Future of the post office in Borgfeld: employees and digital solutions in focus

Future of the post office in Borgfeld: employees and digital solutions in focus

The future of the post office in Borgfeld remains uncertain, and Deutsche Post is desperately looking for solutions to offer its services in the district. Meanwhile, plans are set for a staffed branch to be set up, an announcement confirmed by spokeswoman Maike Wintjen. We are currently looking for a suitable store and a business partner to put the ambitious plans into practice. According to Weser-Kurier, a planned contract for a branch on Querlandstrasse fell through in July 2023, which was particularly important for the house owner Susanne Capelle is a bitter disappointment.

Capelle had a rental agreement already drawn up in his drawer that only needed the post office's signature. But on July 15, 2023, she received a rejection not only verbally but also in writing, which referred to economic reasons without providing any further explanation. Local mayor Karl-Heinz Bramsiepe expressed disappointment about this decision and emphasized the importance of a regular post office for life in Borgfeld.

Digital solutions in planning

But Deutsche Post is not giving up. In addition to the search for an employee for the branch, there are also efforts to install two digital post offices, although their locations are still secret. The plan calls for these machines to be accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week. At the digital postal stations, customers could buy stamps, post parcels, and send and receive letters and parcels. A practical solution, especially in rural areas where post offices are decreasing, as t3n report.

However, the previous attempt to establish a digital post office failed because a potential provider of the location withdrew at short notice. The advisory board decided that a branch staffed by employees is more desirable than a digital alternative. This shows a clear desire to maintain the human element in the service.

Automation as a future topic

Viewed in a broader context, Deutsche Post has been struggling for years to meet legal requirements for branch density. The Federal Postal Act of 1999 stipulates that there must be a post office in every town with at least 2,000 inhabitants. Nevertheless, according to the Federal Network Agency, there are 141 locations where this is not the case, which is a major concern for Deutsche Post. Nevertheless, an article from Spiegel shows that the post machines are now even considered branches and could potentially help to increase accessibility and maintenance times improve.

The installation of automated solutions could also enable longer opening times. However, there is a discussion about the appropriateness of such digital services - especially with regard to the inclusion of older and disabled people. Social organizations express concerns that widespread automation could have a negative impact on these population groups.

All in all, it remains to be seen how the situation in Borgfeld will develop. The people there have a great interest in reliable postal delivery, be it through digital stations or through a traditional branch with staff. The coming months will show whether Deutsche Post can find a way to meet this challenge.