CTT Portugal trials 24-hour self-service post office
Portuguese postal service CTT is trying out technology from US firm Escher Group at a fully self-service postal kiosk established next to its headquarters in Lisbon. Boston-based Escher Group said the “21st century post office” set up in Parque das Nações, allows 24-hour operation every day of the year, providing services traditionally found at the post office counter.
The kiosk requires minimal maintenance and is designed to handle a diverse range of services, said the company, including mail services, pricing, label printing, bill payment and financial services as well as post office box management.
Using Escher’s RiposteKiosk software, the system also includes sale of items from CTT’s “extensive” catalogue of retail products.
The US company said the project was a “testament to the innovative and creative retail solutions that CTT Portugal is bringing to today’s marketplace”, adding that it would also demonstrate the durability of its RiposteKiosk software.
Liam Church, the Escher Group chief executive, said: “CTT Portugal is a progressive company and not afraid to invest in technology and services to widen its customer base. Making such services available 24 hours a day, every day of the year, was an audacious step that has been very successful.
“Escher was delighted to be involved in this project and look forward to its expansion across Portugal in 2012,” added Church.
“Significant”
Separately, today saw Escher announcing that it has been awarded a major contract with a “leading postal authority” that it did not name.
The company saw its share prices surge on the news that it had won a 54-month contract with renewal options for use of its Riposte suite of software along with maintenance services.
Escher said it was expecting the largest deal in its history to generate around $50m in revenue for the group over 15 years, with scope for “substantial” further revenue. Next year should bring in $4m (USD) with revenue increasing in 2013 as the software is rolled out.
Church said today: “We are delighted to be able to announce today’s contract win. This is a significant step forward in Escher’s growth and continued development.”
