Czech Post tracking

Czech postal service since the Austro-Hungarian Empire

The Czech Post (Česká pošta) traces its origins to the Post of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, but its existence as a modern entity begins with the creation of the Czechoslovak Post in 1918. After the proclamation of Czechoslovak independence in October 1918, a Ministry of Posts and Telegraphs was established on November 13, 1918, to manage the postal and telecommunications services of the new state. In 1925, the Czechoslovak Post was reorganized into a state enterprise with autonomous economic management, allowing it to operate on a commercial model and achieve profitability during the interwar period. However, this period of prosperity was interrupted by the Great Depression at the end of the 1920s.

World War II dealt a severe blow to postal services. After the German occupation in March 1939, the Czechoslovak Post was placed under the control of the authorities of the Protectorate of Bohemia-Moravia and integrated into the Ministry of Transport of the pro-German regime. Postal operations were then heavily hindered and subordinated to German interests. At the end of the conflict, Czechoslovakia restored a national postal administration. However, with the establishment of the communist regime from 1948, the Post underwent profound transformations: in 1949, the state enterprise "Czechoslovak Post" was nationalized, and in 1952 it was dissolved as an autonomous entity and integrated into a Ministry of Communications following the Soviet model. In the following decades, the postal sector was tightly controlled by the state, undergoing several administrative reorganizations. In 1969, as part of the federalization of the country, two distinct postal administrations were established at the levels of the Czech and Slovak socialist republics, under the supervision of a Federal Committee of Posts and Telecommunications.

After the Velvet Revolution of 1989, the Czechoslovak Post embarked on a process of modernization and restructuring. In 1992, a specific division "Czech Post" was created within the administration, with separate accounting between postal and telecommunications activities, preparing for the separation of services. During the peaceful dissolution of Czechoslovakia on January 1, 1993, the Czech Post became an independent public enterprise, alongside the creation of the Czech Republic. This new state entity (state enterprise) took up the mantle of the Czech postal tradition and had to adapt to the emerging market economy of the 1990s. From 1993, the Czech Post implemented a first postal automation system (APOST system) to modernize mail processing. The late 1990s also saw a reorganization of sorting methods: in May 1999, on-board sorting was abandoned in favor of concentrated sorting in dedicated centers (collection and sorting centers).

During the 2000s, Česká pošta continued its modernization and expanded its services. In 2005, the regulation of its activities was transferred to the Czech Telecommunications Office, reflecting the convergence of postal and telecom sectors. The same year, the Post obtained accreditation to issue qualified electronic certificates, marking its entry into trusted digital services. In 2006, a program to streamline the network of offices was initiated, including the standardization of post office names and the elimination of certain obsolete administrative entities. Subsequently, the liberalization of the European postal market (Directive 2008/6/EC) led to the end of Česká pošta's legal monopoly on ordinary mail in 2013. The company then had to face competition from new private operators, prompting it to diversify its activities and increase its operational efficiency.

In the 2020s, the Czech Post faced a structural decline in traditional mail volumes and the need to adapt its business model. In 2023-2024, the company recorded significant financial losses, partly attributable to the decline in paper mail and the costs of a vast physical network. To ensure its sustainability, Česká pošta launched a major restructuring plan in 2023. The project, announced by the Ministry of the Interior, plans to split the Post into two distinct entities from 2025: on the one hand, the entity retained under the name Česká pošta, refocused on the universal postal service (mail, state services, basic financial operations), and on the other hand, a separate entity dedicated to commercial parcel services under the "Balíkovna" brand. Balíkovna, which was initially the name of the Czech Post's parcel pickup network, thus becomes an independent subsidiary responsible for parcels and merchant logistics services, although initially it remains state-owned. At the same time, Česká pošta retains the operation of about 2,900 post offices across the country under a new postal license regime, while expanding its public service missions (for example in administrative and health insurance fields). This reorganization is accompanied by a reduction in staff and a rationalization of the network, with the operator aiming to return to financial balance after several deficit years.

Organization and internal structure

Česká pošta is a public enterprise (s.p., i.e., state enterprise) under the supervision of the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic. Its headquarters are located in Prague, and it employs around 20,000 people in the mid-2020s (compared to over 23,000 in 2016). The Czech Post has a vast territorial network with nearly 3,000 post offices operated under its brand. This network includes both self-managed offices and franchised Pošta Partner agencies entrusted to local partners (municipalities, merchants, etc.): by the end of 2017, there were already 428 partner offices of this type across the country, a number that has continued to increase in rural areas. Additionally, the Czech Post operates more than 7,000 parcel pickup points under the Balíkovna brand, integrated either in its offices or with partner merchants, further extending its local presence.

