USPS: We Need Help! E-Commerce Is A Huge Opportunity, But We Don't Have The Technology To Keep Up

[FarCenter]

The United States Postal Service needs help.

Online retail sales are on the rise, which means people need all those packages delivered. The USPS knows this, but right now, it can't fully take advantage of it.

Why is that?

It just doesn't have the technology.

That's why it posted a "request for information" on a U.S. government website. It's looking for advice from private companies or individuals about routing packages, though it's not offering any compensation right now, Elvina Nawaguna at Reuters reported.

The USPS needs a "dynamic routing system" so that it can deliver packages more efficiently outside its everyday routes. It also wants to offer services like same-day delivery and store pickups.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/usps-dynamic-routing-technology-ecommerce-2013-2

Amazon is working with Seven Eleven to install lockers for delivery of orders to customers.

OTOH, the USPS already offers "hold for pickup" service. However, I haven't seen that offered by merchants as a shipping option for the customer to get secure delivery of orders. Is USPS missing an opportunity?

[flamingdem]

1. They should be funded rather than defunded to be the best high tech delivery service

since they have some of the best capacity already and certainly are cheaper than UPS or Fedex

[robinlynne]

2. None of the others come close to the post office imho.

[ghurley]

3. heard this on the daily show... drones...

from some drone expert. i laughed at first, but when I thought about it a little more it started to make sense to me. she envisioned drones delivering packages. line of sight travel. very fuel efficient. now I don't image that a drone is going to drop off a new tv, but that hdmi cable that i ordered online for $2 to hook up the tv could easily have been dropped off by a drone.