New Sharjah post codes deliver the goods for ecommerce

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Phase one of Sharjah’s new post code system has been officially launched by Sharjah Urban Planning Council (SUPC) in the first step to provide emirate-wide local post codes, opening up new opportunities for ecommerce, retail and logistics providers.

The new local post code system, developed by the Emirates Post Group, provides a key component for the door-to-door delivery of a wide range of products and services. The new post codes will not only connect residents and businesses to the global ecommerce economy more effectively, but also open up a wide range of ecommerce opportunities for local SMEs and higher services levels for customers.

Ecommerce is the fastest growing industry in the United Arab Emirates and the nation accounts for some 50 percent of the GCC’s nearly US$ 5 billion (AED 18b) of consumer ecommerce sales.

Signboards with the new postal codes will be installed throughout Sharjah to facilitate more efficient postal and delivery services. The new system will simplify the job of identifying and serving locations for both commercial and public sectors, including emergency services, logistics providers and those offering door-to-door delivery services.

In the past, there has been no standard set for retailers to identify customers’ delivery areas during the order process, making organising home deliveries resource intensive. The new postal code system, which is integrated with GIS (graphic information systems) technology will allow retailers to better automate order processes and logistics providers to make home delivery more efficient. The benefits from using the new system may also page the way for retailers to offer faster delivery times and value-added home delivery offers.

The UAE’s ecommerce market is expected to grow to US$10 billion (Dh36.7 billion) by the year 2018, according to global business consultants Frost & Sullivan.

SUPC has already launched a mobile app (Android) which allows users to easily look up the new postal codes using an interactive map of Sharjah.

Source: SUPC, media