​​Customers to also have the option of sending and receiving letters digitally in future​
In future, Swiss Post is to also accept and deliver letters with postal addresses digitally. The Federal Council is modernizing Swiss Post’s mandate and responding to changing customer needs with its proposal today for an adapted Postal Services Ordinance, which additionally provides for amendments to logistics and payment transactions. For Swiss Post, this is another important step towards the future. A nationwide public service can only run without taxpayers’ money if the company is able to adapt to societal and economic developments.
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Transported goods and information confidentially
For over 175 years, Swiss Post has transported goods and information confidentially. Swiss Post carries out this universal service obligation on behalf of the Swiss Confederation every day to the highest possible standard – self-financed, without taxpayers’ money. At the same time, it is continually developing its range of services within the statutory requirements. The needs of customers play a pivotal role. Due to ongoing digitization, the universal service obligation is now to be amended to include a hybrid delivery system. Swiss Post welcomes this change: “Swiss Post is continuing to modernize its products and services to make everyday life easier for customers. It’s important that the public service can also take account of these developments. The Federal Council’s plan to anchor the hybrid letter in the mandate is an important step towards a modern universal postal service that can meet the needs of today’s customers”, says Swiss Post's interim CEO Alex Glanzmann.
Setting an important course: hybrid letters will become part of everyday life
Swiss Post ensures secure and reliable transport from A to B. It also handles this transport in the digital space. In recent years, the company has additionally specialized in the secure and reliable transmission of digital information. It is bringing mail secrecy to the digital world. Under the proposal, Swiss Post will use this expertise within the scope of the consultation procedure to safeguard letters in the digital space, from posting through to delivery and receipt. “If a customer sends a letter by post in the future, they will have the option of sending it digitally. In this case, the recipient can then decide whether to receive the consignment physically or digitally. It means customers will be free to choose. We firmly believe that the hybrid letter is the right path for Switzerland and for modernizing the universal postal service obligation,” explains Nicole Burth, Member of Executive Management and Head of the Digital Services unit.
More information on hybrid letters
