Cambodia Post uses what3words for precise deliveries

From the bustling alleyways of Phnom Penh to remote communities spread across vast forests, wetlands and countryside, Cambodia’s diverse landscapes can pose challenges for e-commerce and delivery services. Street addressing has typically struggled to reach the most remote parts of Cambodia, with residents relying on landmarks to describe their location. Addresses can also become outdated or even inaccurate due to the rapid expansion of urban areas. Without precise addresses, delivery drivers depend on phone calls and very detailed instructions from customers, leading to inefficiencies and frustrations for both parties, ultimately hindering the overall delivery experience.

what3words provides a simple solution. The system has divided the world into a grid of 3m x 3m squares, and assigned each square a unique combination of three words: a what3words address. Now, every apartment building entrance, market stall, parking space and meeting spot on a beach has its own what3words address, enabling users to find, share and deliver to precise locations with ease. For example, ///postings.songs.nearing ( ///កត់ហេតុ.អំបិលម្ទេស.បោកបែន ) pinpoints the precise entrance to the Central Post Office in Phnom Penh – Cambodia Post’s headquarters, whereas ///furniture.rising.racked ( ///ចង់យល់.ចំណេះដឹង.ចេញលេង ) marks a great selfie spot with views of the stunning Angkor Wat temple. The technology is available in over 60 languages to date, including Khmer, and also works offline, making it ideal for use in areas with an unreliable data connection.

what3words is being rolled out for Cambodia Post’s customers and couriers to ensure accurate deliveries, and more broadly, the integration supports the Cambodian Government’s mission to expand the e-commerce sector and digitalise postal operations. The technology has been integrated into the web portal at cambodiapost.com.kh , as well as the newly launched consumer app – allowing customers to include a what3words address when sending or receiving deliveries. what3words has also been embedded into the recently launched delivery driver app, enabling Cambodia Post’s couriers to pinpoint exact pick up and drop off locations, optimising deliveries and providing a smoother customer experience.

Mr. THEN Samvisoth, Director General of Cambodia Post commented “Integrating what3words’ addressing system will be transformational for our delivery services – helping to meet the growing demand for e-commerce and enabling us to better serve our customers in every corner of the country.”

H.E. Mam Amnot, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications and Chairman of the Board of Cambodia Post added “We are committed to making endeavours to promote postal services in a context of the digital economy. what3wordsʼ innovative technology holds the potential to significantly enhance Cambodia Postʼs delivery infrastructure and we are excited by the opportunities this partnership will unlock.”

Chris Sheldrick, Co-founder and CEO of what3words added “Today marks a major milestone in what3words’ journey to becoming a global standard for location. Working with the innovative team at Cambodia Post, the technology will be introduced to millions across the country, improving access to postal services, increasing delivery efficiency and transforming customer experiences. We look forward to seeing the positive impact of this partnership and what3words’ continued expansion in Cambodia.”

what3words is already being used by millions across the world. Governments, cities and local councils utilise the technology in their day-to-day operations for everything from improving emergency response accuracy and incident reporting, to promoting the exact locations of cultural heritage sites. Cambodia Post’s Mongolian counterpart, Mongol Post, has been utilising the innovative addressing system since 2016, and Vietnam’s national postal service, Vietnam Post, adopted the technology in 2023.

Many e-commerce and logistics companies including DHL, 7-Eleven, Lotte Mart, Emart Mongolia and Domino’s Pizza are using the technology to collect and deliver to precise delivery locations, and ensure goods arrive exactly where they’re needed. The what3words app is free to download for both iOS and Android devices and can also be used via the online map at what3words.com .