Assessment Criteria for Closure of SingPost Branches

Debated in Parliament on 9 Jan 2024.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

The Infocomm Media Development Authority evaluates SingPost branch closures based on declining physical postal usage, with transactions dropping 35% from FY2019 to FY2022, and ensures alternative services like self-service kiosks and parcel stations are available.
The Government expects SingPost to maintain a minimal physical footprint by shifting to automated and digital solutions, such as mobile apps and POPStations, while balancing business viability with residents' basic postal needs.
SingPost aims to balance commercial sustainability with community needs by providing advance notice of closures and ensuring access to nearby alternative services like SAM kiosks and POPStations.
The closure of the Yishun Central Post Office reflects broader trends of reduced in-person transactions, with 80% of post office activities now for non-postal services that can be handled through other channels.

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Derrick Goh

Mr Derrick Goh asked the Minister for Communications and Information regarding the closure of Singapore Post's only branch in Nee Soon (a) how does the Infocomm Media Development Authority assess the appropriateness of a SingPost branch closure; (b) what is the Government's expectation of the postal physical footprint of SingPost branches across Singapore; and (c) how can SingPost better balance business viability with the basic needs of residents who still require access to physical postal services.

Mrs Josephine Teo

In the past, consumers and businesses relied on post offices as physical touch points to buy stamps and mail letters and parcels. Today, most post and parcel transactions are already served through automated means and do not need to be done over-the-counter at post offices. For example, postage labels can be purchased at self-service automated machines (SAMs) and parcels can be dropped off or picked up at POPStations.

In addition, about 80% of transactions at post offices today are for non-postal services, such as passport collection and payment of bills, which can be completed through alternative means. Overall, the total number of transactions at post offices has also declined by 35%, from 10.3 million in FY2019 to 6.5 million in FY2022. These trends have been similarly observed at Yishun Central Post Office.

As I shared in Parliament in October last year, with the evolving post and parcel landscape, and changing business and consumer needs, SingPost has been reviewing its costs and operations as part of its business transformation.

This is so that it can better balance commercial sustainability while serving the public's postal needs. The closures of some of SingPost's post office network is part of this review and SingPost is required to ensure that the postal needs of the community will continue to be met through alternative means, such as the SingPost mobile app, SAM kiosks, POPStations and PO boxes.

I understand Mr Derrick Goh's concerns about the impact of the closure of the Yishun Central Post Office on his residents. As with other post office closures, SingPost will notify the public at least one month ahead of closure. Customers will also continue to have access to a SAM kiosk and POPStation near to the original post office.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

The Infocomm Media Development Authority evaluates SingPost branch closures based on declining physical postal usage, with transactions dropping 35% from FY2019 to FY2022, and ensures alternative services like self-service kiosks and parcel stations are available.
The Government expects SingPost to maintain a minimal physical footprint by shifting to automated and digital solutions, such as mobile apps and POPStations, while balancing business viability with residents' basic postal needs.
SingPost aims to balance commercial sustainability with community needs by providing advance notice of closures and ensuring access to nearby alternative services like SAM kiosks and POPStations.
The closure of the Yishun Central Post Office reflects broader trends of reduced in-person transactions, with 80% of post office activities now for non-postal services that can be handled through other channels.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Assessment Criteria for Closure of SingPost Branches | PAPERCUTS

Assessment Criteria for Closure of SingPost Branches

Debated in Parliament on 9 Jan 2024.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

The Infocomm Media Development Authority evaluates SingPost branch closures based on declining physical postal usage, with transactions dropping 35% from FY2019 to FY2022, and ensures alternative services like self-service kiosks and parcel stations are available.
The Government expects SingPost to maintain a minimal physical footprint by shifting to automated and digital solutions, such as mobile apps and POPStations, while balancing business viability with residents' basic postal needs.
SingPost aims to balance commercial sustainability with community needs by providing advance notice of closures and ensuring access to nearby alternative services like SAM kiosks and POPStations.
The closure of the Yishun Central Post Office reflects broader trends of reduced in-person transactions, with 80% of post office activities now for non-postal services that can be handled through other channels.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Full Transcript

Derrick Goh

Mrs Josephine Teo

Summary written by AI (learn more)

The Infocomm Media Development Authority evaluates SingPost branch closures based on declining physical postal usage, with transactions dropping 35% from FY2019 to FY2022, and ensures alternative services like self-service kiosks and parcel stations are available.
The Government expects SingPost to maintain a minimal physical footprint by shifting to automated and digital solutions, such as mobile apps and POPStations, while balancing business viability with residents' basic postal needs.
SingPost aims to balance commercial sustainability with community needs by providing advance notice of closures and ensuring access to nearby alternative services like SAM kiosks and POPStations.
The closure of the Yishun Central Post Office reflects broader trends of reduced in-person transactions, with 80% of post office activities now for non-postal services that can be handled through other channels.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Assessment Criteria for Closure of SingPost Branches

Summary

Questions Identified

Full Transcript

Derrick Goh

Mrs Josephine Teo

Summary

Questions Identified

Assessment Criteria for Closure of SingPost Branches

Summary

Questions Identified

Full Transcript

Derrick Goh

Mrs Josephine Teo

Summary

Questions Identified