On October 9, World Post Day, Acting Chairman of the Board of Directors of Azerpost LLC Isi Mustafayev gave an interview to AZERTAG.
The interview discussed digital projects and future plans that Azerpost has successfully implemented over the past 3 years, which is in the process of renewal and changes.
We offer the interview to the attention of readers:
Referral link: bit.ly/4eV6UAC
Today, World Post Day is celebrated all over the world, and this year marks the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the Universal Postal Union (UPU). Azerbaijan became a member of the UPU in 1993, and since that day, World Post Day has been widely celebrated in our country. Azerbaijan actively participates in most UPU events, the work of the highest legislative bodies and continues its activities in this direction. Our country was elected to the highest bodies of this organization - the Council of Administration (2004 and 2008) and the Postal Operations Council (2008 and 2016) and was represented in their various projects and working groups. Currently, cooperation relations with the UPU are expanding even more.
Today marks 206 years since the establishment of postal service in Azerbaijan. This means that the only national postal operator of Azerbaijan, Azerpost, is turning 206 years old. AZERTAG presents an interview prepared by Isi Mustafayev, Acting Chairman of the Board of Directors of Azerpost LLC.
- Mr. Isi, October 9 is World Post Day. We congratulate you and all postal workers on this holiday. My first question: how does Azerpost assess its current state? What stage is it at?
- I am grateful. I also thank you on behalf of our team. In response to your question, I would like to inform you that the current status of Azerpost is more suitable for the stage of constant renewal and change. For 3 years now, Azerpost has been trying to develop the current situation and foundations; on the other hand, it opens the way to new directions and the implementation of new projects. It should also be noted that after the reforms, the national postal operator has become a profitable institution and has been able to ensure financial stability over the past 3 years.
- At the last briefing, you said that the next projects will be more digital in nature. Are these projects being implemented?
- You are absolutely right, 2024 can be considered the “digital year” for Azerpost. So, this year we have already announced 3 digital projects. The first of them is Internet banking, intended for use by legal entities, the second is the “AzPostMobile” application, intended for individuals using the financial services of Azerpost. By implementing these projects, we have provided a convenient and accessible service for both categories of clients. Our third project is the development of a new Azerpost website. Through this web page, the post office client will be able to get answers to all their questions without coming to the post office. All three projects make it possible to meet the needs of citizens in digital awareness and make services easier and more convenient for them.
- These projects are more customer-oriented, but what has been done in terms of improving the IT infrastructure and internal systems?
- Yes, serious work has been done to update the internal IT infrastructure. As you know, under Azerpost we have a structure called EMS, which operates on a door-to-door basis and provides fast postal service.
We have completed another digital solution that is different from the regular postal system and is aimed at improving the quality of express mail services. Courier services are managed and optimized thanks to the new software developed by Azerpost specialists, which includes unified workflows. Thus, effective management of incoming customer orders, route optimization and transaction monitoring are ensured. The beneficiaries of this business are mainly the customers. Thus, the ordering process has now become more convenient and simpler, the payment methods have changed, and the whole process has become transparent. Because all operations, so to speak, are in plain sight. Another beneficiary of this business is the couriers themselves. Their productivity is transparently measured, and their income opportunities are increased by the services they provide. The result is a competitive advantage, increased revenue, and safe and reliable service delivery.
In addition, about a few months ago, we launched software for tracking domestic shipments using Azerpost’s internal resources. As you know, Azerpost today not only delivers its own parcels, but also provides transportation services to other freight companies operating in the country. This system allows freight companies to track their goods from the moment of receipt to the moment of final delivery. This system not only benefits us and these companies, but also increases customer satisfaction.
- During this year, the institution has repeatedly shared information on cyber fraud cases on behalf of Azerpost. What is the level of cyber security of the institution? What is being done to prevent cyber fraud?
- This issue today worries not only Azerpost, but also other institutions, and, unfortunately, this is a widespread phenomenon. Azerpost delivers postal items and issues MasterCard and VISA cards. We take all measures to ensure security in both the postal and financial spheres, using all modern and effective means to protect the confidentiality of customer data. Unfortunately, fraudsters are always at work and for reasons that do not depend on us, but on the client, they can sometimes get what they want. When analyzing, we see that the client, who is considered the owner of the stolen funds, receives his money only with his “permission”, that is, by attracting the client to fake and tempting offers, his money is ultimately withdrawn. Here, it is our responsibility to provide regular education, information, and clarification to citizens so that customers are more careful and do not make mistakes. Our recent observations show that our mail order customers are almost certainly not being scammed and even report cyber fraud when they can.
- Mr. Isi, what other innovations await us from Azerpost by the end of this year and when will the update stage you mentioned be completed?
- First of all, I would like to note that by the end of the year we will ensure the opening of our post offices located in Karabakh. In the near future, our citizens living in Khankendi and Shusha will be offered universal postal services, as well as other services. It is incorrect to give a clear answer to the question of when the update phase will end, since it is a continuous process. When we observe the development of the world, technological changes and the capabilities of artificial intelligence, we see that updates are no longer aimed at a specific period, but are constantly.
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