Anhui Postal Branch is deepening the development of digital postal services, and focusing on promoting the pilot application of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) postal routes, unmanned vehicle delivery, and unmanned self-service stations, so as to build an innovation ecosystem in the industry and develop new quality productive forces.

—UAV postal routes. UAV distribution has been piloted in four cities including Hefei, Huangshan, Wuhu and Anqing. Among them, Hefei Postal Branch has entrusted a third-party company with the daily pilot operation of the UAV route from Zhongmiao Post Office in Chaohu city to Mushan Island. Huangshan Postal Branch adopts a superposition operation mode, operating its delivery service on the existing UAV route from Mercy Light Pavilion Transportation Management Station in Huangshan Scenic Area to Baiyun Hotel, and settling the fees with the UAV operating company based on mileage, number of flights, and volume of mail transported. However, Wuhu and Anqing postal branches run the UAV routes all by themselves. They purchase or lease UAVs and train UAV operators independently. With these efforts, they have effectively reduced the time limit for mail delivery in the pilot areas.

—Unmanned vehicle delivery. Anhui Postal Branch currently owns 81 unmanned delivery vehicles. A single unmanned vehicle can deliver 500 pieces of mail in urban areas per day, and 320 pieces in counties and townships per day. The efficiency of unmanned delivery is significantly higher than that of the manual delivery which is 217 pieces per day.

—Unmanned self-service stations. Anhui Postal Branch has deployed unmanned stations at different locations such as high-tech industrial parks, residential communities, and downtown areas of townships and towns, creating an independent and controllable network of smart last-mile delivery. At present, Anhui Postal Branch has deployed 20 unmanned stations in the whole province, providing 24-hour self-pickup service. These stations can help postmen shorten the delivery time and effectively guarantee the convenience of customers and the security of mail items.