At the level of its governance, Česká pošta is led by a General Director (Generální ředitel) assisted by a Board of Directors. A Supervisory Board (Dozorčí rada) oversees the company, including representatives of the state (founder) and elected representatives of the employees. The internal organization is structured into several main divisions under the general management. Among these divisions are notably:

• Logistics and Operations: responsible for the entire postal logistics chain (collection, sorting, transport, and distribution of mail and parcels). This division manages sorting centers and the transport fleet and oversees the distribution service throughout the territory.
• Sales and Marketing Network: in charge of operating post offices and customer relations. It oversees the sales of services to individuals and businesses, as well as the development of international services and commercial offers.
• Finance: responsible for the financial and accounting management of the company, economic planning, management control, and pricing policy (in connection with the regulator).
• IT and eGovernment: ensures the operation and development of information systems, as well as digital services. It notably manages the digitization projects of the administration (eGovernment platform) handled by the Post.
• Development and Strategy: deals with project management, innovation, and long-term strategy, to adapt the company to postal market developments and new demands (e-commerce, etc.).
• Other support divisions: such as Human Resources, Real Estate Management (maintenance of office and logistics center assets), Security (operation safety, protection of agents and data), International Relations (representation within global postal organizations), as well as Internal Audit and Risk Management.

This organizational scheme allows the Czech Post to cover all the functions of a modern postal operator. In 2024, in response to market developments, the company's structure is set to evolve with the planned separation of the parcel activity into a distinct entity (Balíkovna) dedicated to commercial operations, while the residual entity Česká pošta will focus on the classic universal postal service. Nevertheless, the two entities will initially remain state-owned and maintain close functional ties. This new structure should allow for more targeted management of each business (express parcels on the one hand, public postal service on the other) and greater flexibility in a rapidly changing postal sector.

Range of postal and logistics services

As the national postal operator, Česká pošta offers a comprehensive range of postal services, both for domestic shipments and for shipments to or from abroad. It provides the universal postal service throughout the Czech territory, which includes the collection, sorting, transport, and distribution of addressed mail (letters, postcards, printed matter) and ordinary parcels at regulated rates. National priority and economy mail, registered mail (Rekomando), and shipments with declared value are part of its basic services. Internationally, the Czech Post handles the dispatch of letters and parcels worldwide in cooperation with other postal members of the Universal Postal Union (UPU), with tracking services for many destinations. It is notably a participant in the EMS (Express Mail Service), an international express parcel offer with tracking and fast delivery, identified by the prefix "E*" on tracking numbers.

Beyond traditional postal shipments, Česká pošta provides various logistics and courier services. It offers fast commercial parcels (Obchodní balík) for businesses and individuals, with delivery options to home (Do ruky) or pickup point (Balíkovna service). Solutions for merchandise returns, cash on delivery, or special services (next-day delivery, Saturday delivery, etc.) are also available to meet the needs of e-commerce and professional clients. The company also provides freight and third-party logistics services, positioning itself as a player in palletized goods transport and contract logistics, in addition to its traditional postal activity. Thanks to its territorial network, the Czech Post is able to offer online merchants the possibility of delivering to thousands of contact points (post offices, partner agencies, or lockers), making it an important logistics partner at the national level.

Česká pošta also fulfills financial and administrative service functions for the population. Historically, Czech post offices serve as relay points for the payment of pensions and social benefits in partnership with the Czech Social Security (ČSSZ). They host banking counters of the ČSOB bank under a commercial agreement (under the "Posta (ČSOB" brand) to offer basic banking operations in municipalities without bank branches. The Post handles the issuance and payment of national and international postal orders, allowing funds to be sent or received in cash throughout the territory and abroad. In the same vein, it offers money transfer and bill payment services (e.g., payment of utility bills at the counter).

In terms of administrative and digital services, the Czech Post plays a crucial role as an e-government access point. Nearly 1,000 post offices are equipped with the Czech POINT device (acronym for "Czech Postal Information National Terminal"), which allows citizens to obtain official administrative documents and carry out decentralized administrative procedures. Through this means, one can, for example, obtain criminal record extracts, cadastral statements, certify documents or signatures, obtain access to secure data mailboxes (Datové schránky), or even register a new business: all services made possible by the postal network. Česká pošta is also the operator of the national secure electronic mailbox platform (datové schránky system), which allows citizens and businesses to communicate officially with authorities electronically. Moreover, through its subsidiary PostSignum, the Czech Post is a certification authority and issues qualified digital certificates and electronic signature and timestamping services, thus contributing to the security of digital exchanges.

