Australia Post Upgrades for Better Online Shopping Delivery

Australia Post issued an announcement on Monday detailing some big changes for the way the service will deliver our online shopping parcels in future. I’m not one to quickly agree to media hype, but here’s why I think Aus Post are on the right track.

In response to Australia’s recent online shopping boom, Australia Posts’ CEO Ahmed Fahour said starting this month there will be some new delivery options to their delivery & courier services. Changes such as giving us the ability to collect parcels from up to 100 extended hour locations across Australia, access to 24/7 parcel lockers, and more options including SMS notifications when a parcel arrives.

“These new measures are additions to existing parcel services and come in response to a 10.9 per cent increase in parcel volumes over the last financial year – a figure which can be directly linked to Australians taking up online shopping in record numbers,” said Mr Fahour.

It’s true, online shopping in Australia is going through a boom at the moment but it can still have problems. One of the most often seen problem with a smooth purchase from retailer to your door is of course the delivery. I’ve been a first hand at problems both from the retailer and the customer.

I’ve had deliveries go back to the retailer because the postie didn’t leave a red card in the letterbox, customers orders sent back to massive distributors that take months to clear, to having a 12 bottle case of red wine delivered to a post office 10km away when I only have a little scooter to pick it up. I’m sure you have a story of your own about Aus post deliveries and these changes are set to help improve the service.

Extended Hours for Parcel Collection

Soon Australia post service will be able to give us a choice of where we want the parcel delivered. Initially 100 parcel pickup locations will be offered across Australia, these locations will offer extended opening hours with many of them open on the weekends.

There will also be a new 24/7 electronic parcel locker service currently being trialed in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Basically you will be able to collect your item when you’re ready. You will also receive a neat SMS to say the parcel is ready to pickup.

Competitive Pricing & Improved Home Delivery Service

In addition to the better delivery options, we should soon enjoy cheaper delivery charges. Australia post and eBay are introducing low cost, flat rate boxes and satchels to deliver anywhere in Australia. What the “eBay” part of the low cost option is remains to be seen. I’m hoping that the boxes aren’t exclusive to eBay sellers.

There’s also a new international tracking system between Australia and the USA called “Pack and Track international”. The Pack and Track international service is quoted as being significantly cheaper and will include more countries soon.

As well as the cheaper services there is an improved home delivery service, where the courier driver or Aus post delivery person is required to leave the “red card” I mentioned above under the door rather than the letterbox. Yes! My lazy local courier is now required to walk up three flights of stairs rather than say I’m not home. ;)

Supporting Online Retailers in Australia

Aus post are upgrading 60 business hubs around Australia focusing on small to medium businesses. If you’re an online shopping store, you will soon be able to signup with an online service that makes it easier to send parcels. Better services for printing the labels, paying for postage and organising courier pick up, all from the convenience of the computer desk.

Summary

Australia Posts’ flagship concept store for all these changes is opening in Brisbane around December. The store will have a dedicated online shopping area, 24/7 pickup zone, and vending machines to purchase stamps and packing products.

Mr Fahour said that Aus post is listening to it’s customers with the changes mentioned above, and I tend to agree. Most people don’t require the pickup areas however I’m glad to see Australia post recognise that some people do prefer to pick up at the local post office, and also to recognise that some people can’t always pickup deliveries in working hours. For me, the issue with delivery drivers not walking up stairs would be resolved and I’d love to see vending machines at the local post office for those often occasions when I’m rushing around to get to the post office before it closes.

Is it the “most significant changes to Australia Post’s parcel operations in its 200 year history” mentioned in the announcement? It is good to see the Australia Post open its doors to the needs of the tech savvy / online shopping customers of Today, but it’s really just a revamp of customer centric days when you could ask your local “live in” Australia Post officer to send a telegram on the weekend.

As we know, the delivery of the products can still be the weakest link in the online shopping experience. Assuring that delivery to us is smooth with extended hours, better home delivery systems and competitive delivery charges for online stores will do online shopping in Australia a huge favour in years to come.

How do you feel about all these changes? Are they good news for online shoppers, or is a low delivery cost from online stores the only thing that really matters?

Australia Post Services Upgrade Announcement at Australia Post