Aus Post partners for e-commerce

Heavily criticised mail monopoly Australia Post has revealed plans to advance its e-commerce and e-government services by partnering with digital company Data61.

The partnership comes shortly after the postal service announced stamp price hikes and frustrated consumers nationwide with slower delivery times.

According to Aus Post, the step up into e-commerce is to leverage its ‘digital and cyber expertise’ and data innovation in order to enhance consumer convenience. It has not disclosed plans to restructure its weakening post division, which is the bedrock of its services.

The company is set to roll out e-commerce with the help of Data61 over the next two years in three main platforms: trusted services, digital government services and logistics.    

Aus Post chief executive Ahmed Fahour says the partnership will serve to ‘maximise its e-commerce expertise’ and capitalise on convenience for online customers.

"We are continuing to directly invest in ideas that will improve the lives of our customers and our partnership with Data61 further demonstrates this," says Fahour.

“Our first trial will allow us to deliver a range of eGovernment services to customers in up to 20 areas of isolation or social disadvantage, resulting in improved convenience without having to travel to other service centres.”

Fahour also says the merge is a response to growing consumer demand for more digitised services.

"As a major e-commerce business, innovation is part of our future. We need to continue to respond quickly to the ongoing shift in consumer behaviour towards digital channels,” he says.

The mailing giant also recorded half year net profit before tax of $1.4m, a vast improvement on last year’s $220m loss. Aus Post also notes volumes of addressed letters have fallen by 36 per cent in the last seven years.

The business expects the full year profit to be bolstered by the price increases set in place in January.

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