Australia Post Sets Delivery Record Following Big Shopping Days

With Christmas still a few weeks away, Australia Post has set a record for parcels processed across a weekend and is set to notch its biggest week ever, demonstrating its readiness for the peak Christmas period.

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On the back of the shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Australians clicked into a frenzy online, with ecommerce up 39 percent year on year for the sales period and an estimated 5 million parcels processed over the weekend.

The sales push has extended through the week and Australia Post is still delivering record volumes, and on current estimates, this week will be the biggest in Australia Post’s history.

Australia Post Group Chief Operating Officer Bob Black said it again showed not only how much Australians have embraced relatively new international shopping traditions, but that Australia Post’s investment in its network has paid dividends.

“Right across the country we’ve had new facilities and new automation come online just in time for the peak period, and this weekend, we’ve been able to process more parcels than ever before. We’ve also recruited more than 3000 new staff in the lead up to Christmas, helping us deliver Christmas cheer and be part of our biggest Christmas ever.”

 

Bob Black, COO, Australia Post Group

The new facilities include the Brisbane Parcel Facility in Redbank, which is the biggest mail facility in the southern hemisphere and is already processing over 300,000 parcels a day.

Total Parcels Processed Jumped 30% From 2018

On Black Friday, more than 2 million parcels were delivered – up 18 percent on Black Friday 2018, and on Cyber Monday, it was more than 2.5 million parcels – up by 12 percent on last year’s effort.

There were also 300,000 parcels delivered across the weekend, and almost 400 tonnes of freight uplifted across the air network, capitalizing on the additional six aircraft in the dedicated freighter fleet, bringing capacity to 15 freighters.

Australia Post has invested heavily in its network, with a national $900 million three-year investment in infrastructure and automation to strengthen its growing parcels business.

In the lead up to Christmas, Australia Post has also extended trading hours for almost 190 of its post offices across the country.

Along with extended trading hours, Australia Post customers also can collect their Christmas gifts at a free 24/7 parcel locker in over 350 locations across the country and can track their deliveries online.

Extended trading hours will continue until Sunday, December 22.

How did your online store do over the holiday weekend?

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READ MORE: Australia Post Partners With Doddle to Expand Its Offerings