Postal service to launch SMS notifications

The Barbados Postal Service is set to roll out SMS notifications for customers in a significant modernisation drive aimed at meeting the evolving needs of citizens in an increasingly digital world, Postmaster General Joann Busby announced on Sunday.

The impending launch of the new feature was revealed during a church service to mark World Post Day at the Ann Gill Memorial Church. The SMS service, part of a broader upgrade to a new postal software solution called PostGlobal, will keep customers updated on their shipments.

Busby said: “As part of our broader modernisation efforts, the Barbados Postal Service is in the process of rolling out a new postal software solution PostGlobal by Reason Solutions Ltd. This advanced system will offer several benefits, including SMS notifications, to keep customers updated on their shipments and a domestic real-time electronic postal money order service. These innovations will make the BPS more efficient, responsive, and aligned with the needs of a modern economy.”

The postmaster general acknowledged the ongoing logistical challenges faced by the postal service which operates without its own fleet of aircraft. But she highlighted recent partnerships aimed at enhancing both international and regional mail delivery services.

“One notable partnership is with DHL, which enables us to offer a co-branded Worldwide Express Service to countries where our network faces significant limitations. This collaboration allows the BPS to provide a competitive option for express deliveries,” Busby explained.

The postal service is also anticipating deals with intra-regional air and sea carriers to move packages from other CARICOM nations. Busby said talks have begun with the planned ferry service, Connect Caribe, and island-hopping airline InterCaribbean Airways to improve the flow of mail throughout the region.

She added: “These partnerships are a crucial step toward overcoming long-standing logistical obstacles in the region, especially for islands with limited air and sea transport options. Furthermore, we are engaging with international airlines to improve air logistics, with the goal of providing faster and more reliable mail services across the globe.”

Busby emphasised the evolving role of the postal service, which has served Barbados for nearly 170 years.

“Today, the BPS is more than just a mail carrier,” she said. “It is a partner in economic development, a champion of sustainability, and a trusted provider of essential services.”

In the postal service’s bid to adapt to changing times, Busby expressed optimism about its future: “We are proud of the strides we have made and excited about the future as we continue to innovate, modernise, and serve the people of Barbados.”

World Post Day, celebrated annually on October 9, commemorates the founding of the Universal Postal Union in 1874. The day was established by the 1969 Universal Postal Congress in Tokyo.