PT Pos Indonesia improves services and performance

By I. Christianto

JAKARTA (JP): State-owned postal service company PT Pos Indonesia has committed to improving its performance and services to anticipate tougher global competition in the 21st century.

Minister of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications Joop Ave said over the weekend that Pos Indonesia was reforming its corporate strategy.

"The company is also restructuring, reorienting and revitalizing itself," he said.

The minister said reforms had actually been pursued since the alteration of the company from a state firm with special tasks into a limited, profit-oriented company on June 20, 1995.

He reiterated that reforms were part of a scheme to help prepare Pos Indonesia into becoming a well-established postal service company.

The postal reform program will involve several reform phases and periods, according to the Ministry of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications.

The first reform period was from 1995 to 1997, when the company consolidated and modernized its operations.

The second period is from 1998 to 2000 when the company will focus on growth and customer satisfaction.

The third period will be from 2001 to 2003, when the company will prepare to compete globally and, by then, will become a world-class operator.

The next phases of reform will be from 2004 to 2010 and from 2010 to 2020.

In the first period of reform, mail and delivery services were improved, and operational and service areas were expanded.

The company also aimed to enrich postal employees' perspective on commercial services, computerize assets administration and intensify marketing gimmicks.

In the second period, Pos Indonesia plans to further improve its services, network and transportation by setting up joint operations with strategic partners, upgrade its information system and extend its technology utilization.

The third period will be the period of human resources improvement, technology application development, operational systems enhancement and productivity advancement.

In the second phase of reforms, Pos Indonesia will enhance technology in its services and in a customer-oriented marketing scheme, advancing its professional personnel competence and improving efficiency and effectiveness.

During the last phase, the company has committed to becoming a well-established postal operator.

By then, all of Pos Indonesia's services will have a proven information technology base, supported by professional personnel.

The company also expects to retain its growth rate.

"To support our strategy, qualified and high-achieving personnel will have the chance to pursue higher education, like a master's or doctorate," the company said.

The company promised to prepare better welfare for its employees and to improve their horizons.

Pos Indonesia has set its vision on postal services in 2001, 2003 and 2005.

"In 2001, documents and export commodities will be delivered from every regency in the country to all over the world within just three days. This will be conducted in cooperation with private firms," the company said.

The government also expects the number of stamp collectors to climb to one million by the end of the Sixth Five-Year Development Plan period in March 1999.

Indonesia considers stamp-collecting educational.

By 2003, Pos Indonesia expects to operate an electronic mailing system throughout the nation and to see some three million stamp collectors.

The company plans to have direct postal services in all villages in Indonesia.

Track record

Pos Indonesia has shown a significant track record in recent years.

The company operates dozens of services and offices, including postal offices, postal houses, postal agencies, postal kiosks, mobile postal services, postal school services, extension windows, village post offices and others.

In 1994, there were 20,306 postal locations. The figure jumped to 27,269 in July 1997.

Business growth has also increased significantly. In 1995, the amount of letters sent went up 7.79 percent, packages 12.24 percent, money transfers 1.71 percent and postal checks 15.47 percent.

In 1996, the amount of letters went up 10.04 percent, packages 8.2 percent, money transfers 12.79 percent and postal checks 77.48 percent.

Pos Indonesia's net profits have also grown steadily, from Rp 37.13 billion in 1990 to Rp 43.54 billion in 1991 and Rp 50.03 billion in 1992.

Profits rose further to Rp 51.61 billion in 1993, Rp 52.55 billion in 1994, Rp 56.7 billion in 1995, Rp 72.67 billion in 1996 and Rp 80.17 billion (US$13.36 million) last year.

Data from the ministry shows that Pos Indonesia has some 29,000 staff, over 4,700 offices and more than 3,250 service vehicles.

The company has set up subsidiaries, including PT Bank Pos Indonesia and Internet service provider Wasantaranet.

The government has approved Pos Indonesia to set up six more subsidiaries.