republic of Croatia are similar as in most European countries, and is set by the national regulatory frameworks. In proposed research, a detailed analysis of the availability of elements of the postal network under the existing criteria is carried out, where service accessibility indicator is determined as a basis for comparison and determination of the service accessibility, according to the transport connectivity criterion. Special emphasis is on the accessibility of postal services in rural areas. For this purpose, service catchment area will be defined, bearing in mind the acceptable travel time for customers in rural areas, and accessibility indicator is determined, taking into account transport connectivity criterion. By analysing acceptable travel time for three possible travel modes: walking, cycling and by personal vehicle, impact and variation of the accessibility indicator for the proposed travel modes will be determined. Developed model to determine postal service accessibility is a basis for analysing impact of the variation of the number and formation of elements of the postal network on the universal service accessibility

Determining Universal Postal Service Accessibility in Postal System by Applying Transport Connectivity Criterion

Univerzalna usluga u poštanskom sustavu omogućuje svakomu stanovniku pojedine države pristup osnovnom skupu poštanskih usluga prema jednakim uvjetima uz određenu razinu kakvoće usluge. Većina zemalja Europske Unije propisuje određene obveze, odnosno kriterije koje davatelji univerzalne usluge moraju ispunjavati vezano uz gustoću elemenata poštanske mreže. Kriteriji se razlikuju od zemlje do zemlje te ne postoji općeprihvaćen način za određivanje gustoće poštanske mreže. U dosadašnjim istraživanjima, dostupnost univerzalne usluge korisnicima analizirala se prvenstveno s aspekta davatelja usluge optimizacijom broja pristupnih točaka poštanske mreže, pri čemu kriterij prometne povezanosti nije bio primijenjen. Gustoća elemenata poštanske mreže u Republici Hrvatskoj uređuje se kao i u većini europskih zemalja nacionalnim regulatornim okvirima. U ovom radu provedena je analiza dostupnosti elemenata poštanske mreže prema postojećim kriterijima te određen pokazatelj dostupnosti usluge, kao osnova za usporedbu i određivanje dostupnosti usluge primjenom kriterija prometne povezanosti. Poseban je naglasak na određivanju dostupnosti poštanske usluge u ruralnom području. U tu svrhu definirano je područje obuhvata usluge, uzimajući u obzir prihvatljiva vremena putovanja za korisnike usluga u ruralnim područjima, te su određene vrijednosti pokazatelja dostupnosti usluge, primjenom kriterija prometne povezanosti. Analizom prihvatljivih vremena putovanja za tri načina pristupa korisnika poštanskom uredu: pješačenjem, bicikliranjem i osobnim vozilom, istražen je utjecaj i promjene vrijednosti pokazatelja dostupnosti. Razvijeni model za određivanje dostupnosti univerzalne usluge korisnicima usluge, primjenom kriterija prometne povezanosti, predstavlja podlogu za analizu utjecaja varijacija broja i rasporeda elemenata poštanske mreže na dostupnost univerzalne usluge.Universal service enables each resident of a certain country access to a basic set of postal services, with equal terms and a certain level of quality of service. Most countries of the European Union regulate certain specification, or criteria that universal service providers must meet, in connection to the density of elements of the postal network. The criteria vary from country to country, and there is no generally accepted method for determining the density of postal network. In previous research the accessibility of the universal service is mostly analysed in terms of the service provider, implementing the optimization of the number of access points of the postal network, where the transport connectivity criterion is not applied. Density of the elements of the postal network in in Republic of Croatia are similar as in most European countries, and is set by the national regulatory frameworks. In proposed research, a detailed analysis of the availability of elements of the postal network under the existing criteria is carried out, where service accessibility indicator is determined as a basis for comparison and determination of the service accessibility, according to the transport connectivity criterion. Special emphasis is on the accessibility of postal services in rural areas. For this purpose, service catchment area will be defined, bearing in mind the acceptable travel time for customers in rural areas, and accessibility indicator is determined, taking into account transport connectivity criterion. By analysing acceptable travel time for three possible travel modes: walking, cycling and by personal vehicle, impact and variation of the accessibility indicator for the proposed travel modes will be determined. Developed model to determine postal service accessibility is a basis for analysing impact of the variation of the number and formation of elements of the postal network on the universal service accessibility

Selecting the Flexible Last-Mile Delivery Models Using Multicriteria Decision-Making

Postal service providers can reorganise the last-mile delivery process within the scope of universal service and apply some of the flexible models for the organisation of the delivery. In this paper, the question of the selection of Flexible Last-Mile Delivery Models (FLMDMs) is treated using multicriteria decision-making. We have identified four different sustainable last-mile delivery models with an emphasis on the number of delivery workers. One postal service provider from Europe was selected, where the proposed FLMDMs were tested. The proposed last-mile delivery models are ranked using Multiple Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) techniques. In this context, MCDA techniques are used to make a comparative assessment of alternatives. The obtained results suggest the AB delivery model as the optimal choice for the last-mile delivery and complete allocation of the number of delivery workers

Određivanje dostupnosti elemenata poštanske mreže pomoću primjene gravitacijske metode

