Residents of Block 202 Clementi Avenue 6 will now be notified on their mobile phones of new mail and can collect it with a touch of their phone screens during a year-long trial.
All they have to do is launch the SingPost app on their phones to generate a QR code.
They can then scan the code at a smart letter box kiosk, called PostPal, at the foot of their block and the mail will be dispensed by the machine.
PostPal was launched yesterday by Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information Sim Ann.
In the past week, nine in 10 eligible households in the Housing Board block have registered for the trial.
Residents will be notified of mail delivery via the SingPost app, which also enables them to check the number of items pending collection and authorise others to collect mail on their behalf.
The smart letter box system can auto-sort mail as well, which means postmen simply need to load all the mail into the machine without sorting them out individually.
This reduces the time taken to deliver mail from 20 minutes to just five, said a SingPost spokesman.
Speaking to reporters, Ms Sim said: "Our residents have shown great willingness and readiness to try new things. I think this reflects that we have come to a certain stage in digitalisation."
When asked whether the Government has plans to further improve the postal service, she said the sky was the limit for a smart letter box system that can save on manpower.
The PostPal trial will be progressively rolled out to more precincts, including one in the north, subject to the performance in Clementi as well as approval from the authorities, SingPost had said earlier.
Residents of Block 205 Clementi Avenue 6 will join the pilot in the weeks ahead.
PostPal was developed in collaboration with PBA Group, a robotics and automation firm headquartered in Singapore.
The smart letter box system is powered by the Microsoft Azure Internet of Things platform.
SingPost's Singapore head and chief executive of postal services Vincent Phang said he was heartened by the rate of adoption.
"We (will) continue our outreach efforts to make sure that we get the rest of the residents on board as well," he added.
Since Dec 11, SingPost staff have been stationed at the void deck of Block 202 to introduce residents to the smart letter box system.
Resident Sarina Tan, 62, said: "It was very easy to learn and use.
"What I like about this is that I don't have to open the letter box unnecessarily every day."
Residents can call 6845-6222 or e-mail postpal@singpost.com if they have PostPal-related queries and feedback.
