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Canada Post will implement new community mailboxes
Canada Post recently announced plans for a new community mailbox design that would better meet the changing needs of consumers. The new mailbox will have flatter slots and larger storage spaces for parcels, The Toronto Star reported. Canada Post will gradually move away from door-to-door delivery, but the design ensures Canadians can still get their mail. Each box will serve 16 separate addresses and contain two larger compartments for bigger packages. Postal address verification may be needed to make sure mail is still accurately delivered.
As e-commerce continues to surge in popularity, letter volumes have dropped dramatically but package volumes have risen. Many people also manage the majority of their bills online, which is one factor in the decreased mail, according to National Post. The article cited data from Statistics Canada that said 56 percent of Canadian consumer purchased goods online in 2012, which was a 5 percent increase from 2010.
Canada Post said the individual compartments in the community mailboxes will have a secure lock and can accommodate 50 percent of the parcels mailed in Canada. The larger sections can hold 80 percent of packages. Additionally, any package that requires a signature will continue to be delivered to consumers' doors. The outgoing mail section will be larger to adjust for the overall changes in Canada Post's services.
Significant shift in mail needs occurring in Canada
Currently, this transition will take place in 11 smaller cities, such as Oakville, Ontario, the Star stated. Some suburban areas already utilize community mailboxes, so the switch is expected to be easier. Densely populated regions, like Toronto and Montreal, will be among the last to change over to the community boxes over the course of Canada Post's five-year implementation plan. The post office still needs to determine the most efficient way to navigate narrower streets and the placement of the community boxes.
Residents in the first towns to transition to the new community boxes will be sent a mail-in or longer online survey to determine whether they prefer a few mailboxes closer to home or larger clusters slightly farther away, but still in a convenient location. Canada Post will also ask for feedback on the lighting and safety of the mailboxes.
Mail will continue to be an important service in Canada, but e-commerce is necessitating a change. Canada Post will refine its efforts in packaging handling, especially because a greater number of high-value items are sent through the mail, National Post said.
