Swiss Post “pushing ahead with the modernization of the universal service”

The key points at a glance:

• The new Postal Services Act is intended to make the universal service more flexible. This will enable Swiss Post to focus on real customer requirements in the future. More and more people in Switzerland are using Swiss Post’s digital services. At the same time, the entire population should have access to Swiss Post’s services.
• The Federal Council is now creating the opportunity to make existing services more flexible in favour of new services. It promotes the combination of physical and digital services in the universal service. In this way, it creates the conditions for customers to be able to use individual Swiss Post services.
• Swiss Post welcomes the strategic thrusts of the Federal Council’s proposals, which enable it to continue providing a high-quality and modern public service – without taxpayers’ money.
• What is still important for Swiss Post is that people in Switzerland can send their letters or parcels at any time and make payments securely and reliably. With digital services such as the planned hybrid letter, it sets contemporary priorities.

In order for Swiss Post to adapt its services more flexibly to the dynamic market environment and real customer needs, the Postal Services Act must be fundamentally modernized. The current universal service obligation is 15 years old and is no longer in line with social and economic developments. “Swiss Post welcomes the fact that the Federal Council is taking further important steps and pushing ahead with the modernization of the universal service,” says Alex Glanzmann, interim CEO. “What is and will remain crucial for Swiss Post is that people in Switzerland can continue to send their letters and parcels quickly and reliably and receive them on time or process their payments securely.”

Addressing social trends at an early stage

Like the Federal Council, Swiss Post is in favour of focusing on physical and digital services that the public and economy will effectively need in the future. Swiss Post sees itself as a reliable partner in implementing its political mandate. “To ensure that it can continue to fulfil this mandate effectively in the future, it needs a regulatory framework that enables entrepreneurial action to provide a strong public service,” emphasizes Alex Glanzmann. This is the only way Swiss Post can respond to new trends and further changes in society in good time and continue financing the universal service without taxpayers’ money.

Merging physical and digital services

As already proposed, digital services such as hybrid letters and access to electronic payment transactions should become an integral part of the universal service. At the same time, the Federal Council is defining a legally guaranteed minimum scope of the mandate, which would be maintained even in the event of declining demand. The key points presented by the Federal Council also cover topics such as Swiss Post’s areas of activity. Swiss Post considers a holistic perspective the correct and necessary approach for the successful modernization of legislation. It welcomes the discussion on this issue.

Swiss Post remains relevant to people’s everyday lives

Swiss Post’s goal remains unchanged: to make everyday life easier for people in Switzerland with a modern and affordable public service. As part of its “Swiss Post of tomorrow” strategy, Swiss Post is already developing itself to remain fit for the future – with customer needs in mind and in line with the legal requirements and goals of the Federal Council.