Australia Post and Microsoft have extended their current tech agreement by another three years, as the postal service provider works toward delivering its Post26 strategy to simplify and modernise its operations.

In 2023, Australia Post consolidated several software platforms into one under the Microsoft umbrella. The renewed contract will see the business continuing the build out of its new cloud capability via Microsoft’s Azure hosting platform.

As a first step, the Azure capability will provide added secure remote access functionality for team members who work from home, as well as for key tech service providers.

“Australia Post is serious about making our services secure, and – in this age of AI – strengthening our entire technology ecosystem from emails right through to careful management of customer data,” said Michael McNamara, Australia Post’s Executive General Manager, Enterprise Services.

“We are an essential service with thousands of Posties delivering across the country, Australia’s largest retail network with more Post Offices nationally than the major supermarkets combined, and a growing network of parcel facilities powering eCommerce. The need for them to be connected – and for secure information flow – is absolutely a priority.”

McNamara said the business is exploring how to use AI safely and securely to boost efficiency for business tasks through participation in the Early Access program for Copilot for Microsoft 365.

The new Microsoft agreement comes after Australia Post earlier this year announced a new multi-year deal with Salesforce as part of its wider modernisation program.