Emirates Post Group set to offer next-generation e-Services

Chief Commercial Officer Mr. Ibrahim Bin Karam briefs media on a host of postal issues

Dubai, May 12, 2014: Emirates Post Group has started rolling out next-generation postal e-Services, with a focus on providing commonly used services via smartphones, according to Mr. Ibrahim Bin Karam, Chief Commercial Officer of the Group.

Addressing the second media briefing in line with the initiative launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, with the aim of boosting interaction with media channels, Mr. Bin Karam discussed a wide range of issues relating to postal services as well as matters pertaining to its subsidiaries.

Mr. Bin Karam referred to the Group’s plans to boost volumes of international parcels and highlighted the importance of e-commerce in today’s changing world and ways to develop it further.  Quoting UPU figures, he revealed that the number of international transactions in parcels during 2012 increased to 61 billion parcels, and was expected to jump to the value of $ 2 trillion by 2020.

According to a plan prepared by Emirates Post Group, the most used e-Services on the EPG website which are now available on mobile devices, include the following: e-P.O. Box (for checking incoming postal mails); Track and Trace; location maps for post offices; Submitting customer inquiries, complaints and suggestions; Complaint tracking and Rate Calculator. It will also include payment of third party invoices, allowing customers to view bills of Dewa and Sewa and make payment electronically.

Emirates Post’s larger goal is to make all online services available via mobile devices and smartphones in the near future. The second phase will see Emirates Post venturing into e-commerce, making use of Emirates Post’s advanced mailing and delivery system.
Speaking about e-commerce, Mr. Bin Karam said the plan is to list a selected range of products on the website, and allow customers to order them online and have them delivered through the postal and courier network of Emirates Post Group.

The e-commerce package will have offerings like the following: the ‘E-Greeting’ service to select greetings cards from a dropdown menu or customize a greeting card, and deliver it by mail to the recipient; and the ‘e-Stamps’ service which will enable stamp collectors to place orders for UAE stamps from any part of the world, and have them delivered to their doorstep after making payment online using credit cards.

Among other new online services to be introduced in the near future are the following: apply for Franking Machine service online; facility for contract holders to view invoices and make payment online; booking of parcels and obtain airway bill serial number after filling details online; application for license to operate specific services such as courier operations, and registration of suppliers for the use of Emirates Post Group.

There are also plans to offer subscribers of e-P.O. Box 2 GB space for storing images of documents and other important information to be accessed from anywhere.
Emirates Post Group’s foray into smart Government services is in keeping with the rapid increase in users of mobile devices and smartphones in the UAE.  According to figures released by the UAE Telecom Regulatory Authority (TRA) in December 2013, mobile-phone penetration in the UAE stood at 181 per cent and smartphone penetration was 73.8 per cent, the highest in the world.