An Post has today launched a new Digital Stamp, which is a world first, with next-day delivery confirmation by text or email.
Today’s announcement marks a major advancement in digital postal services by Ireland’s national mail carrier.
The Digital Stamp is now available to buy in seconds through the An Post App, priced €2 per stamp for regular envelopes, and for large (A4) envelopes it will be priced at €3.80 per stamp.
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The new postal feature only covers delivery within the Republic of Ireland and customers are reminded to always include a Return Address on the top left corner of every envelope.
The Digital Stamp offers;
- the convenience of being available within seconds anytime, anywhere
- instant access to a unique 12-digit code (the Digital Stamp) through the An Post App, which customers can then handwrite onto their envelope or postcard where a traditional stamp would go
- peace of mind with notification of delivery when sending cards and letters within the Republic of Ireland
- next working day delivery when posted in any post box by the latest collection time for delivery, at which time the sender will receive a text or email to confirm delivery of the item.
Speaking at the go-live of An Post’s Digital Stamp, Des Morley, Chief Digital and Technology Officer, An Post said “The development and implementation of the Digital Stamp is a major step forward in the digital transformation of our mails and parcels business and marks the next step in our commitment to meeting the changing demands of our customers with accessible and easy to use innovative, digital services.
“Once the digital stamp code is created, our letter sorting technology recognises it as a ‘real live’ stamp as it’s processed for delivery, before the postperson scans it to send confirmation of delivery as it drop’s through the receiver’s letterbox.”
Garrett Bridgeman, Managing Director, An Post Commerce added “We’re determined to continue developing products and services to make life easier and services more accessible for our customers.
“Here we have a great innovation that works for everyone; busy individuals who are time-poor and want to purchase stamps at a time and place that works for them; or last-minute senders as well as need to post at irregular hours and may not have stamps to hand.
“The Digital Stamp is incredibly handy, it’s available anywhere and anytime in the An Post App and the confirmation of delivery provides great peace of mind to the customer. Our cutting edge sorting technology identifies only correctly acquired digital stamp codes. The Digital stamp the extensive range of beautiful physical stamps available at post offices, shops and online.”
An Post’s sorting technology will only process items with a verified correct digital stamp code – incorrect or illegible codes will be rejected and returned to sender.
Since the announcement, lots of people have been praising the news online, as one customer took to Twitter and wrote: “Where I live, we don’t have a post office and the next one is a train journey away. Makes sense for people like us.”
Another said: “The Dutch post does this as well. 3x3 letters. Works really well.”
A third wrote: “This will be very handy, our local post office is quite a ways away.”
However, not everyone is convinced, with many points to the price as an issue for them. One person wrote online: “And of course it has to be more expensive... Yes, there is the notification added, but no need for the print process, so saving on that.”
Another said: “What an absolute rip off. Should be cheaper than a paper-based stamp to encourage people to use them and it's less expensive on An Post's end too #fail’
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