The accessibility of postal services is guaranteed by international and domestic regulations. Regulating certain density of postal network elements is the most commonly used mechanism that enables the accessibility of postal services to residents of a given country. Commonly used regulatory measures (criteria) are mainly adopted and supervised by regulatory bodies in the postal services market. This paper analyzes the application of the concept of spatial accessibility in the postal system as well as the analysis of the spatial characteristics of the selected research area. Gravity method was used to calculate the accessibility indicator of postal network elements, and therefore postal services.Dostupnost poštanskih usluga zajamčena je međunarodnim i nacionalnim zakonskim odredbama. Regulacija određene gustoće elemenata poštanske mreže mehanizam je koji se najčešće koristi u ostvarivanju dostupnosti poštanskih usluga stanovnicima određene zemlje. Općenito korištene regulativne mjere (kriteriji) uglavnom se usvajaju i nadgledaju od strane regulativnih tijela na tržištu poštanskih usluga. U ovom se radu analizira primjena koncepta prostorne dostupnosti u poštanskom sustavu, te se analiziraju prostorne karakteristike odabranih istraživanih područja. Pomoću gravitacijske metode napravljen je izračun indikatora dostupnosti elemenata poštanske mreže i poštanskih usluga

Express Services Market Analysis Based on the Lotka-Volterra Model – Case Study Serbia

This paper provides a preview of the former stages through which the market of express postal services had gone and the possibilities of further development, both on the global and local level. The aim of this paper is to complete an estimation of the need for this type of express services using the competitive Lotka–Volterra model in Serbia. In order to reduce the complexity of the process, the division of competition was conducted in two segments: the public operator and the private segment (comprised of all private operators). The given model provides a description of a dynamic competition relationship by indicating the existence of the equilibrium point between the public and the private sectors, and the conditions of its stability. The obtained values indicate that the private sector affects the public operator. The existing predator-prey relationship gives preference to the private sector and can be described by the Lotka-Volterra model.</p

Postal Network Feature Analysis in the Bjelovar-Bilogora County

Prema važećem regulatornom okviru, univerzalna usluga u poštanskom sustavu mora biti dostupna svim građanima Republike Hrvatske, neovisno o njihovu geografskom položaju, pod jednakim i transparentnim uvjetima. Davatelj univerzalne usluge mora ustrojiti poštansku mrežu tako da elementi poštanske mreže budu dostupni svim građanima. Dostupnost elemenata poštanske mreže i usluga osigurava se regulatornim kriterijima (međunarodnim i domaćim propisima) koje davatelj univerzalne usluge mora ispunjavati. Funkcioniranje poštanske mreže u ruralnim područjima zahtjevno je jer mreža mora osigurati dostupnost radi ispunjavanja obveze univerzalne usluge i u uvjetima smanjene gospodarske aktivnosti. U radu je provedena analiza stanja dostupnosti poštanske mreže u Bjelovarsko-bilogorskoj županiji. To će omogućiti i analizu regulatornih kriterija te njihov utjecaj na stvarnu dostupnost usluge.According to the regulatory framework, universal service in the postal system ought to be accessible to all citizens of the Republic of Croatia under equal and transparent conditions, regardless of their geographical position. The universal service provider has to establish the postal network in such a way that the elements thereof be accessible to all citizens. The accessibility of the elements of the postal network and services is ensured by regulatory criteria (international and domestic regulations) that the universal service provider ought to fulfil. The organisation of the postal network in rural areas is rather demanding, since the network has to ensure accessibility in order to fulfil the universal service obligation even under the conditions of reduced economic activity. The paper analyses the status of postal network accessibility in the Bjelovar-Bilogora County. This will also enable the analysis of the regulatory criteria and their impact on the actual accessibility of the postal service

Application of Set Covering Location Problem for Organizing the Public Postal Network

Most countries of the European Union ensure certain obligations (criteria) which universal service providers must meet to ensure the realization of the universal service. These criteria vary from country to country, giving their own choice of an optimal model for the density of the postal network. Such postal network of the operator providing universal postal service must be organized so that post offices are accessible at the optimal distance from the user. This paper presents two different approaches. The first one is based on the population criteria determined in the previous study. The second one is new, a general method created to determine the minimum number of postal unit applications of Set Covering Location Problem. The authors apply both methods on real data collected from the Serbian municipalities and finally, compare the obtained results.</p

Application of catchment area method for determining post office accessibility: case study Bjelovar-Bilogora County

Dostupnost pristupnih točaka u poštanskom sustavu važan je aspekt koji davatelji usluga, kao i regulatorna tijela trebaju uzeti u obzir pri planiranju kapaciteta poštanskih mreža. To je važno za pružanje univerzalne poštanske usluge. U ovome radu dostupnost poštanskih ureda određena je primjenom metode plutajućeg područja obuhvata u dva koraka (2SFCA). Geografski informacijski sustav (GIS) korišten je za prostornu analizu poštanske mreže, lokacija, izračun udaljenosti, primjenu metode i prikaz rezultata. Kriterijima iz postojećega regulatornog okvira definira se područje obuhvata.Accessibility of postal access points is an important part that service providers, as well as regulatory bodies should consider when planning postal network capacities. This is important for the provision of the universal postal service. In this paper, accessibility of post offices is determined by the application of the Two Step Floating Catchment Area method (2SFCA). Geographic Information System (GIS) was used for spatial analysis of postal network, locations, calculation of distances, application of the method and presentation of the results. The current regulatory framework is validated by using catchment area derived from the regulatory criterion