The new General Post Office (GPO) at SingPost centre, which was launched on October 9, now features state of the art facility. It is the largest in Singapore and will offer automated services making it the first smart post office.
It will have high operational efficiency and provide 24/7 access to postal and other essential services. The post office also includes the largest POPstation having 143 lockers, allowing the customers to drop off and collect parcels leisurely.
Self-service posting boxes in the SAM kiosks allows posting of registered articles. SingPost also has a flagship Philatelic store, where customers can come and choose from a wide range of stamps and other limited postal related materials.
The post office has a 24-hour self-service section, which has access to Apple iPads, giving the customers more modern and user-friendly interface. The new SAM platform offers digital channels for the stamp purchase, mail tracking, bill payments, donations, and other transactions. Moreover, the SAM channels – kiosk, web and mobile app – all share a common cloud technology backbone, enabling a common user experience across the three channels through a common design interface such as the use of standardised icons.
Paul Coutts, Group Chief Executive of SingPost, said, "In line with Singapore's Smart Nation drive, we are harnessing technology in our Smart Post Office and SmartPost initiatives to deliver with greater efficiency and a better experience for all our customers"
But with all the modernisation, the GPO did incorporate elements from its previous facility, while keeping its heritage in mind. There is an iconic red pillar post box which was restored and set up in the philatelic store. Any mail which is dropped in this post box is marked with a stamp and special date in red ink.
A video wall at the GPO tells the story of the evolution of the SingPost and how it has changed drastically from a municipal department to its current modern avatar.
A folder called the Postal Journey of Singapore, which includes the GPO stamps and those featuring significant postal buildings in the city's history is on sale for S$25.
The new post office is located in SingPost Centre, which also houses a retail mall. The GPO and the Philatelic Store were opened officially by Minister of Communications and Information, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim. The opening was also commemorated by the issuance of the General Post Office of Singapore national stamps, which contrast images of the former GPO at the Fullerton Building with those of the new GPO.
