Gurgaon:
There is no need to visit the post office any more. You can now get postage
stamps and envelopes delivered at your doorstep.
A
new mobile app, launched by the postal department, not only introduces
residents to their postman, but also allows them to order stamps and envelopes.
Once residents enter their area, the app, called My Postman, throws up the
name, number and photo of that area's postman.
"We
realised since that fewer people stay at home, they do not get to know their
postman unlike earlier. Hence we thought of using technology to introduce
customers to their postman," said Umesh Verma, postmaster general,
Gurgaon. "Once the customer has the credentials, he can coordinate with
the postman while awaiting delivery of important documents like
passports," he added.
Along
with this, all postmen have been asked to carry smart phones so that they can
home deliver stamps and envelopes, which residents can order through the app.
The third party app was developed over six months and can be downloaded for
free on the Google playstore.
"If
this can be implemented on a national level, it will play a great role in
connecting people to their post offices and postman," said Verma.
In
fact, the app is part of a series of initiatives by the department to
rejuvenate the dying business. The other main focus of the department is the
e-commerce sector, which started in November 2014. Since its launch, the daily
volume has grown from 3,000 parcels a day in March 2015 to 20,000 parcels a day
in January 2016."The
revenue from e-commerce is now 40% of the mail service revenue that is Rs 25
crore per annum and we are steadily increasing it. With our recent numbers, our
revenue from e-commerce will be more robust this fiscal," said Verma.He
added that e-commerce majors such as Amazon, Flipkart, Yepme and Naaptol are
some of the big e-commerce clients the department has. The postal department
has also been organising workshops to woo more clients.
A
website focusing on e-commerce and facilitating small time entrepreneurs was
also launched to announce the service for smaller outfits. In 2015, a automated
processing hub was launched for e-commerce orders at the Udyog Vihar post
office."This
is a great service, we have a small business and shipping the orders was
becoming a pain as we had to wait for hours in line. Now with a home pick up,
our dispatch is taken care of," said Vinay Kumar.
