Austrian Post devises simplified mailing portfolio

Austrian Post is set to launch a new portfolio of products, designed to simplify the mailing process for its customers. The operator has established clearer tariff levels, as well as giving its customers greater availability of features.

The move is aimed at helping Austrian Post remain competitive in the deregulated postal market in the country.

Implementation of the new system will take place across the country on 1 May.

The new product structure is based on a total of five standard sizes: Standard, Standard Plus, Maxi, Maxi Plus and Large Letter. The old system included 14 different product prices.

Letters weighing up to 20g can be mailed under the Standard service, at a cost of EUR 0.60. Standard Plus incorporates letters weighing 20-50g, at a cost of EUR 0.90.

The Maxi service is for mail up to 500g, costing EUR 1.45; whilst Maxi Plus costs EUR 2, and covers up to 1000g.

Mail up to 2000g can be posted by the Large Letter service, at a cost of EUR 3.

All services, bar Large Letters, can be posted in one of the company’s 17,000 mailboxes.

Last year, Austrian Post launched a customer survey on the operator’s service, with 300,000 people taking part.

The results showed that 94% of those surveyed were extremely satisfied with the operator’s letter service, with 87% also happy with the service for parcels.

It also revealed that the customers’ main priority was a simplified, easy-to-understand portfolio of products.

Results said since the operator’s last services reform, eight years ago, the post was getting bigger and hence more confusing.

Therefore, Austrian Post said its main aim was to implement “a new product portfolio that is more strongly aligned to the changing market and customer requirements – bringing about simplification and standardisation”.

For business clients there will be two different speeds of delivery. A ‘premium product’ guarantees delivery of mail on the next working day, with a cheaper ‘economy product’ for larger quantities available for delivery within 2-3 days.