FARMINGTON – When the Farmington Post Office opens Friday, customers will see a new computer system in action.

Replacement of the computer system in place since 1990 began Thursday afternoon with the installation of the “Pos One” system and is expected to continue through Friday into Saturday.

Selected larger postal facilities either have or will get the new system installed.

The new technology includes touch-screens for clerks and the ability for the customer to see the variety of options available, Postmaster Richard Knight said.

“I think it’s going to be much simpler,” he said.

One of the things it does, he said, is read the bar codes on postal items sold. It will make it easier to keep track of inventory.

Additionally, retail items will be more readily available for customers.

Now if Knight goes away or is not available and clerks sell out of what’s in their postal draws, the items are not available until the postmaster comes back.

Another advantage of the system, Knight said, is it will make it easier for customers to find out the status of a package or letter sent certified or by other special mail service.

The information will be immediately downloaded into the computer system instead of it being downloaded each night, he said.

Accepting credit and debit cards will also be much simpler, he said.

The whole financial aspect is going to be more in line with modern technology,” Knight said.

The Farmington Post Office processes – mails and delivers – for more than 4,200 customers a day.

Though clerks and Knight have undergone training for the system, service representatives will be on hand Friday to assist clerks during transitions if needed.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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