The IPC Annual Conference took place on 28-29 May 2026 in Dubrovnik, Croatia

Cross-border e-commerce has undergone several major transformations in recent years, particularly with the emergence and rapid expansion of new e-commerce players who are increasingly involved in every stage of the supply chain. This evolution has been accompanied by the introduction of new customs and de minimis regulations across the globe.

The 2026 IPC Annual Conference provided an opportunity for postal operators to explore future trends and identify the challenges and opportunities arising from changes in the cross-border ecommerce landscape. Topics for discussion included

  • Identifying future trends in the cross-border e-commerce market and brainstorming the network response.
  • The increasing impact of customs, de minimis and security regulations, and the associated risks and opportunities.
  • The continued growth of the large e-commerce players – how could the network work better together to address them?
  • How does the global geopolitical situation shape the future market?
  • How can technology be used by traditional players to ‘close the gap’ in the market?
  • Future customer preferences – what will the customer of the future look like and what will their needs be?

The conference featured presentations from Insead, McKinsey and IATA. After the keynote speeches followed a CEO panel discussion examining the implications of supply chain changes for the postal industry, share current initiatives, and outline future for postal operators.

Speakers and attendees

The IPC Annual Conference brought together around 90 postal CEOs and senior executives from America, Asia Pacific and Europe to discuss the strategic implications of supply chain changes for the postal industry. Attendance at this high-level conference is by invitation only and is open to postal CEOs accompanied by one or two senior executives.