China Post Express Mail Service Bureau Selects Teradata Active Data Warehouse

Published 21st August 2006

Teradata's active data warehouse enables near-real time track-and-trace system
to improve service quality...

Teradata, a division of NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR), announced today that China Post Express Mail Service (EMS) Bureau has selected Teradata active data warehouse as the foundation for its new track-and-trace system.

The new system will help make China Post competitive with the world's leading express delivery companies in terms of quality of service and core business competencies. It will also strengthen brand image and promote business development for the organisation.

EMS is China's largest provider of express mail and courier service. It handles approximately 800,000 pieces of mail per day while servicing more than 200 countries and regions as well as 2,000 cities within China.

China Post began building its track-and-trace system in 1994 to help manage its rapid growth. Two systems-generations later, increasing customer requirements for high-quality services as well as the continued rapid expansion of its business drove EMS to seek an integrated system to improve its capabilities, better serve its major accounts and increase its market share.


After in-depth analysis and evaluation, EMS selected Teradata active data warehouse as the foundation for its new system.

EMS's new system integrates data and business information from its branches, transportation and logistics network, and international co-operation and production systems to provide near real-time and more detailed delivery information to customers. In addition, it provides internal workers with accurate and on-time information to efficiently handle internal inquiries and processes external inquiries faster. EMS previously used a short messaging service (SMS) system to provide feedback once every 10 minutes; its new system provides near real-time feedback.

The new system not only plays an effective monitoring and supervision role of the production processes, but it also helps standardise internal operation processes. More importantly, the new near real-time system enables tactical and strategic queries as well as decision analyses that help EMS generate value from information.

EMS officials in charge of the project recognised its value, saying, "The implementation of the new system signifies that China Post has made significant breakthroughs in applying information technology to the postal service. It also indicates that the China postal services will become world-class with this move. We are very satisfied with the current progress of the project and we believe that the new system will bring tremendous value to our business operations."

"We are very pleased to cooperate with EMS and are happy to see the initial progress and results," said Randy Wang, general manager of Teradata China. "This is the first time that Teradata is implementing an active data warehouse in China, and it is a very valuable effort for the logistics industry. We firmly believe that with the help of near real-time data updates and faster access to data, Teradata will help EMS realise value from its IT investment at a faster speed, improve its marketing capability and optimise customer relationships. Teradata's rich experience in data integration will help EMS build a world-class courier service and improve competitiveness for consumers."

The first phase of the new system will test-run this month. The nationwide pilot operation and systematic training will be completed in three phases from October to the end of December.