The Post-Office also received a very negative bill of health from the auditors of the General Audit Chamber, in the recently published report titled “At a distance, yet up close.”
The investigation focused on the island’s governmental companies, between the years 2018 and 2020. The report elaborated on the shortcomings of the Post-Office, with its revenues dwindling, and expenses rising.
Our Post-Office, with over 100 workers, has seen its revenues plummet, and today more than 70% of its income goes to covering salaries and I would hate to know what it costs to air condition the old, high-ceilinged building in the heart of town.
The magnificent building deserves preservation. But what shall we do with it? Suggestions?
I am not Post-Office expert, but I read a bit about the subject. The US almost bankrupt Post-Office managed to turn its business around, thanks to package delivery. Other countries diversified the services given by their Post-Offices, but mostly digitalized, and made them more efficient and user friendly.
Many countries obliged their citizens to have a digital Post-Office box, which is an idea whose time has come in view of the numerous papelitos issued by DIMP, for example.
DIMP has just sent me some 2018 charges, which have all been paid, a long time ago. The papelitos came by mail, stapled together, as if the post office collects for a while, then bundles the items together, earmarked for Vespa delivery. No sense of urgency there. Charges from 2018, can wait another month or two.
Ground tax and erfoachtcannon could be sent digitally to our Post Office Digital Mailbox, available at the press of the button, courtesy of the new, updated and digitalized Post-Office.
Imagine if the Post-Office were put in charge of delivering ALL our bills digitally, Serlimar, Bank credit cards, telephone, DIMP.
(From my own experience, some of these companies insist on using mail, though I signed up for digital delivery.)
The Post-Office could diversify its business model with financial services, cheaper than Western Union, with all foreign nationals working on the island sending money home, success is guaranteed.
In Japan a company by the name of Black Car shuttled my suitcase door to door, hotel to hotel, city to city. With thousands of tourists and millions of suitcases, the Post-Office could try to enter that market. You pick up suitcases at a hotel door, and the tourist finds them coming off the belt at arrivals, at his home destination. Check out Yamato Holding Co. LTD. If they do it, why can’t we??
