Royal Mail has stated that the business has effectively achieved its goal of 90% automation throughout its parcel operations. Royal Mail Automation is being hailed as a “major step forward,” marking a notable turning point in line with the company’s broader modernization approach.
The firm claims to have beaten the target this month after years of investment, including the opening of two state-of-the-art automated parcel hubs in Warrington and Daventry. These facilities are capable of processing up to 1.5 million parcels a day combined. Furthermore, the company has added 10 specially designed large parcel conveyors at mail centres across the country to manage bigger parcels. Mail hubs in Leeds, Plymouth, and Exeter received three new high-speed Parcel Sortation Machines, each one boosting processing capacity by 21,000 parcels per hour. These advancements highlight the significant role of Royal Mail Automation in enhancing operational efficiency.
Royal Mail claims that these upgrades have improved the rapid handling of deliveries, particularly during the Christmas and peak times, satisfying the rising need for goods to reach customers the very next day. This focus on Royal Mail Automation ensures that the company can consistently keep up with increasing customer expectations.
Royal Mail also revised its app earlier this month to allow users to request confirmation of postage when they drop off smaller goods and packets with a barcode at the 115,000 postboxes across the UK.
Royal Mail was the first delivery firm in the world to include digital tracking on its containers carrying letters and goods late last year. As these containers move across the nation, the tags send real-time data on location, humidity, and temperature.
In 2023, the company upgraded postage stamps by incorporating digital barcodes to enhance tracking capabilities and significantly reduce forgeries.
Royal Mail Chief Operating Officer, Alistair Cochrane, said: “Reaching 90% automation is a key milestone in our mission to deliver a modern, more efficient Royal Mail.”
“We will continue to explore new technologies to enhance our performance and meet the evolving needs of our customers, while also supporting our workforce with cutting-edge technology.”
