In a major leap for Ethiopia’s digital logistics and trade sectors, Ethiopost has officially launched two transformative services: the “Virtual P.O. Box” and the “Post Gebeya” e-commerce platform.
The announcement was made by Ethiopost CEO Dagmawi Hailiye, who highlighted that these initiatives are designed to modernize the nation’s postal capabilities and empower Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
Virtual P.O. Box: Your Phone Number is Your Address
A project in development since 2016, the newly launched Virtual P.O. Box reimagines how Ethiopians receive mail. Under this new system, customers no longer need to visit a post office to rent a physical box or memorize complex box numbers. Instead, a customer’s mobile phone number now serves as their unique postal address.
“Previous customers won’t be necessary to visit the post office; only names and phone numbers are needed,” said CEO Dagmawi Hailiye.
The Virtual P.O. Box service is offered under a tiered subscription model, with pricing set at ETB 2000 for the Standard package, ETB 750 for the Basic service, and ETB 3,500 for the Premium plan, allowing customers to choose a level of service that best fits their delivery and usage needs.
This shift simplifies the logistics chain significantly. Dagmawi noted that the precision of this system “allows as well to deliver without even a phone call,” streamlining the last-mile delivery process and reducing friction for both the sender and the recipient.
Post Gebeya: Connecting Local MSMEs to the Globe
Alongside the virtual address system, Ethiopost unveiled “Post Gebeya,” a new e-commerce platform tailored to Ethiopian businesses. The platform aims to bridge the gap between local producers and the global market.
By leveraging Ethiopost’s extensive international network, Post Gebeya provides MSMEs with a reliable gateway to sell their products not just locally, but to customers around the world. “The new e-commerce platform will utilize the broad reach of Ethiopost over the globe,” Dagmawi Hailiye stated, emphasizing the postal service’s role as a logistical backbone for Ethiopian exports.
The Post Gebeya e-commerce platform plans to onboard 100 merchants in its initial phase, creating a curated digital marketplace that enables Ethiopian MSMEs to access reliable logistics and reach customers both locally and internationally.
Powered by Strategic Collaboration
The success of these platforms is underpinned by a strategic collaboration with state-owned giant Ethio Telecom. The partnership integrates Ethiopost’s logistical expertise with Ethio Telecom’s digital infrastructure.
According to the CEO, the new platforms will soon be integrated into the Telebirr Super App, ensuring that millions of users can access postal and e-commerce services directly from their smartphones. This integration is expected to drastically increase the visibility and accessibility of Post Gebeya for everyday consumers.
