Page 22 - ITLN January - February 2025

Spotlight
India Post

India Post's

transformation

from letters

to a logistics

powerhouse

Around the historic Kabutar Khana, a spot where people
traditionally fed pigeons, situated in front of the iconic
General Post Office (GPO) outside Chhatrapati Shivaji
Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in Mumbai, a dwindling
community of letter writers once clung to a fading tradition.
What was once a thriving hub of epistolary expertise,
bustling with numerous scribes, has slowly given way to the
relentless march of time and technology. Today, only their
weathered desks and worn pens remain as a testament to a
bygone era, where the art of letter writing was a cherished
and essential part of communication. However, amidst this
decline, India Post, the country's 170-year-old postal service,
has undergone a remarkable transformation.
Nikitha Sebastian

rom its humble beginnings as a division of the Ministry of External
a colonial-era postal system to Affairs, India's e-commerce market
its current status as a logistics is expected to reach $200 billion by India Post's modernisation efforts
Fpowerhouse, India Post 2026. This growth has created a huge have been instrumental in supporting
has adapted to the changing times. demand for efficient logistics services, its remarkable growth. Automated
The organisation has successfully and India Post has been quick to sorting systems have significantly
pivoted from a traditional mail carrier capitalise on this opportunity. enhanced efficiency, streamlining the
to a major player in the parcel and According to a recent report by processing of parcels and reducing
e-commerce logistics market. McKinsey & Company, the postal manual errors. Additionally, the
The absence of letter writers industry is undergoing a profound introduction of track-and-trace
outside the GPO is a reflection of the transformation, fuelled by sharply facilities has empowered customers
changing communication landscape. declining mail volumes and a surge with real-time updates on their
With the advent of digital technology, in parcel demand. India Post's shipments, fostering transparency and
letter writing has become a relic of transformation began in the early trust. Online payment gateways have
the past. However, this decline has 2000s, when the organisation also simplified the payment process,
been offset by the exponential growth recognised the decline of traditional providing convenience and ease.
of e-commerce. According to a report mail services and the rising demand Complementing these technological
by the Economic Diplomacy Division, for parcel delivery. advancements is a substantial
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