The CLS Blog

Mar 10, The PPZ: A Blueprint for Postal Cross-Border Ecommerce & Logistics

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 09:30:30 -0400

Discover the Postal Prosperity Zone (PPZ), a tried and tested blueprint for efficient and effective postal cross-border ecommerce and logistics.

Mar 10, The Postal Prosperity Zone: How Posts Lost Control and Volume

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 07:01:12 -0400

Designated Operators currently play only a minor role in cross-border ecommerce—they can regain leverage, data, and margins with the Postal Prosperity Zone.

May 25, The evolution of postal tariffs: past, present & future

Thu, 25 May 2023 04:16:40 -0400

Postal tariffs from the 1970s to the present: how terminal dues and changing rate systems reflect international development and shape the global postal network.

Jan 30, VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA): next digital disruption in ecommerce

Mon, 30 Jan 2023 07:40:41 -0500

The EU’s 2023 ViDA (VAT in the Digital Age) reform impacts ecommerce, with e-invoicing, single VAT registration, and mandatory use of IOSS for B2C imports.

Jun 15, Postal customs clearance procedures and the EU VAT Ecommerce Package

Wed, 15 Jun 2022 04:52:50 -0400

Exploring changes to postal customs clearance procedures and VAT payments following the 1.7.2021 EU VAT Ecommerce Package.

Sep 21, Coming soon: The Future of (E)Commerce

Tue, 21 Sep 2021 00:00:00 -0400

Ecommerce is growing and will continue to grow – so far, no surprise. Ecommerce as a part of global commerce is becoming increasingly important: in 2020, ecommerce already accounted for 22% of global retail, and the annual growth (further accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic) was 26%. Yet there is still a lot of potential upside. While ecommerce already accounts for 50% of retail in China, resulting in the largest ecommerce market in the world by far, the share in most Western countries is between 10-15% (with the exception of the UK at 23%). Marketplaces with their associated platform economies are extremely successful and seemingly unstoppably expanding their dominance: in 2020, more than 75% of all ecommerce revenue was generated through marketplaces, more than 50% of which through Ali, Amazon and JD alone. "Old”, traditional, store-based retailing has been largely written off, seen as having no chance against the highly efficient and digitalized ecommerce service providers. This development is irreversible. Consumer needs and preferences, the ever-increasing opportunities offered by digitalization, and the cost and efficiency advantages of data-driven ecommerce service providers make it very likely that ecommerce will continue to grow at the expense of traditional, store-based retail. While ecommerce is growing, fundamental business models and the market have also been changing since 2020, accelerated by the pandemic. The market and business models are developing rapidly and sustainably – often unnoticed by the general public. In our new CLS series, the Future of (E)Commerce, we will be highlighting and examining several interesting developments in the market, starting with:
• How the rise of food delivery fundamentally changes business models, customer expectations and ecommerce logistics, even challenging the dominance of electronic interfaces as illustrated by current developments in the USA
• Why omnichannel is becoming a “must have”, and why suddenly traditional retail seems to be holding better cards than the online retailers and marketplaces which currently dominate.
• What Digitalization 2.0 really means, which business models are threatened by future developments, and which ones will benefit. Watch this space!

Aug 16, Will postal fees for IOSS terminate UPU Universal Service in the EU?

Mon, 16 Aug 2021 11:04:10 -0400

Some postal operators are planning to charge postal fees for the Import One Stop Shop (IOSS). What are the options for a more expensive postal channel?

Jul 15, Cross Border Trade: Is OSS Only A Transitional Solution?

Thu, 15 Jul 2021 08:03:56 -0400

The OSS solution introduced by the EU VAT Ecommerce package is designed to facilitate cross border trade. We believe this will only be a transitional solution.

Jun 30, Der Standard: "China-Schnäppchen" werden teurer: Welche Regeln ab 1. Juli gelten

Wed, 30 Jun 2021 05:18:25 -0400

Austrian newspaper Der Standard talks with CLS experts Walter Trezek and Martin Füll about the impact of the IOSS (in German). Einfuhr-Umsatzsteuer wird ab dem ersten Cent verrechnet, die meisten Kunden dürften dank "Import One Stop Shop" aber von Formalitäten verschont bleiben: Author Georg Pichler, 29 June 2021.

