Royal Mail is piloting a Pinpoint initiative to map the precise co-ordinates of every home and business address in the UK. This initiative, being piloted in East Anglia, will help improve the accuracy of location-based information used by individuals and businesses. If successful, the initiative will be rolled out across the UK later in the year.
The mobile market is evolving rapidly with the increasing penetration of satellite navigation systems and Smartphone technology. Royal Mail say that they are undertaking this initiative in response to market demand for location-based information that meets the needs of consumers and businesses. They want to help improve the accuracy of delivery point information which is accurate to the “front door” of residential and business addresses. It could, for example, help the satellite navigation systems find addresses more easily.
During the pilot, postmen and women will capture the GPS co-ordinates of every property in East Anglia using a satellite receiver.
This is an interesting move on the part of Royal Mail. Anyone who’s used satellite navigation will know the frustration of arriving within half a mile of a destination (which you could do just as easily with a standard map) and still not be able to find the exact location of the place you’re looking for. If Royal Mail capture the exact coordinates of each front door GPS providers will be able to license this data to improve accuracy.
With advances in local shopping applications such as eBay’s MiLo this will become increasingly relevant, plus if Royal Mail can sell the data it’s another revenue stream for the business to bolster falling mail revenues.
