Great Potential In Government Business

Over the years, postal authorities worldwide were encouraged to seek Government business rather than subsidies to fund their operations. There exists great business opportunities for postal authorities in Government. This week, The Post & Parcel News carried news of various contracts between postal authorities and their respective Governments.

In the United Kingdom, The Post Office won a seven year GBP 450m contract to continue providing front office service for Drivers and Vehicle Licensing Agency across its postal network effective March 2013. This will include road tax payments, car registrations and drivers license applications. The contract is expected to offer customers better service and annual savings of up to GPB 15m. It will also assist in realization of its vision of becoming a front office for Government. 

In Poland, The Polish Post and its partners have won the biggest ever mail contract in the history of Poland's postal services market. The eight year contract worth EUR 88.3m will involve the printing, finishing, manual and digital archiving and delivery of correspondences on behalf of the Government's road transport regulator. The contract is expected to offer favorable prices and service efficiency including innovative customer friendly services.

On the other hand, Brazil Post has called for United States and other Consulates to use its Express services for the delivery of passports and visas in Brazil. This follows a court ruling that confirmed Brazil Post as the only entity by law allowed to deliver passports within Brazil.

The moral of the stories: Posta Kenya can make revenue and ease customer frustrations of queuing at the Kenya Revenue Authority offices and other Foreign Embassies. However, it must first put its act together.