HAKOM’s Postal Services Market Day

The conference focused on challenges and trends in the postal services sector
 
Zagreb, 13 November 2024 - The Croatian Regulatory Authority for Network Industries (HAKOM) organised the conference “Trends and Opportunities in the Postal Services Market” on 12 November at the International Hotel in Zagreb. The conference brought together key stakeholders from the sector, such as representatives from postal service providers, the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure, the Ministry of Finance, the Croatian Chamber of Economy, the Croatian Bureau of Statistics, the Croatian Competition Agency, Academia, the “eCommerce Croatia” association, and consumer associations. The aim of the conference was to facilitate the exchange of experiences and insights into future developments within the postal services market.
 
The conference was opened by Tonko Obuljen, President of HAKOM’s Council, who emphasised that, despite technological changes and the increasing prevalence of electronic substitutes, postal services continue to play an essential role in connecting communities and facilitating communication. This was followed by a series of expert presentations: Stjepan Paler from HAKOM presented the state of the market in Croatia compared to the European Union, Rajko Jerenec from the Slovenian regulatory agency AKOS discussed Slovenia’s experiences in regulating the postal market. Professor Zvonko Kavran from the Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences presented a methodology for calculating greenhouse gas emissions in delivery, highlighting the importance of sustainability in the sector. Melita Buljan from the Customs Administration of the Ministry of Finance presented new proposals for customs in e-commerce, while Pero Tabak from HAKOM discussed current challenges in the European postal services market.

The event concluded with a panel discussion on the future of the postal services market, moderated by Andrej Sardelić of HAKOM. Panellists included Valentina Cvitković from Overseas, Mario Horak from Croatian Post, Snježana Stanić from DPD, Marcel Majsan from the “eCommerce Croatia” association, and Iva Dvornik from HAKOM. The discussion explored a range of pertinent topics, including the adoption of new technologies, improving access to parcel lockers, and the impact of major online platforms on domestic retailers. Iva Dvornik highlighted HAKOM’s crucial role in resolving consumer disputes and promoting service transparency, as well as the importance of adapting regulatory frameworks to accommodate the growth of e-commerce and emerging technologies. She also addressed the challenges associated with ensuring the future sustainability of the postal services market. Valentina Cvitković stressed the importance of user education, while Mario Horak presented Croatian Post’s initiatives to reduce its carbon footprint through green technologies. Marcel Majsan reflected on the challenges posed by global platforms for local businesses, and Snježana Stanić shared findings from a study on consumer behaviour. Concluding the panel, Andrej Sardelić highlighted the importance of continuous adaptation in the postal services market to new technologies and the evolving needs of users, underscoring the need for ongoing collaboration among all sector stakeholders.