Czech Post is the host of the Postal Retail Network Forum, an international event organised by PostEurop on 15-16 May 2018. The main theme is the transition process from own to partner-operated postal outlets. The attending European operators want to exchange their experience relating to the basic principles of transformation into post office partners and operating experience. The Forum is one of the seven working groups of PostEurop’s Operational Activities Circle (OAC) dedicated to operational issues.

Each of the annual meetings of the Forum is held by a member operator. The previous meetings were held in Yerevan, Armenia (2017); Reykjavik, Iceland (2016); Luxembourg (2015); Tallinn, Estonia (2014); Helsinki, Finland (2013); Vienna, Austria (2012), and Bonn, Germany (2011). Czech Post has not yet attended the meetings. The aim of the Forum is to facilitate exchanges between postal operators on issues related to postal outlets, such as the process of transition from own to partner-operated outlets or new services. The meeting’s agenda contains workshops with presentations by certain member operators and discussions relating to various operation aspects as well as visits of postal operations outlets.

Partner Post Office offers a full-fledged alternative to the classic post offices. The difference is in the operator, who is a third party other than Czech Post. The range of basic postal services provided by a classic and a Partner post office is identical. The transition of offices owned by the postal operator to third-party owners has been a hot topic in the Czech Republic as well as abroad. As of 1 May 2018, Czech Post has successfully established 512 partner-owned outlets as part of its Partner Post Office project.

Examples of transformation

Deutsche Post: In 1990, Deutsche Post operated approximately 29,000 own outlets. During the 3-phase transformation process in 1990-2011, it sold its outlets to Postbank or transitioned them to partner-operated outlets, while keeping only 2 own outlets. It successfully achieved its transformation goals - reduced fixed costs, improved quality of services, and increased customer’s satisfaction. Currently, it uses over 27,000 outlets operated by the partner Postbank, DHL or other businesses and offering a varying range of services. The number of partner-operated outlets has been on the increase (in particular the e-commerce-driven DHL parcel locations). The access point network also includes the growing number of self-service pickup and/or collection locations.

Österreichische Post: Österreichische Post entered a transformation process in 2009 and gradually reduced the number of own outlets in favour of partner-operated ones. The approximately 1,000 own and 370 partner-operated outlets in 2009 were transformed into approximately 440 own and 1,360 partner-operated outlets in 2017. It currently operates less than 1,800 outlets, which is better than the statutory requirement of 1,650 outlets. The outlets offer 3 product ranges - postal services, banking services, and retail sale of certain products, such as phone cards, stamps. The access point network also includes the growing number of self-service pickup and/or collection locations.

Swiss Post: As part of its transformation process presented in October 2016, Swiss Post intends to increase the number of access points from 3,800 to 4,200 by 2020. The number of outlets it operates should be reduced (from 1,400 to 800-900) in favour of partner-operated outlets (from 1,100 to 1,700-2,000) and self-service terminals. In 1,300 locations, postal services will continue to be provided at the customer’s residence. Swiss Post is required by law to consult municipalities in the matters of outlet network transformation; nevertheless, it has entered dialogue also with different organisations of citizens or businesses and with the wider public.

PostNord Group: PostNord Group is a company established in 2010 by Sweden and Denmark. It owned the retail network of postal outlets in Sweden until 2013, and partly in Denmark until 2018. PostNord’s current concept is directed towards increasing the number of postal partners and pickup points. The main focus in Denmark is on parcel lockers.