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Did you you know that the United States Postal Service (USPS) is actually older than the United States of America? The USPS was founded on July 26, 1775, when the Second Continental Congress established a postal system and appointed Benjamin Franklin as the first Postmaster General. This was about a year before the United States declared independence. By the time the colonies declared themselves a "Free and Independent State" in July 1776, the postal system was already in operation, utilizing horseback riders and, later, horse-drawn wagons for mail delivery. Over the ensuing decades, things have evolved tremendously, and the USPS continues to look for ways to improve their service and efficiency. Recently, it announced another round of notable upgrades that has begun to impact people in Wisconsin. United States Postal Service Announces New Modernization Efforts The USPS recently announced efforts to transform the customer experience by introducing redesigned, technology-forward lobbies in retail locations nationwide, including Wisconsin. The goal of the modernized spaces is to make it faster, easier, and more convenient than ever for customers to ship and pick up mail and packages and access essential services. The new, modernized lobbies will include the following upgrades: 24/7 smart lockers: Customers can have packages delivered directly to a locker via Click-N-Ship and pick up packages at any time of day or night using secure, self-service lockers. Enhanced self-service kiosks: Updated kiosks allow customers to weigh items, print labels, purchase supplies, and mail packages. This has proven to cut lobby wait times by 40 percent. Rapid Drop mobile app: This mobile application extends self-service convenience to store prepaid shipping labels, find the nearest Post Office, track packages, subscribe to notifications, shortcut retail label creation, and initiate self-service acceptance. Digital information displays: Clear, dynamic signage guides customers through services, reducing confusion and helping them complete tasks quickly. Streamlined layouts: Open designs will improve traffic flow, reduce wait times, and make supplies easier to find. Government services: More Post Office lobbies now serve as hubs for other federal agencies. This allows customers to handle multiple government tasks, including passports, fingerprinting, and identity proofing, all under one roof. SEE NOW: New Canadian Pacific Holiday Train Schedule Includes 13 Stops In Wisconsin As of September 2025, the USPS had 2,600 locations equipped with enhanced self-service kiosks and 700 locations offering smart lockers to ensure your mail and packages stay secure until you pick them up. The number of locations will be increasing. “It’s exciting to bring new capabilities across multiple platforms to our retail lobbies and watch our customers get in and out quicker at times that work for them,” said Robert Dixon, senior director of delivery and retail technology. The USPS notes that the lobby upgrades are a vital component of the Postal Service’s long-range “Delivering for America” transformation plan. This 10-year, $40 billion investment plan is dedicated to revamping operations, improving service quality, and achieving financial sustainability. The initial phase of retail modernization wraps up around the end of October, and Phase II will bring the modernization of more locations in fiscal year 2026.
