Taking stock

A new trial is underway exploring how barcoded P739 cards can help colleagues and customers keep track of posted items.

We’re delivering more parcels than ever. Customers expect us to deliver items fast and first time. And increasingly, they want to know where their items are – that calls for accurate scanning and sorting.

At Kingston-upon-Thames and Surbiton delivery office in London, colleagues are using PDAs and the new barcoded P739 forms. The cards have a unique barcode on them, which helps the team manage items through the customer service point.

Postwoman, Jaydey Goldsmith, said: ‘When you can’t get rid of a parcel, obviously you always have to write a P739. But with these ones, you complete the card, scan the barcode on the card and then scan it on the parcel. When you press “book-in” it books it back into your office.’

Postman, Steve Cardy, said: ‘The cards benefits us because when items go into the office they get scanned and put onto a frame. When the customer comes, we know exactly where those parcels are.’

The trial came about after postman, Michael Braamhaar, wrote a letter to Courier, calling for a new type of P739 card with a pre-printed barcode. He said: ‘Hopefully I can contribute to developing it and seeing if it’ll be helpful to postmen and women across the nation.’