Franking machines are essential for businesses of all shapes and sizes in the 21st century. They allow companies to manage their business mail more efficiently, saving money on stamps and making sure outgoing post has a professional, slick look.
But what exactly is a franking machine?
Franking machines have been common in workplaces for close to a century, with these devices becoming increasingly important to the smooth running of a company.
With business mail being one of the biggest expenses for a lot of organisations, it is vital that the process is as efficient as possible, which is where a franking machine comes in.
Franking machines typically have built-in scales to make sure companies do not ever pay more for their postage than necessary, cutting down on wastage compared to traditional postage methods.
Although franking machines differ in size, shape and style, they all essentially perform the same job, printing a franking mark on to the postal item. This mark usually contains basic business information such as the price of the item, a number to identify it, the date and the place the item has been posted from.
More advanced franking machines also enable companies to include their logo, address and even a greeting, making the item look even more professional.
The benefits of using franking machines
Most companies buy franking machines for efficiency purposes, and organisations can cut their business mail costs by up to a third as a result of purchasing one of these devices.
However, there are far more benefits to using franking machines than simply saving money.
Franking machines are simple to use and as payment is made in advance this reduces the pressure on petty cash in the office. Franking accounts can be topped up 24 hours a day online.
Royal Mail treats franked mail as a priority, which means items are likely to arrive quicker. Franking is also more efficient as it saves time queuing up at the Post Office.
Royal Mail tariffs are also programmed into the franking machine, which means that users are able to select their desired class, as well as the size of the item, as well as any other additional details, including whether or not next day delivery is required. Royal Mail provides companies using franking machines with all of the bags, trays and pouches needed for sorting mail too. Larger businesses may also pay for the postal service to collect their outgoing mail to save more time.
There are also security benefits to using franking machines for business mail, as the devices are password protected.
Buying a franking machine
Organisations looking to buy franking machines have a range of manufacturers to choose from, which can make the process lengthy and complicated.
However, using a price comparison website to check the prices of various franking machines can ensure businesses get the best possible deal on the newest addition to their office.
With franking machines guaranteed to reduce the cost of business mail for a company, getting a fantastic price for a new franking machine can make the purchase an even better idea for a firm.
