Eircode - Why did they bother?

Patww79 wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Mountainsandh wrote: »

I see. You could though, with "terms and conditions" so to speak, to exonerate An Post/Eircode in the event someone is disappointed they didn't guess their area right. Just like this online map is available for perusal.

You are very wrong on this point (below), and I think that helps me understand the whole flaws in the system and how it failed to be adopted by people around me.



The areas do exist, simply, they have evolving boundaries.

Eircode is a concept, and not a simple one either since there's the concept of "areas" embedded in it, and all other important factors.

You simply cannot expect Joe and Josephine to buy in to a concept without understanding it.

Companies got it : pay money, get your data set, save money. Who cares how the data set is got at.

For people it's different, and you see, even though you won't admit it because the little bouncy markers are impressive, and they tick some boxes, a lot of people outside of the business sphere have failed to understand it all, and so they don't know and use their Eircode.

So by showing them the map with Area codes (there's a lingo to it, oh yeah, routing keys), you are helping people understand the concept, and showing people that actually, one can make sense of their new code.

It's easier to get someone to own a concept by showing them what is, and what isn't. So by showing the map, you're showing them "this is you", and "this is not you". "This is your neighbour out by the mountain", "this is your niece near Clonmel", "this is Maura out in co Mayo" and "there is the code for the cousins near Maura, they have the same prefix". "Their code is not like yours".


This would be a minimum, to ensure people can understand the rationale behind an Eircode that looks nonsensical in an individual bubble, and relate it to themselves.

There is a point in doing that, if the intention is really that everyone learn and start using their Eircode, not just businesses.

Of course, you could just not care.

1. Eircode didn't care about less technically savvy, isolated, older communities etc.
Fact: There was a specific progam run by The Wheel that did exactly that. An Eircode Champion was appointed in each County and they liased with community groups, e.g. friends of the elderly, and explained Eircode to them. They brought the message to their members. That was part of the 3.77million that was spent explaining Eircode via Radio, TV and a direct letter to every household.

2. Eircodes aren't being adopted
Fact: They are. No, it isn't just "companies". People in rural areas use Eircode more frequently than people in urban areas.
Adoption will continue to increase as more and more organisations implement Eircode and ask people for them in order to provide efficient services.

3. Eircodes adoption is primarily affected by memorability of Eircode.
Fact: I don't know my car reg, I do know my mobile number. Why? Frequency of use. Short term memory is affected by memory chunking, but long term memory is primarily about frequency of use. The more frequently people are asked for their Eircode the more likely they are to recall it. It really is as simple as that. Why do people in the UK know their Postcode? Because they are asked for it all the time.

Jaylah Low Kidnapper wrote: »

Have you need to visit the eir call centre?

maryishere wrote: »

Correct. Anyway, the reasons Eircode is a failure are fairly obvious.
When it was introduced hauliers repeatedly expressed reservations about it. Quote "A survey showed 96 per cent don’t use Eircode. The Freight Transport Association Ireland said the random nature of the code system (adjacent properties have no numerical correlation with each other’s Eircodes) means it’s unsuitable for a delivery system."

An Post say that less than 5 per cent of mail customers are using Eircode.

"What was the point of spending €38 million on something so few are using? Sadly, we know no one will be taken to task over this. We specialise in rewarding mediocrity and shrugging off failures. Why would anyone be compelled to change that culture of failure when there are no consequences?"

Mountainsandh wrote: »

PDVerse;

Never heard of that. Didn't work anyway, since like I said, no one I know uses their Eircode.


Source ?



My car reg makes sense, therefore it's easier to remember.
Assign meaning to a random sequence to memorize it quicker and more efficiently. It's not a new idea in fairness, if you explore the concepts of memory, whether short or long term.

Mnemonics, cognitive strategies, chunking, and repetition.

You know this of course, since your first argument is that people were sent to "explain" things. Evidently this aspect was not very successful.