On holiday….

We’ll be skipping a post or two in the coming weeks, as we are off on holiday (or vacation 😁). Our aim is to get some serious downtime and come back refreshed.

Just a little something on digital transformation!

With the restrictions over the past few years and the changes to passport rules with Brexit, things have changed and the expiry date of your passport is more important than ever.

So imagine our dismay when we checked on the 16th July the expiry dates of our passports and found one they being the 23rd August 2023. The plan was to head to France on the 5th August.

So here is how it went.

• 16th July… small panic, operation passport swung into gear.
• 16th July – digital photo taken in the Photo Booth at Tesco’s. Pre verified the picture was okay to requirements. (Assume some cool computer vision stuff going on).
• 16th July – application submitted, used code to upload picture for passport straight from booth supplier. Arranged collection my Royal Mail from home the next day for the old passport.
• 16th July – email confirmation from Passport office of application.
• 17th July – old passport collected by Royal Mail as planned. Email reminder from Passport Office to send 😁
• 18th July – Email from Passport Office that old passport received.
• 19th July – Email from Passport Office that application approved.
• 19th July – Email from Passport Office that the passport had been printed (the same day!)
• 20th July – New passport delivered to home!

That’s 4 working days from application to a new passport in our hands. Digital capabilities clearly played no small part in achieving that. But hats off to the Passport Office for this. Amazing communication and turn around!

Wherever or whatever you are planning this summer – have an amazing break and enjoy some family time.

Nick Leeder.