Royal Mail to revamp final mile parcel service

Royal Mail is planning a nationwide roll out of its 'Delivery to Neighbour' service in late September, to bring its final mile service more in line with competitors.

Currently the only major delivery company not offering the service, it is awaiting regulatory approval from Ofcom, which will allow Royal Mail to deliver large parcels and items that require a signature to neighbours when customers are out.

Mike Newnham, Royal Mail’s chief customer officer, says: “The results of the trial showed that customers welcomed the convenience of having items delivered to a neighbour if they were not at home to receive them.”

Nearly 750,000 addresses were involved in a trial in November 2011, which saw 220,000 parcels successfully delivered to neighbours.

The company will begin to distribute leaflets nationwide next week (starting Monday 20 August) to provide information about the service.

“We look forward to Ofcom’s decision on rolling out the initiative later this summer but wanted to give all our customers early information about our plans and outline their options,” Newnham says.

The leaflets will provide information about how to opt out of the Delivery to Neighbour service if customers do not wish to participate.