SingPost trials digital stamps to make mailing letters ‘as seamless as sending a message’

Singapore Post is testing digital stamps aimed at simplifying letter mailing within the country. The new trial, set to run until April 6, 2027, lets users buy digital stamps through the SingPost mobile app, eliminating the need for physical stamps or labels.

Once purchased, customers simply write the unique code generated on the envelope's top-right corner and drop the letter into any post box, post office, or the return mail slot at residential letterbox nests. The stamps are priced similarly to standard domestic postage: 62 cents for regular mail and 90 cents for larger items, with a minimum purchase of five stamps per denomination.

During the trial, the price for a set of five standard regular stamps is $1, and for a set of five standard large stamps, it's $1.50. The trial period begins on October 8, 2024. SingPost is calling this a regional milestone, stating that digital stamps make postage purchase possible anytime and anywhere through the mobile app.

This move complements SingPost@MyBlock, a service launched in September covering over 20,000 buildings, allowing residents to drop letters and small parcels via the "return mail" slot in existing letterbox nests. SingPost's head of customer experience, Gan Heng, says the digital stamps remove the common hurdle of finding a physical stamp when mailing.

The trial also allows SingPost to gather user feedback, enhance optical character recognition accuracy, and refine operations. Digital stamps feature the same traditional philatelic designs as physical stamps, with new seasonal and special designs unveiled every 15th purchase, including one of Singapore's first General Post Office. A public roadshow showcasing the digital stamps and postal service advancements is taking place at SingPost Centre at Paya Lebar from October 8 to 11.