Jun 16, One Stop Shop (OSS): Simplifying Intra-EU VAT Payment

Wed, 16 Jun 2021 06:16:17 -0400

Ecommerce Big Bang Series: The EU VAT e-commerce package and VAT for intra-EU ecommerce. A guide to the simplified VAT payment option, the One Stop Shop (OSS).

Jun 11, IOSS: How The Import One Stop Shop Simplifies Ecommerce VAT Payments

Fri, 11 Jun 2021 08:31:42 -0400

Ecommerce Big Bang Series: IOSS Import One Stop Shop – The simplified VAT payment model introduced on 1 July 2021 as part of the EU eCommerce VAT Package.

Jun 8, B2C E Commerce from 1.7.21: Impact of the EU e-Commerce VAT Package

Tue, 8 Jun 2021 10:03:58 -0400

Ecommerce Big Bang Series: Our guide to the changes coming on 1 July 2021: Before & After – How the EU e-Commerce VAT package impacts B2C e commerce.

Feb 3, Ecommerce Trends 2020: The Impact Of COVID-19 On Ecommerce In 2020

Wed, 3 Feb 2021 04:09:57 -0500

Discover the impact of COVID-19 on online sales of products and services, brick-and-mortar business and ecommerce trends 2020 in Ecommerce Europe member survey

Jan 27, Ecommerce: Steps To End VAT Evasion and Online Retail Fraud

Wed, 27 Jan 2021 04:18:35 -0500

Digitalized processes & harmonized labels enhance the security and transparency of global delivery, generating revenue by ending VAT and online retail fraud.

Jan 5, International Ecommerce: 8 Factors Impacting Online Retail in 2021

Tue, 5 Jan 2021 12:35:16 -0500

8 factors including mandatory EAD for commercial items and the One Stop Shop (OSS) system for fiscal representation will shape international ecommerce in 2021.

Nov 30, Import Customs Clearance & Low Value Consignments

Mon, 30 Nov 2020 11:00:54 -0500

Harmonized UPU & CEN specifications for import customs clearance and presenting LVC creates level playing field for posts & CEP operators from July 2021

Oct 12, One Stop Global: Electronic Advanced Data in the Global Postal Network

Mon, 12 Oct 2020 08:39:15 -0400

Oct 2020: UPU CC Chairman Walter Trezek moderates BNEW session One Stop Global on electronic advanced pre-declaration for cross-border ecommerce globally.

Oct 1, EC publishes explanatory notes on the EU VAT Ecommerce Package

Thu, 1 Oct 2020 04:52:38 -0400

On 30 September 2020, the European Commission published Explanatory Notes on the new VAT ecommerce rules. These rules come into force on 1 July 2021, simplifying VAT obligations for companies carrying out cross-border sales of goods or services (mainly online) to end consumers, and ensuring that the VAT on these sales is paid correctly to the Member State in which the supply takes place. The notes contain in-depth explanations and clarifications, including practical examples for suppliers or electronic interfaces (e.g. marketplace, platform) involved in ecommerce transactions, demonstrating how to apply the rules. The explanatory notes are intended to help online businesses, in particular SMEs, to understand their VAT obligations arising from cross-border deliveries to EU consumers.

Sep 17, Digital Post Services: This Is A Revolution, Not Evolution

Thu, 17 Sep 2020 10:33:52 -0400

The Commerce Logistics Specialists help digital post services retool and refocus for success in a rapidly changing technological and regulatory environment.

Sep 16, One Stop Europe: Creating A Single European E Commerce Market

Wed, 16 Sep 2020 03:40:32 -0400

Explore the logistics and e commerce business models which leverage the changing EU import rules (1 July 2021), to flourish in the single e commerce market.

Sep 9, We have a new URL!

Wed, 9 Sep 2020 23:10:00 -0400

The industry is changing, and we're changing with it: the Commerce Logistics Specialists are moving to a new URL: commerce-logistics.com. That means current RSS subscribers will need to resubscribe. All you need to do is either: 1. Go to our blog page at the new website URL and resubscribe by clicking on the RSS feed or email link, or 2. Enter our new feed URL directly into your feedburner: https://feeds.feedburner.com/TheCommerceLogisticsBlog We hope you'll stay with us as we continue to explore the changes impacting tomorrow's digital commerce and logistics industry.

