Today businesses are increasingly focussed on how technology can improve business processes and efficiencies and ultimately either save money or facilitate growth. This inevitably means there is a massive surge in Cloud-based solutions.

However, with all the noise and messaging that is no doubt bombarding your inboxes and social feeds, it’s easy to miss out on simple older technology that can still benefit modern businesses.

Due to popular demand STORM has increased its product portfolio and are now able to offer Franking Solutions.

Benefits of using a franking machine:

1. Postal Discounts from the Royal Mail

In the last two years, the Royal Mail has dramatically increased the discounts on franked mail. Clearly, for the Royal Mail, handling franked items is a lot cheaper than issuing stamps and processing stamped mail, so it makes sense for them to encourage businesses to frank their mail.

In some cases, franking discounts have doubled in the last two years and this means even for a company that sends out quite small volumes of mail, buying or renting a franking machine can help to cut down on mailroom costs.

2. Presenting a professional image

Every interaction with your business reflects on your brand, whether it’s email, phone, social media or traditional mail. Sending franked mail presents a professional image to your business partners and customers.

Your franked stamp can be customized for your business and can contain your company logo and promotional text or other business messages.

They say there is no such thing as a free lunch, but franking your mail gives you the opportunity to advertise your company…for free. You can advertise new services, promotions and new offers. Using a franking machine that offers text messaging, you can even change the message on a daily basis.

3. Over Stamping

Most people end up doing this at some point. You have something that needs to be posted, but you are unsure of the weight or don’t have the correct value of stamps so you overpay. It is a waste of money, but at least the job is done.

With a franking machine, especially one with an integral scale, this is never a problem. You get the correct postage, dial it into the machine and frank it. So not only are you saving money from overstamping, but you’re benefiting from franking discounted postage.

4. Under Stamping

The Royal Mail used to charge the sender if postal items were under stamped. Now the Royal Mail will deliver the item to the recipient’s receiving office and ask the recipient to pick up the item and pay the difference plus a handling fee.

If your company accidentally under stamps mail, forcing a customer to collect and pay for the post you’ve sent them, this would create a very negative perception of your business.

With a franking machine, it is easy to get the correct postage every time and avoid the embarrassment and inconvenience to your customers of under stamping.

5. Time Saving and Convenience

Murphy’s Law – Stamps will run out at the most inconvenient time, this is just the way it is.

Trips to the post office for more stamps are not only time consuming but also inconvenient.

Franking machines can be topped up online* 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and it only takes a minute. Even when the post office is shut you will never run out of postage.
Also processing out-going mail becomes less of an odious task. Mail items can be easily weighed and correct postage applied. Batches of letters can be quickly passed through the franking machine and on their way.

*When buying or renting a franking machine, it is worth checking on top-up charges and whether this involves a premium rate number. Some franking companies hide these charges.

6. Accountability and Recording Expenditure

Franking machines enable businesses to accurately keep track and report on postage expenses, within a business.

This can be measured across departments with most franking machines allowing for multiple department accounts to be set up and reported on.

For further information on how we can help with your existing postage requirements please call 01908 272729 or email info@stormofficesolutions.com.