Modernisation planned at Norway Post
Norway’s post offices are to be modernised so that they meet customer needs now and in the future. The transition to electronic mail and banking services is the main reason for the change in the way customers use post offices.
Norway Post is changing due to the changes in customer usage patterns. Now we are taking an important new step to ensure that Norway Post’s sales and service network is adapted to meet our customers’ needs, says Norway Post CEO Dag Mejdell.
Since 2003, the number of customers visiting post offices has fallen by around 20%. The number of over-the-counter banking transactions has been halved during the same period.
As a result of the decline in the number of customers, Norway Post has calculated there is a need for around 300 fewer man-years in Norway’s post offices. This means an average reduction of one to two man-years at each post office. The employees will be taken care of through internal reorganisation measures and schemes.
“We regret that these changes also involve downsizing but, together with the employee representatives, we will focus on implementing them in a way which affects the individual as little as possible,” said Mejdell.
The modernisation work is planned to include 179 post offices. Through a pilot project, Norway Post modernised nine post offices in 2009. In 2010, 65 post offices will be modernised. The work will be completed in 2012.
The reorganisation means that more post offices will be moved to new, smaller premises. All the post offices’ operations and range of goods will be adapted to suit the demands of today’s customer. More efficient shop solutions will mean that Norway Post can in total reduce the floor space it rents by 35,000 square metres.
Norway Post will implement the reorganisation over a three-year period. Following this, the post offices will reflect future customer needs as well as allowing more efficient operations.
