2009-10 Annual Report - Australia Post

• Thinkpublications.com.au:
Launched in October 2009,
www.thinkpublications.com.au is an online resource for subscription
marketers and custom publishers geared towards helping marketers
and publishers achieve maximum results from their printed
publications. The site also features a comprehensive service
directory for marketers and publishers, featuring more than
80 participating organisations.
• Local council “Community Update” mail:
Designed to assist
councils in engaging their constituents at maximum effi ciency
and effectiveness, the service assists in increasing the reach and
effectiveness of council communications by using Australia Post’s
addressed delivery service and consolidating communications into
an identifi able pack.
Operational optimisation programs
During 2009–10, Australia Post accelerated programs that improve
our operational effi ciency and fl exibility in the letters business.
We have pursued opportunities for automation, process redesign
and network systems that reduce costs and maintain service
standards Australia-wide.
A major focus has been the Future Delivery Design (FDD) change
program, which is setting the future direction for delivery operations.
Among its achievements during 2009–10, the FDD program has:
• continued rolling out the automated sorting of letters into delivery
sequence order, bringing the number of machine-sorted rounds
to 1,437 (or 18 per cent of metropolitan rounds)
• rolled out the fi rst stage of a program designed to enhance
automated address recognition, resulting in an average
improvement of 11.3 per cent
THE CENTRE
OF ATTENTION
Our Community is a social enterprise providing advice, guidance,
training and tools for Australia’s 700,000 community groups.
Among its key offerings is a website that since 2004 has included the
Marketing, Media and Post Centre (www.ourcommunity.com.au/mmp).
From day one, Australia Post has supported this virtual resource centre,
which gives practical assistance to groups wanting to promote
themselves effectively.
So far, over 100,000 community organisations have used the Marketing,
Media and Post Centre to help them fi nd funds, members, volunteers
and other support, such as media coverage. Its resources include
more than 200 help sheets, best-practice examples, a media-contact
directory, free image library and guidance in developing marketing,
direct mail and communication campaigns.
Among those singing the centre’s praises are Father Joe Caddy
(pictured), CEO of Centacare Melbourne and Chairman of Catholic
Social Services Australia. “Thanks to Australia Post and Our
Community,” he says, “the possibility of a well-resourced and
targeted media and marketing strategy is now within reach of
every one of the 700,000 groups in Australia.”
Other initiatives that Our Community and Australia Post have
delivered include books such as How to Stand Out from the Crowd –
The Complete Marketing & Media Handbook for Community
Organisations, launched in May 2010.
• introduced electric bicycles and tricycles and continued testing
additional alternative delivery modes such as all-terrain buggies.
Another major program, PostMaster, continued modernising Australia
Post’s core address, network and mapping systems, processes and
support. Among its achievements this fi nancial year was the completion
of the Geographic Information System project, resulting in national
mapping services for the corporation.
The Address Replatform project was also implemented. On schedule for
roll-out in late 2011, this project will modernise core address systems
by consolidating seven applications and fi ve databases into one
integrated solution.
The future
On 1 July 2010, letters became part of Australia Post’s new Postal
Services strategic business unit. By aligning our letters and parcels
activities more closely, greater effi ciencies will be achieved across
an ever-expanding network. This remains a priority for the business,
so we will continue introducing equipment, technology and processes
that optimise productivity and maintain high service standards.
Although it is clear that any signifi cant growth in letter volumes is
unlikely in the future, we are also committed to developing, supporting
and promoting the benefi ts of physical mail. Through innovative
products, services and campaigns, we will ensure that mail remains
a valued and effective communications option well into the future.
Digital products and services were also a priority for the letters &
associated services business, particularly through the work of eLetter
Solutions, Decipha, PrintSoft and First Direct Solutions. From 1 July,
these businesses became part of e-Services, the new strategic business
unit dedicated to the development of Australia Post’s digital capabilities.
AUSTRALIA POST ANNUAL REPORT 2009–10 | REPORT OF OPERATIONS 17