Australia Post is preparing to trial new technology which could see small parcels in Australia delivered by drones, officially known as Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA), in the wake of increasing consumer complaints over its service. The RPA trial builds on a raft of new technology Aus Post has recently explored. Last month Australian Printer reported it had acquired a 70 per cent share in courier company Mailplus, invested in Chinese eCommerce business Alibaba, and was looking looking to expand its identity services with blockchain technology, which stores digital identity. Aus Post CEO Ahmed Fahour says the drone trial is part of its strategy to take advantage of the eCommerce boom, with the sector experiencing double digit growth in the past five years.
Trial: Aus Post will explore the use of drones to deliver small packages
Fahour says, “Australia Post had been adapting to changing customer needs and new technological advancements for over 200 years. The trial is another exciting example of how we are looking to the future with emerging technologies to make life easier for our customers. “We will put this innovative technology through its paces over the coming weeks and months to understand what it can deliver, how far it can travel, and ultimately, how our customers could receive a parcel.” Aus Post is the first parcels and logistics company in Australia to trial RPA technology for commercial delivery, and is working closely with the technology developers, ARI Labs. Customer trials of the drone delivery are expected to begin later this year. The technology could lift the company’s service standards which has recently been at the center of a tirade of consumer criticism. The latest annual report from the Postal Industry Ombudsman reveals complaints about Aus Post have almost tripled since 2008. It notes, “In 2014-15 we received 5613 complaints about Australia Post, which was a 38 per cent increase on the previous financial year.” Its half-year results announcement in February also revealed an 84 per cent drop in profit to $16m.
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