IN the service providers race for superior information technology and communications systems, stragglers can get left behind.
They can fall by the wayside and die a natural death.
Officials of the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) are aware of this reality; and as the chief domestic communications provider they are determined not be among the stragglers.
They intend to stay with the bunch, keeping pace with the growing technology to retain and even increase their market share.
Chairman of the GPOC, Bishop Juan Edghill, said as much when he announced an imminent hi-tech upgrade in the Corporation’s communications system with its branches countrywide.
The GPOC will be unveiling a fully computerized system of communications with the head office and among their branches on the coast and even remote hinterland areas from early next month and onwards.
The new system will be an internet-based platform and those initially targeted for the improved service will be persons using the local money transfer services, or domestic remittances service.
The system will enable money transfer customers to benefit from a faster, safer and more secure service and at no additional cost, Bishop Egdhill said.
Another staffer of the GPOC, directly associated with the upgrade, said that it will be on par with those used by international money transfer services.
“It will be a system that works in real time. For example when a transaction is entered into at any of the Post Offices, it is received at all Post Offices within the network within seconds. The sender receives a code number which he can transmit to the receiver and the receiver can retrieve the money sent at any Post Office of his convenience, within a matter of minutes.”
In remote areas where an internet connection is not available, the GPOC will match the speed of transactions of the mainstream areas through the use of Wireless Application phones (WAP).
The WAP phone, which has a keyboard, is a mobile phone with Internet connectivity.
“The connectivity of these phones with the mainstream system will enable customers in remote areas to transfer money to, for example, people on the Coastland for purchases of fuel supplies or for sustenance of families and relatives,” Bishop Edghill disclosed.
The official associated with the system said that in areas where the flow of transactions is traditionally not too heavy, the GPOC will utilize a telephone call in system to a call centre to which information will be transmitted to complete a transfer transaction.
Bishop Edghill remarked that the post office plays a very important role in Guyana.
“The Post Office is a communications business and every porkknocker knows the importance of the Post Office in the interior.
He said that with the new system, communication from the interior will not be through the radio set.
“We acknowledge that there is now a greater need for privacy, speed and security. We are improving our network so not only our people on the coast will get adequate service, but even our people in the most remote areas.
“We have our problems from time to time, and we are not alone in this regard. “Everybody has problems from time to time; but we are committed to a Universal Service Obligation; not just going to where the extra dollars can be found.”
The upgrade, which uses multi-purpose software developed overseas, will be initially limited to the Domestic Remittances “platform.”
After a trial period, customers will be able to access the system to pay their National Insurance dues as well as the Guyana Power and Light, Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Services and other service providers’ bills.
Making the announcement, Bishop Edhgill urged GPOC customers to buy into the new initiatives to serve them on the coast as well as in the hinterland, starting from November.
He said, “Remember we at GPOC are your old friends doing new things. We want to work together with you to make Guyana a better place.”