Review of post offices 2009 - 2011

Mobile and online

Society, technology and the economy are changing rapidly. Six out of every ten people currently work outside their municipality of residence, and three out of four live in urban areas. Postal services are therefore increasingly required in the workplace or on the way to and from work. What’s more, almost nine out of every ten Swiss own a mobile phone. Around three-quarters of the population have personal access to the Internet, which they can use for e-mail and financial services.

Sharp decline in over-the-counter business

Such changes have an impact on the over-the-counter business. Between 2000 and 2008, there was a 46% decline in letters and parcels, and a decrease of 17% in inpayments. In response, Swiss Post has comprehensively modernized its sales network over recent years (see also the page entitled “The postal network 2001 – 2008”). New offerings have become important alongside post offices, especially the home delivery service (“post on the doorstep”), agencies (“village shop post office”) and online platforms. But customer habits continue to change.  And the postal market is to be completely deregulated in the medium term, further increasing the pressure on Swiss Post.

Around 420 locations under discussion

So the sales network needs to become even more customer-friendly and cost-effective – as required of Swiss Post by the Federal Council. Between now and the end of 2011, Swiss Post is examining alternatives for around 420 under-used post offices (see list). Possible alternatives are to:

• continue unchanged
• replace with an agency
• replace with a home delivery service.

During this process, Swiss Post is taking all the political and legal requirements into account. And, as has proved effective in the past, it is seeking a dialogue with those affected locally, in order to reach agreement.