Are Post Office Kiosks and Parcel Postage Kiosks The Solution to Post Office Closures? - By: S.Roberts

We are all aware that many post offices in the UK have closed in recent years, particularly those in rural areas. The post office says that the closures were necessary because these post offices were just not economically feasible to keep open. However it has been a hardship for some communities to look for the services and facilities that a post office provides. A post office internet kiosk could bring some of these services back to these communities who used to rely on the post office.

The post office is no stranger to self-service vending machines. Some post boxes have had small vending machines dispensing postage stamps for years. Although a post office kiosk would be larger in size and comprise of a multimedia touch screen kiosk, self-service scale, a coinage facility and a card reader. The kiosks would need to be housed in an existing shop, with an adjacent lockable room where parcels could be stored until they were collected. However, the kiosks would be fully self-service kiosks, which means that they would be cost effective due to 'no staff required'.

Dispensing Stamps
The kiosks will be able to dispense books of fist class and second class stamps for both normal sized letters and large letters.

Sending Mail in the UK
With the self-service scales customers will be able to weigh and post parcels and packets. On-screen will give the customer to choose first, second class and parcel force where available. The kiosk will print and dispense a payment label for the items that the user can attach to the packaging. Next to the kiosks will be a facility like a night safe to post parcels into a locked cupboard space ready for collection.

The interactive screen will also offer recorded delivery services on parcels and letters.

Sending Mail Overseas
The kiosks will be able to allow customers to send packets, parcels and letters overseas. Users will place their items to post on the scale and then select on screen the country of destination.

Redirecting your Mail
An onscreen service will allow users to register a redirection on their mail and take payment for the service. In a similar way users will be able to set up PO Boxes at the kiosk.

Arranging a Redelivery
An onscreen service will allow users to arrange an alternative delivery date for mail that the post office was unable to deliver to the customer.

Paying Bills
The kiosks will be able to take payment for bills providing that the user has a payment slip to pay the bill.

Insurance and Pensions
The kiosks can provide onscreen and printable information about insurance and pension that are available with the post office. The kiosk will also allow for the user to fill out a form onscreen and to set up their bank account details.

Printable forms for Passports, Driving Licences, Etc.
No need for untidy leaflets and forms, the kiosks will print off forms at the users request.

Fishing Licences and TV licences
The kiosks will have an onscreen form for the customer to complete and then the kiosks will print out fishing licences or TV licences.

Postal Orders
Kiosks users will be able to buy postal orders at the kiosk. The kiosks will show onscreen the postal order values and the customer can select one by touching the screen. The kiosks will them print out the postal order.

Saving Stamps and Christmas Clubs
The kiosk will dispense a range of saving stamps and Christmas club stamps for the customers to collect.

Not only can these kiosks be used by the post office, but other parcel delivery companies could also use them to further their parcel delivery services. This would increase their business presence to the public and increase brand awareness.

About the Author

http://www.kiosks4business.com design and manufacturer touchscreen kiosk solutions. If you would like to find out more about how http://www.kiosks4business.com Kiosks can help you deliver your services then please call us today 0845 451 2020 or visit

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