Denmark’s PostNord will cease traditional letter deliveries by 2025, ending a 400-year era amid a 90% volume drop due to digital alternatives like email and apps. The company is shifting to profitable parcels, cutting 2,200 jobs while adding 700. This move highlights global postal shifts toward e-commerce, potentially exacerbating digital divides.
In a move that underscores the relentless march of digital transformation, Denmark’s postal service, PostNord, has announced the cessation of traditional letter deliveries by the end of 2025. This decision, detailed in a recent PostNord press release, marks the end of a 400-year era that began in 1624. With letter volumes plummeting by 90% over the past two decades, driven by the ubiquity of email, messaging apps, and online billing, the company is pivoting entirely to its more profitable parcel business. This isn’t just a cost-cutting measure; it’s a strategic realignment in response to evolving consumer behaviors.
PostNord’s leadership attributes the decline to sharp falls in demand, as reported by the BBC in an article highlighting how digital alternatives have rendered physical mail obsolete for most purposes. In Denmark, where high internet penetration and government-mandated digital services like e-Boks for official communications are the norm, the average household now receives fewer than one letter per week. The company plans to eliminate about 2,200 jobs in its letter division while creating 700 new roles in parcels, reflecting a broader industry trend toward e-commerce fulfillment.
