[Sydney, AUSTRALIA] Telstra and the Australia Post have signed a series of three-year contracts for outlining business service swaps between the two companies.
The Australia Post will provide mail, bill payment and distribution services to Telstra while Telstra will supply the Australia Post with telecommunications services.
The size of the deal was not announced, although Telstra described the contracts as being “collectively worth hundreds of millions of dollars over the terms,” saying they will provide significant savings to each organization.
The Australia Post will deliver services for Telstra’s direct and indirect channel network including: receipt and processing of orders; credit management; warehousing, assembly and inventory control; distribution and reverse logistics (returns) of retail products; call center functions for mobile net dealers and phone card agencies; and online capability for order processing and tracking.
Australia Post General Manager Post Logistics, Alec Ceselli, said the contract reinforced the organization’s position in the online economy. “We will be providing Telstra with an online, end-to-end logistics solution and support services through our national network,” he said.
“Post is also providing a single point of contact for all Telstra’s mobile dealers and retail agencies. This will mean simpler and more flexible transactions for Telstra’s customers,” he added.
Once fully operational, the service is expected to range from the personal delivery of a new mobile phone to a customer’s home, to the resupply of phone cards for businesses.
“The continuation of Telstra’s bill payment, telephone handset and telephone book distribution relationship with Post is particularly beneficial to Telstra’s regional customers who use Australia Post for over the counter services,” Mr. Ceselli said.
Included in the telecommunications infrastructure provided by Telstra will be an Internet Protocol network based on Telstra’s Data Mode of Operation platform. The IP network will have the ability to carry Australia Post’s business applications in a secure environment.
