Digital Services

Digitalization and digital transformation of postal services has become a strategic priority as the digital economy is expanding.  Postal operators worldwide are implementing new technologies to modernize, diversify and adapt services to customer demand.

According to UPU research, over 93% of Posts provide some form of digital postal services either directly or in partnership with other companies. From basic digital postal services such as online track and trace, e-post through to e-government and e-commerce services such as digital identities, national marketplaces, e-payments and e-logistics, innovation continues at pace.

Postal Data Hackathon

In order to bring to life partnerships between postal operators, technology companies, academia and other experts to address challenges and co-create solutions through the wealth of postal data, the UPU is hosting a Postal Data Hackathon in Berne, Switzerland, on 23 and 24 June.

Taxonomy of digital philatelic products

Here you can find a taxonomy which reflects today’s world of digital philately to help customers understand the types of products available.

.POST

The .POST internet top-level domain, managed by the UPU, protects and promotes the postal sector in cyberspace.

Connect.Post

Connect.post is an initiative of the UPU to connect every post office to the Internet by 2030, to bring meaningful digital transformation and inclusion of businesses and citizens in the communities they serve.

Cybersecurity

The UPU has approved security policy recommendations in order reduce the incidence of domain hijacking, phishing and spoofing in the postal sector.

Research and publications

Insights into the digital transformation of postal services, from regular research to measure and monitor the latest digital developments in the sector.

eTrade for All

eTrade-for-all is a collaborative UN wide multi-stakeholder effort to scale up cooperation, transparency and aid-efficiency for inclusive e-commerce.

 

ICT4development and SDGs

The postal sector is a key element of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) which oversees the development of the Information Society.
 

UPU Secure E-services Framework

The UPU has developed a range of tools and legal instruments for countries interested to link their national e-services into the international digital postal network – a single territory allowing the circulation of secure communication services around the globe.

Digital Readiness for E-commerce (DRE)

The UPU aims to ensure the digital readiness of Posts for seamless cross-border e-commerce, aligning the Post’s e-commerce strategy with government digital strategies and using the UPU digital enablers to provide all citizens with simple, reliable digital access to postal services.
 
 
 

E-Learning Course on TRAINPOST

A complete training package on Electronic Postal Services is also available on the Trainpost platform.

Latest news

Côte d’Ivoire, Canada, Germany and India win the UPU’s TradePost Awards

Côte d’Ivoire, Canada, Germany and India win the UPU’s TradePost Awards

08.12.2023

The Universal Postal Union (UPU) launched the first TradePost Awards during its inaugural TradePost Forum held in Geneva, Switzerland. Côte d’Ivoire, Canada and Germany were announced as the winners in the three official categories, and India received an award in a special category dedicated to trade initiatives promoting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on gender equality and climate action.

Postal forum on addressing targets new technologies to open up opportunities

Postal forum on addressing targets new technologies to open up opportunities

09.11.2023During its autumn Postal Operations Council session, the UPU organized the first Addressing Forum in the Abidjan Postal Cycle (2021-2025) bringing together multi-sectoral expert speakers and attracting a global audience of more than 200 participants. The Forum showcased the importance of integrating geospatial data with pioneering geographic information system (GIS) technologies in managing addresses to maximize their data quality.
Unleashing the power of data: Reflections on the UPU Postal Data Hackathon

Unleashing the power of data: Reflections on the UPU Postal Data Hackathon

28.08.2023

Last month, Ghana Post had the privilege of participating in the Universal Postal Union’s (UPU) Postal Data Hackathon in Berne, Switzerland. As someone interested in data science, analytics, and problem-solving, this experience was highly rewarding for me, both at the personal level and for Ghana Post at large. Hackathons such as this one offer an excellent opportunity for postal administrations and their employees to enhance technical skills, learn new tools and techniques, and foster valuable connections with like-minded professionals.

Milestones in crypto stamp history: Exploring the possibilities of blockchain in the Post

Milestones in crypto stamp history: Exploring the possibilities of blockchain in the Post

10.08.2023The revolutionary crypto stamps produced by Stampfinity, a brand of VariusSystems, a newly joined UPU Consultative Committee member, have become a steppingstone in the world of collectibles, enabling postal organizations to reach new target groups and provide additional value to collectors. These stamps serve as a gateway for individuals to explore the benefits of blockchain technology without any risk or tedious registration processes.
UPU defines the new generation of digital stamps

UPU defines the new generation of digital stamps

08.08.2023In a significant move towards embracing digitalization in the philatelic ecosystem, the  Universal Postal Union’s (UPU) technical and operational body – the Postal Operations Council – has approved the first-ever set of recommended definitions for digital stamps, crypto stamps, and non-fungible token (NFT) stamps.
UPU hackathon makes international postal data available for the first time

UPU hackathon makes international postal data available for the first time

28.06.2023

Berne, 28 June – The Universal Postal Union (UPU) – the UN specialized agency for international postal cooperation – held its inaugural postal data hackathon, making available data from the UPU, UN partners and 30 postal operators for the first time ever for collaborative analysis and the development of data-driven solutions with partners within and beyond the postal sector.


 
UPU’s Digital Transformation and Innovation Group outlines key priorities for 2023

UPU’s Digital Transformation and Innovation Group outlines key priorities for 2023

14.03.2023Members of the Universal Postal Union’s (UPU) Digital Transformation and Innovation Group (DTIG) have outlined their key priorities for 2023, including plans for the WSIS Forum 2023, the first-ever Postal Data Hackathon, and the work to define Crypto and NFT stamps.
Solution Spotlight: 10 years of .POST

Solution Spotlight: 10 years of .POST

26.12.2022Launched in 2012, the Universal Postal Union’s .POST Group (DPG) celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. DPG traces its roots back to the late 1990s when visionaries in the postal sector – led by Sweden, Canada, France, and Italy – believed that the internet would become a significant part of people’s lives, and that important industries such as the postal sector should have a stake in its development. 
Leading the way for digital financial services in Africa

Leading the way for digital financial services in Africa

23.12.2022A digital transformation is allowing the Tunisian Post to bring financial services to more of Tunisia’s underserved as it works to strengthen its business in this time of rapid change and intense competition, said Sami Mekki, CEO of the Tunisian Post.
UPU rolls out a new undeliverable mail remuneration solution

UPU rolls out a new undeliverable mail remuneration solution

08.09.2022As the e-commerce sector continues to grow, so too does the number of small packets in the mail stream. This, and increasingly stricter customs rules worldwide, is putting extra strain on Posts, especially for undeliverable mail. Up until January 2022, Posts were not remunerated when returning undeliverable letters and small packets under 2kg, to the origin post. This meant that the receiving post bore the handling and processing costs of sending mail back to its origin.