Aug 7, New Ecommerce Business Model: Google & Amazon Battle For The End User

Fri, 7 Aug 2020 07:21:58 -0400

Why did Google purchase BufferBox™? Walter Trezek explains Google’s ecommerce business model, and why it battles with Amazon to retain access to consumers.

Aug 7, The 8 Rules of Successful Communication Logistics

Fri, 7 Aug 2020 06:37:35 -0400

Succeeding in the digital economy means implementing the 8 rules of communication logistics. A roadmap for every service provider.

Aug 7, Ecommerce Fraud Prevention: Combating Illicit Trade & Cybercriminality

Fri, 7 Aug 2020 06:13:35 -0400

OECD, UPU and EU ecommerce fraud prevention measures will create more secure and compliant trade “super-highways” & protect Free Trade Zones.

Aug 6, Postal Identity Management: At The Core Of Data-Driven Postal Services

Thu, 6 Aug 2020 03:24:15 -0400

Postal identity management & the postal value chain:proof of identity, user authentication and trust services form the backbone of data-driven postal provision.

May 29, Ecommerce 2.0: Customs and Duties

Fri, 29 May 2020 08:35:48 -0400

New European standards remove cross-border ecommerce hurdles through unified processes and procedures for customs and duties for low-value consignments.

May 12, From Postal Services to Communication Logistics - A Short History

Tue, 12 May 2020 05:21:22 -0400

A short history of postal services; their development from analogue, to hybrid, digital and now fully integrated, commerce logistics service providers.

May 11, Why Parcel Post is Failing To Meet Consumer Demands

Mon, 11 May 2020 12:22:55 -0400

Retail networks in Europe and North America join forces with global ecommerce platforms for last mile delivery, putting parcel post revenues under threat.

May 11, Data Protection Regulations: Good News For Direct Marketing Mail!

Mon, 11 May 2020 10:06:05 -0400

GDPR & trust frameworks enable physical direct marketing mail to be more specific, targeted and profiled, bringing better marketing investment returns (ROMI).

May 11, One VAT, customs & transport dataset for seamless x-border ecommerce

Mon, 11 May 2020 07:19:44 -0400

Overview of EU & UPU legislation behind the single, global electronic advanced data (EAD) dataset which is mandatory for all cross-border delivery from 1.1.2021

Apr 28, Cross-Border Ecommerce: Creating the Digital Single Market

Fri, 28 Apr 2017 11:18:15 -0400

Walter Trezek in Logistik Express on cross-border ecommerce, and industry association Ecommerce Europe creating standards for the digital single market

Apr 17, Ecommerce Europe Announces Harmonized Parcel Label

Mon, 17 Apr 2017 05:59:25 -0400

Ecommerce Europe at CEN: harmonized parcel label standard creates one item label for delivering commercial items to end customers.

Nov 10, The Internet of Things leads to an Internet of Parcels

Tue, 10 Nov 2015 14:59:12 -0500

The Internet of Things changes the cost structures and business models of services supporting the parcel delivery value chain, heralding an Internet of Parcels.

Oct 27, The Internet of Things Creates an Internet of Documents

Tue, 27 Oct 2015 14:25:22 -0400

The Internet of Things has revolutionised text-based communication, redefining the term ‘electronic document’ and ushering in an Internet of Documents.

Oct 20, Open Global Network Solutions & Systems Are The Future

Tue, 20 Oct 2015 09:29:45 -0400

Why, in a networked world, our competitiveness as a region depends on replacing proprietary networks with open global network solutions and systems.

Apr 3, Disruptive Developments in B2C Ecommerce

Fri, 3 Apr 2015 13:22:21 -0400

The disruptive developments shaping B2C ecommerce and commercial letter post delivery, their impact on the national postal operators, retailers and consumers.

Jun 10, Alibaba: Changing The Global Postal Network From Within

Tue, 10 Jun 2014 08:46:07 -0400

Alibaba invests in SingPost while DPDHL moves into ecommerce to secure volumes, and parcel boxes to retain end customers. Which is the winning strategy?

Dec 8, Post Danmark: Next Generation Postal Network

Sun, 8 Dec 2013 12:26:13 -0500

Post Danmark has reengineered its business model, maintaining its role as the leading interface between sender and recipient in a digital market.

Oct 28, UPU v. Single European Market For Postal Services

Mon, 28 Oct 2013 08:32:55 -0400

EU regulation on electronic identification and trust services needs to adopt existing UPU standards already set up for digital services.