Australia Post unveils 'post office of the future'

Thursday, 16 June 2011

Australia Post is excited to announce plans for a 'post office of the future', an innovative store showcasing a range of new services to offer customers greater access, convenience and choice in the way they transact with Australia Post.

The store will offer a dedicated area for online shopping where online traders can fulfil their postage needs, a travel services zone and a private lounge where customers can complete more complex financial and identity services transactions.

In another first, the store will have a 24/7 zone for customers to pick up parcels, vending machines where customers can buy stamps and packaging products as well as weigh and send parcels at any time that suits them.

Managing Director and CEO, Ahmed Fahour, said that this was the first of many exciting changes to transform Australia Post into a more customer-focused organisation concentrating on eCommerce and trusted services.

"Our retail network is key to our strategy and a critical part in shaping the future of Australia Post - the community is changing and we are changing our stores to meet their needs," said Mr Fahour.

"Our customers have told us they want more options in how they interact with us, so we will be providing them with greater access, convenience and choice in how they do business with Australia Post."

The Brisbane GPO has been chosen as the first site for the new store, which was also the location of the first PostShop back in October 1989.

"The Brisbane GPO store will enable us to find out firsthand from customers about what services they use and like, which will help us develop future concept stores across the country," said Executive General Manager Retail Services, Christine Corbett.

The new store will feature six dedicated zones:

• Online shopping zone for online traders including an eBay corner to dispatch parcels, purchase a range of packaging products and shop online with a range of Australia Post eCommerce partners;
• 24/7 zone with parcel lockers where customers can pick up their parcel at any time, a vending machine with packaging products and a self-service terminal where they can weigh, and post parcels as well as an ATM;
• Financial and identity services section where customers can sit down and go through transactions with staff;
• Travel services zone offering foreign exchange and a range of travel related services;
• Self-service terminals to allow customers to quickly pay a bill or post a parcel within Australia; and
• New spacious counters, divided into dedicated transaction types.

The concept store at Brisbane GPO is expected to be completed by the end of the year.