Finally, Česká pošta maintains a significant philatelic activity. As the designated issuing operator by the state, it designs, issues, and distributes the postage stamps of the Czech Republic and finances the issuance costs. An annual philatelic program (commemorative issues, special blocks) is offered, and philatelic counters as well as an online store allow collectors to acquire stamps and philatelic products (maximum cards, "First Day" envelopes, etc.). The Czech Post also administers the Postal Museum in Prague, which preserves and exhibits the national postal historical heritage since its origins in the 16th century. Thus, through the diversity of its services (from traditional mail to financial and digital services), Česká pošta occupies a versatile place in Czech economic and social life.

Shipment tracking and traceability

Česká pošta offers its customers an online tracking service (Track & Trace) for most registered shipments, whether parcels or registered letters. This tracking service allows real-time consultation of a shipment's progress using a unique tracking number. Parcel tracking is accessible via the official website (Shipment Tracking application (Sledování zásilek) or via dedicated mobile applications, by entering the shipment code. At each key stage of processing: deposit, transit, customs, delivery, etc. (a status is recorded in the system, reflecting the current situation of the parcel. These tracking statuses are standardized and often available in English on the international site of Česká pošta, allowing senders and recipients from different countries to understand the routing. For internal shipments, the statuses are in Czech, but the principle remains the same. Tracking information includes, for example, acceptance by a sorting center, dispatch to another center, arrival in the destination country, delivery attempt, holding at a post office, etc.

It should be noted that full tracking is mainly guaranteed on Czech territory) beyond the borders, the update of information depends on the cooperation of foreign posts. Česká pošta is only responsible for displaying statuses generated on Czech soil; when a shipment enters or leaves the country, subsequent tracking information is transmitted only upon receipt of data by the foreign postal partner. Nevertheless, for many countries, tracking continuity is ensured through electronic exchanges between postal systems, and global platforms (such as 17track or others) can combine multi-operator data. In case of doubt (e.g., status blocked for too long), Česká pošta advises users to contact its customer service or check the tracking site of the destination country.

The Czech Post's tracking service is free and included with tracked shipments. When depositing a parcel or registered letter, a tracking number (podací číslo) is assigned and communicated to the sender (on the shipment receipt or by electronic notification). This number, generally in UPU standard format, has a coded structure: a two-letter prefix indicating the type of shipment, followed by a unique shipment number (usually 9 or 10 digits), and a suffix corresponding either to an internal code of the depositor or to the ISO code of the country of origin. For example, an international shipment departing from the Czech Republic will often have a code ending in "CZ", such as RR123456789CZ for a registered letter, CP123456789CZ for a standard parcel, or EM123456789CZ for an EMS Express shipment. Conversely, a parcel entering the Czech Republic from abroad will bear the country of origin code as a suffix (e.g., FR for France, CN for China). The prefix letters indicate the category: for example R (registered), C (standard parcel), E (Express), V (Declared value) etc. possibly combined in double letters for specific services. The table below presents the main tracking statuses used by the Czech Post, translated into English, along with their meaning.

Logistics infrastructure and transport

The Czech Post relies on an efficient logistics system to handle millions of shipments each year. It operates eight high-capacity sorting centers ideally distributed across the country, allowing it to effectively cover the entire national territory. These sorting centers, called SPU) Sběrný přepravní uzel (collection and transport nodes), receive shipments from post offices in their region, ensure mechanized sorting by destination, and dispatch mail and parcels to the final sorting center or appropriate distribution office. Automatic mail sorting is widely used, as well as address coding and tracking by barcodes or QR codes on parcel labels, ensuring traceability throughout the chain.

For the transport of shipments between its various centers and to distribution areas, Česká pošta primarily uses road and, to some extent, rail. Nationally, more than 5,000 road vehicles (from simple vans to semi-trailers) are mobilized daily to transport mail and parcels between sorting centers and local post offices. Since 2022, part of the road transport of heavy parcels has been outsourced to a partner (C.S.CARGO) to optimize costs and resources. Moreover, the Czech Post is one of the few European postal operators still using regular rail transport for mail: it charters dedicated postal wagons, identified by the POSTA code, attached to freight trains to connect certain main sorting centers. The loading and unloading of these postal wagons are carried out by the employees of the concerned sorting centers, while the rail operator ČD Cargo provides the traction of postal convoys on domestic lines. For international connections, the Czech Post mainly uses air transport for overseas and distant destinations, and land transport (road) for neighboring or regional countries in Europe. Thus, a parcel destined for Slovakia, Germany, or Poland will often use the road network, while a parcel to the United States will be shipped by air via Prague airport.

