Proof of Posting update

With the latest Royal Mail app update, generating electronic proof of posting (ePoP) just got easier for our customers. No more typing in postbox numbers or scanning codes—our app will now use GPS to automatically detect the postboxes and parcel postboxes nearest to them, saving our customers time and making it even easier to send their items. It’s that simple!

What do customers need to know?

• If customers have automatic updates on their phone, the app will update automatically.  If they do not have automatic updates enabled, they will need to update the app from their version of the app store.
• Items being sent must have a barcoded label to get proof of posting at a postbox. 
• The service has primarily been created for use with our Tracked products purchased through our website or our app.
• The ePoP help page on the app will also be updated and finally, a ‘how to use ePoP’ video to guide customers through the process will be made available on our social media pages.

Why are we doing this?

We want to make it as easy as possible for our customers, especially marketplace sellers, to drop smaller items into a postbox and give them confidence that doing so is as reliable as any other drop-off point they might have chosen in the past.

We have over 114k postboxes which we collect from daily, easily representing the largest single drop-off point network in the UK. These represent a point of differentiation for Royal Mail, as well as a very efficient way of getting smaller items into our network. The feature further develops the Royal Mail App and gives customers yet another reason to download it and interact with Royal Mail via that channel.

Who is this development aimed at?

Electronic proof of posting is primarily aimed at small marketplace sellers using Tracked services to send smaller, postboxable items to their customers.

This feature will enable marketplace sellers to meet standards on sites like ebay, Vinted and Etsy, where they are required to provide tracking evidence that they have posted items on time - while still being able to use postboxes as their nearest, most convenient drop off channel.

It will also give customers sending Tracked Returns greater confidence to choose a postbox as their drop off point.