Online shopping boom driving a change in parcel operations for Australia Post

Robyn Ironside
October 10, 2011
The Courier-Mail

THE explosion in internet-ordered goods has forced Australia Post to overhaul its parcel operations business.

In what it has called the “most significant changes in 200-years” the postal service will extend its hours at 100 locations around the country from early next year and trial new 24-hour electronic parcel lockers.

More than 20 sites in south-east Queensland will operate beyond normal business hours from the New Year, including Brisbane City, Toowoomba, Nambour, Caloundra, Southport and Bundall.

CEO Ahmed Fahour said the changes were in response to the 10.9 per cent jump in parcel volumes over the last financial year, which could be directly linked to our love of internet shopping.

“Australians are receiving more parcels than ever and many of our customers are rarely at home during the day and find it increasingly hard to get to a post office,” said Mr Fahour.

“This is the biggest change Australia Post has ever made in our parcels business since it was set up many decades ago.”

He said the new 24-hour electronic parcel lockers would be trialled in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne from November with customers notified by SMS when their parcel is ready for collection.

Self-service machines for domestic parcels would also be trialled at five initial retail outlets, with many more to operate across the country by the end of the financial year.