Postcodes 'no longer fit for purpose' as study shows most people have one which does not go directly to their door

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 03 Apr 2018, 14:30

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/0 ... udy-shows/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Postcodes are "no longer fit for purpose" as three in four people in the UK have an address that does not lead directly to the door of their home or business, according to new research.

British technology company What3words has said that the current address system in the UK needs to change after it found that people are struggling more than ever to get their parcels delivered to the right location.

A survey carried out by the company showed that out of 1,000 people in the UK, 74 per cent said deliveries, services and visitors struggle to find their homes or businesses; equating to almost 46 million people nationally.

And now the revolutionary firm is hoping to stop the delivery nightmare with their global grid system.

What3words has divided the entire planet into three metre squares and given each one its own unique three word address, allowing homeowners to pinpoint the exact location of a delivery.

Chris Sheldrick, CEO and co-founder, said: “When our current addressing system was first built, it wasn’t designed for a future of drone deliveries and hailing autonomous taxis. Technology is rapidly taking over the world in which we live, and our addresses are no longer fit for purpose.

“This isn’t just a problem of the future, it’s a problem now. We’ve all felt the frustration of having a lukewarm pizza turn up at the door because it’s taken so long for the delivery driver to find us, or of being lost despite the sat nav telling us ‘you have arrived at your destination’.”

What3words said their system, which is now embedded in brand new Mercedes cars, could replace current postcodes in the UK, which were first implemented in 1959.

The company argued that as the population has grown, postcodes are no longer accurate enough, a problem exacerbated by the fact that many UK street names are far from unique. There are, for example, 34 Victoria Roads in London alone.

However, Royal Mail argued that the current system still worked, and that it was “a vital part” of deliveries.

A spokesperson said: “The postcode is Royal Mail’s operational tool designed to ensure the accurate sorting, routing and delivery of our customers' mail.

"Royal Mail introduced the postcode to every UK address over 40 years ago to route it and deliver mail quickly and efficiently. The Postcode Address File (PAF) is a vital part of Royal Mail and will continue to be so."

They added that despite the age of the postcode "Royal Mail are committed to driving increased usage of this data-set and thus innovation in the data business community to the benefit of the UK economy.”

The What3words system includes some of the most remote places on the planet such as Shark Bay in Vanuatu, as well as Britain's best-known landmarks.

If the Queen wanted a package delivered to her front door, she'd just have to reference 'rocks, skin, grand'.

Alternatively if someone needed to send post to 10 Downing Street the three words would be 'snake, radar, loose'.

The United Nations currently integrates What3words in their Asign programme (Adaptive system for image communication over global networks) and is also used by Domino's pizza delivery on the Caribbean island of Sint Maarten.

Post by **Lounge Lizard** » 03 Apr 2018, 16:09

"A survey carried out by the company showed that out of 1,000 people in the UK, 74 per cent said deliveries, services and visitors struggle to find their homes or businesses" but does Royal Mail with its Postcode "struggle to find homes or businesses"?

No, or very rarely.
All this is about is a "revolutionary firm ... hoping to stop the delivery nightmare" that doesn't exist" by selling "their global grid system" as an alternative to long established postcodes.

An advert presented as news.

Celgar · Post by **Celgar** » 04 Apr 2018, 09:42

People from other delivery firms struggle to find addresses mainly because they haven't been shown where they have to deliver to. Sometimes 'TomTom' type devices give the wrong directions or they cannot get reception due to poor internet reception. Worst case scenario is when immigrants who have a scant knowledge of English are employed. A large percentage of non RM couriers tend to fall under this description. Try explaining crossroads and t-junctions to people with very little English - I have & it is quite difficult to do. I'm not being racist or anything - its just where we are at the moment.

Bboingg · Post by **Bboingg** » 04 Apr 2018, 17:06

Postcode navigation works well with roads and house numbers, not so good when it comes to house-names, office names large rural areas sharing postcode and the like. 12 digit coordinates work fine with satnav but no customer uses them as part address . So unless the postcode system is improved ,local knowledge and lost delivery drivers are the only way.

plaguelift · Post by **plaguelift** » 04 Apr 2018, 23:05

The only reason deliveries, services etc cannot find an address is because people do not put their house number on their door/gate/end of driveway. If I had a pound for every oil delivery, coal delivery, electric board, gas man, gumtree user, policeman etc I’ve had to point in the right direction I would be a richer postie.