About the market. Tendencies.

Currently, the Russian market of courier services is characterized by the presence of major foreign express delivery market operators, as well as Russian companies. The share of the ten leading express delivery companies operating in the Russian Federation is 70-80% of the market. The rest share of the market is divided between many small companies (local players). In recent years, there was a trend of redistribution of forces in the market – domestic companies have seriously pressed "Westerners" or "The Big Four» (DHL, TNT, UPS, FedEx), whose total market share of express delivery in Russia is estimated to be 30-35%. At the same time Western players retain leadership in international traffic, but a significant share of the market for internal transportation, including public orders, is executed by Russian companies.

Russian services 30% of the clients are from B2C (private sector) segment, foreign carriers are more B2B (business sector) segment oriented, bringing the share of this segment in their portfolio up to 90%.

According to various sources, the growth of the Russian market annually is about 18-35% per year. In the coming years this trend will continue. Intensive growth of the market of courier services indicates the overall economic growth in Russia, as well as it is an indicator of the growing demand for the express delivery services in general.

Soon predominantly Russian operators will toughen competition for private customers. Nowadays the main share of traffic (about 70%) comes from B2B sector. Experts predict that the market will grow via B2C segment incensement. One of the most important factors of growth and development of express delivery is continuous growth of B2C segment. of the market. Restoration of the main segments of the retail trade in 2010-2011 contributed to the fact that consumer goods have taken a significant share in the total volume of express parcels. One of the reasons for the change in the structure of the market in case of B2C segment is and active development of the Internet environment and distance selling, as well as the welfare of the general population. Today, Russian Express operators are actively offering their services to online stores, aiming to develop B2C, although major international companies still prefer corporate clients.

To conclude, Russian market of courier services and delivery is under intense development because of a number of the following factors:

• The increase in customer confidence caused by increase in the quality and variety of services delivery.
• Increasing demand on shipping services to individuals because of the development of Internet commerce and large retail chains.

As a result, operators of the Russian market of express services and shipping to be competitive in today's "express field" need to solve several key problems, namely:

• development of delivery network, creating a competitive advantage;
• building an effective sales system;
• development of technologies for the provision of services to ensure high quality delivery;
• development of logistics programs and corporate service programs; introduction of new services in rapidly changing conditions.