Mail Sequencing

AuthorityIsle of Man Post Office
Date received2020-02-10
OutcomeAll information sent
Outcome date2020-03-06
Case ID1173349

Summary

The request sought a breakdown of costs for the introduction of mail sequencing at the Isle of Man Post Office, which was fully disclosed with estimated figures for external and internal expenditures.

Key Facts

  • Mail sequencing was part of a broader mail optimization programme.
  • The disclosed costs are estimates representing the proportion attributable to sequencing alone.
  • External costs included specification, consultation, software, and development.
  • Internal costs covered project management and staff training.
  • The system enhanced letter-sorting machine functionality and saved manual sorting hours.

Data Disclosed

  • £3,000
  • £7,000
  • £12,000
  • £10,000
  • £105,000
  • £5,000
  • 2020-02-10
  • 2020-03-06
  • May 2019
  • 1173349

Original Request

What was the overall cost for the introduction of mail sequencing inclusive of and broken down into: Consultation fees Software Initial set up Installation Training

Data Tables (1)

Specification and benchmarking with Royal Mail External £3,000
Consultation External £7,000
Project Management Internal £12,000
Licenses and software development External £10,000
Development and Implementation (this includes operating system updates and barcode functionality) External £105,000
Training (engineers and frontline staff) Internal £5,000

Full Response Text

Postal Headquarters Spring Valley Industrial Estate Douglas Isle of Man, 1M2 IAA

Switchboard: +44 (0)1624 698400 Telephone: +44 (0)1624 698402 Fax: +44 (0)1624 698406 Email: foi@iompost.com Web: www.iompost.com

Our ref: 1173349 6 March 2020

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 10 February 2020 and which states:

"What was the overall cost for the introduction of mail sequencing inclusive of and broken down into:
Consultation fees
Software
Initial set up
Installation
Training"

Our response to your request is as follows: I have enclosed a copy of the information that is being released to you.

Please quote the reference number 1173349 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded. If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.

In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi. I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely

FOI Co-ordinator

Mail Sequencing

Mail sequencing was one part of the Mails optimisation programme, which consisted of several strands. The costs listed below are estimates of the proportion of the total costs attributable to the sequencing element alone. Sequencing has enhanced the functionality of our letter-sorting machine and enabled the ongoing extraction and saving of manual sorting hours.

Specification and benchmarking with Royal Mail External £3,000 Consultation External £7,000 Project Management Internal £12,000 Licenses and software development
External £10,000 Development and Implementation
(this includes operating system updates and barcode functionality) External £105,000 Training (engineers and frontline staff) Internal £5,000

Notes: (1) Fees up to May 2019 (2) ‘Internal’ relates to IOMPO staff costs