When the Universal Postal Union’s 192 member countries gather at the 28th Universal Postal Congress in Dubai this September, they will consider proposals to modernize the global postal product portfolio. At the heart of this discussion is the Integrated Product Plan (IPP) – a roadmap designed to align international postal services with the evolving needs of customers in today’s digital and e-commerce-driven world.
The UPU was founded over 150 years ago to establish a reliable, affordable, and truly global communication channel – primarily through agreements defining, standardizing and enabling the exchange of international letter mail. While the introduction of international parcel services expanded this mission, letter delivery has long remained the cornerstone of international postal exchange.A century and a half later, the way we communicate has changed, as have our expectations of what and how the postal network delivers. With the rise of digital technology, particularly e-commerce, today’s customers demand more convenience, transparency, and control over how their items are delivered.
E-sellers have made it clear: they will select the delivery service that provides what their customers expect.
However, recent drops in international postal volumes highlight a misalignment between current postal offerings and modern market demands. They also underscore the need and potential for transformation.
Reimagining international postal products
During the Dubai Congress this September, member countries will finalize a plan for the future of postal products, known as the Integrated Product Plan (IPP).
The IPP will help the UPU reimagine and modernize its portfolio of international physical postal services to ensure they remain customer-centric in today’s dynamic global marketplace.
Developed with extensive input from member countries, the IPP strives to enhance the sustainability of the network’s universal service obligation, ensure products are better integrated to simplify the customer experience and allow customers to customize their postal services as needed.
The plan proposes a shift in the definition of postal products to focus on content (documents and goods) rather than format (letters and parcels) to allow for more effective postal handling as more goods associated with e-commerce enter the postal stream. For example, only those items containing goods will be pulled aside for security controls in line with regulatory requirements, while those containing documents can head straight to their destination.
Another key feature of the proposed plan is its menu-driven approach to products. While in the past letters and parcels had differing options for value-added services, the IPP would grant customers the ability to choose the services they like regardless of the format of their item, for example:
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Comprehensive tracking, to allow them visibility on their item at all points in the supply chain
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Proof of delivery options (ex. signature)
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Delivery duty paid
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Delivery options (ex. home, workplace, pick-up, drop-off, lockers, delivery to the neighbour, communal boxes, etc.)
This will help ensure that customers everywhere have access to the services they want, wherever they are.
The UPU’s 28th Universal Postal Congress will take place from 8-19 September in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Learn more about the Congress here.