The head of the Universal Postal Union said that rather than being a threat to the postal sector, new technologies are playing an increasing role in postal operations which is making the sector a vital componentin the communication era.
“New technologies today place the postal sector at the heart of all forms of communication. In my opinion, the postal sector is the only one where its physical, electronic and financial dimensions converge to place it at the heart of the communication society,” said Edouard Dayan, the Director General of the Universal Postal Union as he officially opened the World Postal Business Forum, last month in Barcelona.
He reminded participants that new technologies are particularly important for electronic money transfers between postal operators around the world, for tracking and tracing mail to ensure quality of service and in enabling postal operators to help develop electronic commerce and participate actively in the global distribution chain formerchandise ordered online.
“Online book stores around the world recently received more than 2 million orders for the latest Harry Potter book. These orders had to be distributed the first day of the book’s official launch. Who was able to make this miracle come true and distribute the ordered copies through the Internet?
None other that the Post,” he said.“With its extensive distribution network,postal services were able to delivereach and every one of these orders. Thisis a very concrete example demonstratingthat the postal sector is an indisputable e-commercepartner,” Mr Dayan added.