Background

Behind today's Digital Post are several significant reasons, that are still the cornerstone of the cross-governmental Digital Infrastructure and public service going forward.

From strategy to legislation

The seeds for what eventually became Digital Post was planted in a cross- governmental digitalisation strategy for the years 2011-2015. As an important part of the strategy, the government, municipalities and regions at the time would put an end to paper forms and traditional paper mail.

Therefore, all written communication with the public sector, such as applications, reports, letters, was to be digitalised.

As part of the implementation of the strategy, the Danish Parliament adopted the legal Act on Public Digital Post in June 2012. The Act meant that it became mandatory for businesses in 2013 and all citizens above the age of 15 in 2014 to use the national digital service to receive Digital Post from public authorities.

The law also made it possible for residents and businesses to request exemptions from Digital Post, enabling the use of non-digital post for those who are unable to communicate.

Legislation to ensure the digital service of tomorrow

Residents, businesses, and public authorities all have growing expectations and needs from future digital solutions. Thus, a milestone in the cross-governmental digitalisation strategy 2016-2020 is to meet the demand of national digital services to be user-friendly, up-to-date, and future-proof.

The aim of the present Digital Post has been to increase efficiency and improve user experience, as well as to deliver a simple communication solution for all of Denmark, whilst securing market competition.

As per legal requirements, the development-contract for Digital Post had to ensure the best possible solution in terms of both price and quality. As such, the present Digital Post reinforces coherence with other national digital services while also providing a flexible base for future improvements.