Thanks to this mixed logistics infrastructure, Česká pošta is able to ensure competitive delivery times nationwide. Priority shipments benefit from fast distribution (the vast majority of Do ruky ("to home") parcels are delivered the day after their dispatch, except in exceptional circumstances. Each business day, the postal network processes and transports a considerable volume of shipments to all corners of the Czech Republic. During peak periods, especially during the end-of-year holidays or online commerce promotions, parcel traffic reaches its peak (several million packages processed daily nationwide), mobilizing all the company's logistical capacities. The Czech Post then adapts its transport rotations and temporarily strengthens its staff to absorb these activity peaks, while communicating to customers any potential delivery delays in a qualitative rather than quantified manner.

The final distribution of mail and parcels is ensured by local post offices and their mail carriers/delivery agents. Česká pošta is legally required to offer a universal service covering the entire territory: this implies at least one delivery round per business day to each address in the Czech Republic, including isolated hamlets, and a daily mail collection in each public mailbox. The company has a database of over 5.5 million active addresses for this purpose. Mail carriers (postmen) carry out rounds on foot, by bicycle, scooter, or car depending on the area's density. In rural areas, the Czech Post also uses "mobile agencies" or mail carrier services to maintain a postal presence where traditional offices have closed.

Network and proximity services

As a provider of the universal postal service, Česká pošta serves the entire national territory, including rural or isolated areas. Its network of contact points includes about 2,900 post offices in 2024, making it one of the densest networks in the country in terms of public services. These offices are classified by levels based on their size and the range of services offered: large city offices offer all services (including banking and administrative), while small rural counters may only offer a basic range. To optimize this network while maintaining local coverage, the Czech Post developed the Pošta Partner program from 2008. This program transfers the management of certain small offices to third-party entities (municipalities, businesses, gas stations) while retaining the brand and postal services. Pošta Partner agencies thus ensure routine operations (deposit/withdrawal of mail and parcels, sale of stamps, bill payment, etc.) with adapted hours, helping to sustain the postal presence in localities where a traditional office was no longer economically viable. To date, several hundred postal points operate under this partnership regime, complementing Česká pošta's own network.

In addition to traditional post offices, Česká pošta relies on an extensive network of parcel delivery points called Balíkovna. Launched in the 2010s, Balíkovna was initially a dedicated counter delivery service: the sender could address a parcel not to a home address but to one of the Balíkovna (often located in high-traffic sites or shopping centers), where the recipient would pick it up upon presentation of a code. Given the success of this formula (more flexibility for the customer and decongestion of mail carrier rounds), the Balíkovna network quickly expanded: in 2023, it has over 7,000 pickup points covering the entire country. They are located not only in post offices but also with partner merchants (bookstores, convenience stores) or via self-service pickup machines. Balíkovna has thus become a major asset of the Czech Post in the parcel market, offering a delivery mode appreciated in the era of online commerce. This is why, as part of the 2025 restructuring, Balíkovna will be established as a separate entity specializing in parcels, to further develop this growing segment.

In terms of service quality, Česká pošta strives to fulfill its obligations reliably and transparently. Shipment tracking (see dedicated section) and the possibility of redirecting or holding parcels provide flexibility to customers. The Czech Post does not commit to strict numerical deadlines in its public communication, preferring qualitative formulations (e.g., "fast delivery" rather than "in 2 business days") to avoid misleading expectations in case of contingencies. Nevertheless, average delay indicators exist: for example, a standard national parcel is generally delivered in D+2, while a priority shipment is often delivered in D+1. In case of unusual delay or problem (damaged parcel, incorrect address, etc.), Česká pošta's customer service can be contacted for clarification, and compensations are provided in accordance with the postal conditions in force in case of proven loss or damage.

Česká pošta must also adapt its operations to demand variation and technological developments. With the decline in letter volume, the company has redeployed its resources towards parcel processing, which is experiencing a strong increase due to e-commerce. At the same time, it invests in digitization: online postage systems, mobile application integrating tracking and office location, experiments with smart mailboxes, etc. The Czech Post also participates in ecological projects, such as the deployment of electric vehicles for city rounds and the installation of solar panels on some centers. These efforts are part of a continuous modernization drive, to maintain a high level of service while controlling operational costs.

Main shipment tracking statuses