Preparing your Trinity Audio player. . . Brazil’s national postal service is investigating innovative technologies such as blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance its operations and logistics. The state-run Empresa Brasileira de Correios e Telégrafos, which operates over 12, 000 post offices throughout Brazil, has invited tech firms to submit proposals to create technological solutions for its expansive network. Correios is seeking proposals that address its challenges related to business operations and contracting processes. In terms of logistics, the postal service aims to leverage these technologies to streamline national delivery systems, increase efficiency, and enhance transparency in procurement. Each year, its branches across Brazil handle more than 1, 500 contracts, conduct over 50, 000 small purchases, and manage over 4, 500 active supplier contracts. This is complicated by a supply system that relies on more than two dozen platforms, which impedes speed and creates complications. Globally, postal services are adopting the latest technologies to stay competitive in the digital landscape, where the volume of traditional mail—historically their core business—has significantly decreased. In recent years, many have turned to AI to reduce expenses and boost operational efficiency.

For example, New Zealand’s NZ Post experienced a 33% drop in customer service calls after implementing an AI system that anticipates customer inquiries. Blockchain is also becoming a pivotal technology in the postal sector. The United States Postal Service (USPS) has been investigating blockchain technology for close to a decade for applications in supply chain management, secure identity verification, and overseeing its extensive equipment. In 2021, the USPS recognized CaseMail as the first provider of blockchain postage labels. In 2020, Croatia’s HP-Hrvatska pošta achieved a milestone by issuing the first official blockchain stamp, which featured a non-fungible token (NFT) that users retained on-chain even after using the physical stamp for postage payment. Watch: As blockchain technology evolves, its utility becomes increasingly significant.