UPU Postal Forum (S2) 2026

Theme – The network advantage: turning visibility into trust and value

• The aim of the forum is to build on the S1 thematic forum by moving from the identification of market trends to a practical discussion on how Posts can make better use of their existing postal networks in the e-commerce era.

• The conference will be streamed live on UPU TV here.

The postal network remains one of the sector’s strongest assets, but its future relevance depends on the ability of Posts to provide services that are reliable, visible, trusted and responsive to customer, marketplace and supply-chain needs. The forum will therefore focus on how tracking visibility, data quality, delivery confir­mation and customer communication can help Posts turn network reach into real value.

The forum should help shift the discussion from whether the postal network remains relevant to how it can be made more visible, trusted and valuable for customers, platforms and supply chains.

Programme

9.00–9.05     Opening remarks
                      Mr Masahiko Metoki, Director General, UPU International Bureau

9.05–9.15     Introduction: From challenging assumptions to realizing the network advantage
                      Mr Jean-Paul Forceville, representing France as Chair of the POC

9.20–9.40     Interactive session: The customer reality check: Is the postal network reach enough?
                      Moderator:  Mr Brody Bruhler, CEO  Escher Group

This interactive session will invite participants to reflect on how customers and marketplaces experience the postal network today. It will explore what drives trust, where visibility is lost in the cross-border journey, and what improvements could best strengthen customer confidence.

The session will help set the scene for the following panel by identifying the customer and marketplace expectations that Posts need to address in order to turn network reach into business value.

9:45–10.55     Panel 1: Turning network reach into business value

This panel will explore how Posts can turn the scale and reach of their physical networks into greater commercial value in the e-commerce era. It will bring together postal operators and major e-commerce platforms to consider what customers and marketplaces now expect from delivery networks, and how Posts can respond by making their services more visible, reliable and commercially attractive.

The discussion will look at how network reach can be translated into stronger customer propositions through better tracking visibility, delivery performance, data quality, customer communication and more flexible service offerings. It will also consider how partnerships between Posts and e-commerce platforms can help unlock new volumes and strengthen the role of the postal network in global supply chains.

With perspectives from Swiss Post, Mongol Post JSC, Etsy and TEMU, the panel will examine both the strengths of the postal network and the areas where change is needed to meet the expectations of today’s merchants and consumers.

Key question: How can Posts move from simply having a wide network to using that network as a competitive commercial advantage?

Moderator

• Ms Kate Muth, Executive Director, International Mailers Advisory Group

Speakers

• Mr Pascal Grieder, CEO, Swiss Post

• Mr Telmen Gerelt, CEO, Mongol Post JSC

• Mr Roman Sobrieri, Head of Global Shipping, Etsy

• Mr Leonard Klenner, Executive Assistant for Corporate Affairs, Temu

11.00–11.45     Panel 2: From data to decisions: how AI can strengthen the postal network

This session will explore how AI can help Posts turn network visibility, operational data and institutional knowledge into better decisions, stronger operations and improved customer service. Using practical examples and different perspectives, it will illustrate how AI-supported tools can help identify bottlenecks, anticipate disruptions, improve network use, preserve operational expertise and support faster, more informed action.

The session will also consider the conditions needed to make this possible, including data quality, interoperability, workforce capability and responsible use of AI.

The key message is that AI does not replace postal expertise. It strengthens it by helping Posts make better use of data and knowledge to improve visibility, reliability and trust across the network, and ultimately create greater value for customers and operators.

Moderator

• Mr Suryansh Jalan, Chief Business Officer, FarEye

Speakers

• Mr Franco Chirichella, Chief Information Officer, Canada Post

• Dr José Anson, Chief Economist, UPU International Bureau

• Ms Daniela Cabanilla, CEO, Miami Business Technological University

11.50–12.00     Closing remarks

• Mr Marjan Osvald, Deputy Director General, UPU International Bureau