India Post's transformation from letters to a logistics powerhouse

Around the historic Kabutar Khana, a spot where people traditionally fed pigeons, situated in front of the iconic General Post Office (GPO) outside Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in Mumbai, a dwindling community of letter writers once clung to a fading tradition.

- Nikitha Sebastian

What was once a thriving hub of epistolary expertise, bustling with numerous scribes, has slowly given way to the relentless march of time and technology. Today, only their weathered desks and worn pens remain as a testament to a bygone era, where the art of letter writing was a cherished and essential part of communication. However, amidst this decline, India Post, the country's 170-year-old postal service, has undergone a remarkable transformation.

From its humble beginnings as a colonial-era postal system to its current status as a logistics powerhouse, India Post has adapted to the changing times. The organisation has successfully pivoted from a traditional mail carrier to a major player in the parcel and e-commerce logistics market.

The absence of letter writers outside the GPO is a reflection of the changing communication landscape. With the advent of digital technology letter writing has become a relic of the past. However, this decline has been offset by the exponential growth of e-commerce. According to a report by the Economic Diplomacy Division, a division of the Ministry of External Affairs, India's e-commerce market is expected to reach $200 billion by 2026. This growth has created a huge demand for efficient logistics services, and India Post has been quick to capitalise on this opportunity.

According to a recent report by McKinsey & Company, the postal industry is undergoing a profound transformation, fuelled by sharply declining mail volumes and a surge in parcel demand. India Post's transformation began in the early 2000s, when the organisation recognised the decline of traditional mail services and the rising demand for parcel delivery.