Latgale is one of the largest and most geographically dispersed regions of Latvia. Here, roads wind through cities, villages, and remote homesteads, and every one of these places matters, no matter how far away it may be. That’s why SmartPosti ensures that every parcel reaches its destination – even in areas where parcel lockers aren’t nearby. Customers can be sure the courier will deliver the shipment right to their doorstep.
In Latgale, SmartPosti couriers travel long and complex routes every day – averaging 400–450 kilometers per day. Their work is not just driving along a line on a map, but being able to adapt to changing roads, weather conditions, customer needs, and even moods. To make this possible, the company has built a carefully planned and flexible delivery network across the region.
“Hello, this is your SmartPosti courier calling…” – that’s how almost every day begins,” says Aigars Līcis, who has been working as a SmartPosti courier in the Jēkabpils area for five years. “Many people think – you just load the parcels into the van and go. But it’s not like that. This is a responsible and dynamic job. You have to be not only a skilled driver but also a friendly and understanding person.”
The map of Latvia may seem simple, but the road to the destination can be challenging. Narrow rural lanes, gravel roads that turn into a sea of mud in the rain, and unknown side streets where navigation fails – people in these homes wait for their parcels just like anywhere else. Even with carefully planned routes, there are moments of humor:
“One evening – damp and dark autumn – the navigation says ‘You have reached your destination,’ but I’m standing in front of a cemetery. It turned out that the right house was behind the church. We had a good laugh with the customer about it,” recalls Aigars.
There are also warm, almost family-like encounters: “I’ve arrived during a wedding celebration, and they wouldn’t let me leave without having a slice of cake and a cup of coffee. Complete strangers, but so kind and welcoming. Moments like that brighten your whole day,” Aigars says.
These moments remain in memory, but a courier’s day is also carefully planned so that hundreds of parcels reach their recipients exactly on time. Behind every parcel handed over to a customer stands not only the courier but also the shift supervisor who plans and coordinates the work, the warehouse staff who sort the parcels, the customer service team, and all other colleagues. It’s a daily routine where precision and personal contact with customers and colleagues are just as important as technology and transport.
To ensure every parcel reaches even the most remote locations on time, SmartPosti has several sorting points. They not only speed up and make deliveries more reliable but also help reduce transport costs and ease the workload of the central sorting hub in Riga.
One of the strategically important links in the SmartPosti delivery network is the Jēkabpils sorting point, which began operating about ten years ago. Its location allows efficient service to cities and municipalities across Latgale. Every night, a truck from Riga arrives here with sorted parcels for the entire region. From Jēkabpils, parcels are sent on to parcel lockers and pick-up points in cities such as Daugavpils, Līvāni, Pļaviņas, Aizkraukle, Ludza, Rēzekne, and many others, as well as delivered directly to customers’ homes. Currently, the largest partner for parcel pick-up points is Narvesen. Latgale is a strategically important region for the company, as it allows efficient access to both larger cities and smaller settlements, ensuring fast and reliable service to a wide range of customers.
“Delivery is not just a route on a map – it’s part of people’s daily lives, celebrations, and sometimes very important moments,” says Jānis Ronis, Head of Operations at SmartPosti Latvia. “That’s why it’s important for us to be there – every day, in every city, on every route. Our employees are the greatest value that helps us deliver on this promise.”
In the future, SmartPosti will continue developing its regional network. With the growth of shipment volumes, it is planned to establish a new sorting point in Daugavpils to further ease the work of couriers, optimize logistics flows, and improve delivery quality.
Because in Latvia, there is no place too far – all you need are people who know the way.