1 Scope
This European Standard specifies methods for measuring the end-to-endtransit time of domestic and cross-border Single Piece Priority Mail (SPPM), collected, processed
and delivered by postal service operators. It considers methods using representative end-to-end samples for all types of single piece priority mail services for addressed mail with
defined transit-time service levels offered to the customer. This standard is applicable to the measurement of End-to-End priority mail services.
The standardised QoS-measurement method provides a uniform way for measuring the end-to-endtransit time of postal items. Using a standardised measurement method will assure that the measurement will be
done in an objective and equal way for all operators in accordance with the requirements
of the Directive 97/67/EC and its amendments.
It is not the purpose of this standard to measure the postal operators’ overall performance
in a way that provides direct comparison of postal service providers.
This European Standard relates to the measurement of the SPPM services given to household
and business customers that post mail at street letterboxes, over the counter at post offices or have pick-ups
at their offices. To cover flows with smaller mail volumes this European Standard
includes flexibility areas for adapted implementation. For technical reasons this
European Standard may not be suitable for the measurement of very small volumes of
mail.
The end-to-end service measured may be provided by one operator or by a group of operators working
either together in the same distribution chain or parallel in different distribution chains. This European Standard is not applicable for the measurement of end-to-endtransit times in fields of study with more than one induction operator (Multi-Operator Environments), which require different methodologies. The
method for end-to-end measurement specified in this European Standard is also not designed to provide results
for the measurement of parts of the distribution chain.
This European Standard is not applicable for the measurement of end-to-endtransit times of bulk mailers’ services and hybrid mail, which require different measurement systems
and methodologies (see, for example, EN 14534 Measurement of the transit time of end-to-end services of bulk mail).
This European Standard includes specifications for the quality control and auditing of the measurement system.
This European Standard does not specify:
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— the minimum acceptable level of accuracy that will be required by the national regulatory authority;
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— the target(s) that the regulatory authority might set;
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— how the regulatory authority should determine whether the target(s) have been met.