Australia Post trials Google Trusted Stores to improve parcel delivery times

Australia Post is piloting the Google Trusted Stores beta program in a bid to improve parcel delivery times for online shoppers.

The program, which Google launched in December 2013, makes it clear to online shoppers which retailers have a good track record in delivering goods on time by awarding them with a Trusted Stores badge. This is seen to help encourage good customer service and improve parcel delivery times.

Under the six-month pilot, Australia Post will verify shipping times that online merchants provide to Google as part of the program. Australia Post is the first local carrier to to be integrated with the new Google Trusted Stores beta program, which is free for online retailers.

Read: Australia Post’s mail business to lose $200 million this year.

“Australia Post is proud to be supporting the improvement of the Australian online shopping experience for consumers and online retailers participating in the Australian Google Trusted Stores beta program,” Australia Post’s executive general manager, Parcels Express Services, Richard Umbers, said in a statement.

The marketing director of retailer SurfStitch, Martin Corr, said having a badge to highlight Australia Post’s proven track record will help the mail carrier differentiate itself, and increase online sales.

“It’s also good to be working with Google and Australia Post to help build consumer trust in online shopping overall as this benefits everyone involved with online retailing in Australia,” he added.

In June 2013, Catriona Larritt, GM, Post Digital at Australia Post, said 70 per cent of parcel transactions are generated online and this business is “booming”.

“Our domestic business generates about $1 billion in revenue and it’s growing at 10 per cent per year.

Even though the Australian e-commerce market was slow to grow initially, most forecasts have it growing at double digit rates until 2020.”