How does a parcel get from A to B?

All parcels are carried as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible from the sender to the recipient. At the parcel centres, over 90% of consignments are forwarded without human intervention after unloading.

The main points along the way

   

Posting a parcel

Every post office in Switzerland accepts parcels and forwards them on to a centrally located distribution base. In this way, Swiss Post can count on one of the densest acceptance networks in the world.

   

Parcel terminal

Parcels are carried by train and truck from the distribution bases to the parcel centre. Swiss Post cares for the environment and uses rail transport wherever this makes sense and is feasible.

   

Unloading parcels

The parcels are unloaded and placed on conveyor belts.

   

Automatic address entry

Parcels are scanned, read, measured and weighed automatically. Unreadable addresses are entered manually or by means of a video-coding system.

   

Pre-sorted to the destination

Consignments travel reliably through the parcel centres at 6 km/hr.

   

Main sorting

Parcels destined for another region are forwarded to the nearest centre. Parcels for the region are sorted automatically by post office and postal carrier.

   

Outbound mail

The processed parcels are either sent by rail to the nearest parcel centre, or, depending on the destination, by rail, truck and delivery van to the nearest distribution base/branch, to the post office or directly to the recipient.

Have you always wanted to know how a parcel is processed right up to the moment it arrives on your doorstep? We will reveal this and many other secrets to you on an interesting guided tour through one of our modern parcel centres.