Royal Mail has announced it is to invest £130 million in hand-held technology over the next five years, making deliveries more flexible and improving tracking capability.

It will begin rolling out around 76,000 next generation hand-held devices to postmen and women in 2015, with completion set for the 2016-17 financial year.

As a result of the investment, customers will benefit from more flexible deliveries, while information-rich barcodes added to shipping labels will improve management and enhanced tracking for parcels.

The company is collaborating with telecommunications firm BT on the project to determine which hand-held device to issue to its employees. BT will also undertake day-to-day management of the current and new devices and operating platform for a five-year period.

Nick Landon, managing director of Royal Mail Parcels, said: "This is part of our on-going programme to continue to respond to the needs of our customers and maintain our leading position in the UK parcels market."