The franking machine was first developed over a century ago in 1884 by a Norwegian engineer, Engle Frankmussler, who was passionate about solving the security problems plaguing the postal system of that time. The post has been, unfortunately, often tampered with, misdelivered, and in some cases, outright stolen. The postal system was fraught with difficulty and made delivering posts very difficult and in some cases impossible. The postage payment system was also very difficult for many postmasters to regulate and control. Because of this, Frankmussler, tired and annoyed, stepped up and developed the first franking machine.
Franking machines are used in one form or another throughout the world. They are an integral part of how global mail is processed, and if it were not for them, our mail system would still be antiquated and fraught with corruption. This page will hope to tell you what you can use a franking machine for – and what the benefits of a franking machine are. Franking machines offer great benefits to the postal system and make the lives of postmasters and postmen much easier. Here is what you can use a franking machine for, as well as the benefits of a franking machine.
Reduced Postage Costs
Franking machines are a great aid in reducing the amount of money that is spent on postage costs. If it were not for a franking machine you would, in theory, be required to go to and from the post office collecting large numbers of stamps for every single item that needs to be posted. Now, according to the professionals at FPmailing.co.uk, by using a franking machine you can gain access to discounted Royal Mail mail mark rates. These are considerably reduced, and a much better alternative to spending a fortune on postage stamps.
Reduction in Manpower
Not only can a franking machine save you money on postage costs, but it can save you money in the amount of manpower you require in your postal room. For a large business, a lot of mail will be expected to be dispatched every single day, as is the same in many small businesses too. Franking machines can significantly reduce the number of people you need to work in your mailroom, thereby reducing your outgoing expenditure, and meaning you can employ (and pay) fewer people. A mailroom with a franking machine needs only a few people to operate and dispatch the mail, as opposed to ten or fifteen to hand stamp every single letter and parcel.
Discounts
Not only can you save a whole heap of money by using franking machines, but you are also entitled to regular discounts by your post authority. Generally, you are entitled to a discount (in America) of up to five cents per standard mail item posted. This gradually adds up and contributes to very large discounts. It is clear to see that, just from the last three points, franking machines are a great benefit to any business, large or small, and can save you a lot of money.
Convenience
Not only does a franking machine save you the money of buying stamps, but it also saves you the time you would have lost by having to attend the post office so frequently. This is a fantastic alternative to having to go and spend hours in queues waiting to buy stamps or postage. It also saves you the time that would have to be invested into spending hours hand stamping every single letter or parcel that is required to be dispatched from your company to other companies or customers.
Security
The security offered by franking machines was the whole reason it was first created over a hundred years ago. Franking machines allow you to see who exactly has been using your machine and whether or not anything has been tampered with. Once it has been marked by the stamping machine, on many machines, employees are required to log their employee reference number so that you can determine who has been using your machine – which means if any mail has been dealt with improperly or has been used to commit fraud, you can identify which employee was responsible for doing so.
Promotional Purposes
You can use franking machines for the purposes of promotion, instead of other methods. As you are able to stamp whatever you desire on the parcels and letters, this means you will be able to stamp promotional deals and advertisements on there as well; this is fantastic for businesses who are trying to draw in more business or clientele.
Now, with the help of this page, you know everything one may need to know about the many uses (and benefits) of franking machines. Franking machines are a great addition to any mailroom. Once you have one, you will wonder why you ever lived without one.