Important Question of operating Franking Machines

Franking mails is a cost effective method of sending business letters while posing a more professional image of your company.  If you are considering it for your business, then it is good to know the frequently asked questions to help you clear your confusions. 

Is franking suitable for my company?

Franking is a quick and easy way of streamlining your mailroom system. It permits you to have ample savings on your time and money while projecting a more professional figure. Businesses can add their own advertising message or logo exactly on each envelope.

Is there limitation on type of mails to be sent on franking device?

There is no limitation such as minimum or maximum postage volumes for each mail. You can use it to send different kinds of mails including first class, second class, recorded delivery, special delivery, parcelforce worldwide services, international/ airmail, cleanmail and mailsort.

How do I post franked mails?

After purchasing your franking machines, Royal Mail will provide you with trays, mailbags and pouches to assist you in packing it in a nice presentation. These items are free of cost once you obtained your system. 

Letters that you franked can be posted in your local post office or mail centre or can be handed directly on the franked mailbox.  They cannot be posted in a regular postbox except you are using a low volume posting envelopes.

How much does mail franking costs?

Before purchasing or leasing a machine, you must be informed on the following expenses that you may be incurring.  There will be maintenance and inspection charges annually and you also need to purchase consumables. Definitely you need to buy franking labels and inks for your device.

Is there a permit that I need to secure before operating a franking device?

Before operating a machine, you need a license that is issued by Royal Mail.  Under the license, you must keep your Francotyp Postalia, Neopost or any other frank mail device in good working condition. You must have it inspected for regular maintenance at least once in a year by a certified supplier.

Improving the mail system with Mail franking

Franking machine can offer you huge savings of your company’s ultimate resource- money. But when choosing a device, it very important to spend a significant value of your time in researching to ensure that you get the most appropriate type of device for your organization.

Finding the right franking mail system that would suit your business requirements varies largely on how much mail you are sending everyday, weekly or on a monthly basis.  It is the most obvious tactic to guarantee that you are picking the right device for your business.

To assist you on what to do, here are some points to consider before deciding on what type of frank mail system you will invest:

Weigh up your postage costs

Most of the business owners are aware of the large savings that you may be enjoying when you have frank mail equipment. However, if your mails are not regular and you are only sending few mails in a day or week, then you must consider buying a low volume franking machine instead of a fully automated one.

As a wise businessman, you must know how to calculate the returns on your investment.  So, first step is verifying your postage volume.  Basically, they can be classified as:

1.      Low-volume: up to 30 mails daily

2.      Mid-volume: 20 to 100 mails daily

3.      Mid/ High Volume: 30 to 500 mails daily

4.      High Volume: 500 to 1000 mails daily

Take note that different varieties of machines are increasing depending on the brand and their specifications.  New Low-volume devices usually cost nearly £500 to £1,000, while new medium to high machines come in between £3,000 to as high as £22,000.  There are also machine for hire that is less expensive and practical for some companies.

What’s next?

After making up your mind on what type of device you are going to rent or purchase, you have to search for the various models and makes that would offer you the right specifications, functions and design.  There are renowned four labels to choose from. There are Neopost, Frama, Pitney Bowes and Francotyp Postalia (FP) that are Royal Mail certified and licensed.

Franking Machine supplier

A Frank mail device was invented by Norwegian Engle Frankmussler in 1884.  It was the first-ever machine that can weigh mails and records the appropriate postage cost. Although it operates on manual system, it saved ample time and labor of people in offices and post rooms.

Today, after more than a century, the frank system that was introduced in the 1800’s are now more sophisticated with their high tech design and features.  The improved digital operation and automated method of franking has made work lighter and better.

Principles behind Franking

The main work of franking machine is to make sending mails more affordable and efficient.  It is designed to cut down the time spent for taking queues in the post offices because the machine enables postage to be done in the offices. Moreover, franking is also definitely cheaper than traditional postage mails.

Business owners can conveniently tie down their account to Royal Mail for paying postages so they can also easily track down their mailing expenses. Aside from these applications, franking devices such as Neopost, Frama or any other low volume franking machine performs specific functions including:

·         Automatic envelope sealing.  As time-saving device, franking equipments have sealer that performs automatic sealing and opening of envelopes.

·         Automatic envelope feeding. Built with automatic feeder, it simply processes your mails without the need of human. There is also manual and semi-automatic control for your options.

·         Postage Rate and Reset Meter. Franking devices automatically update the current postage rates in accordance with the right size, thickness of the mail and package you are sending.

·         Automatic Accounting. With a frank mail system, you can monitor your mail expenditure. Tracking down your expenses is easier on a daily, weekly and monthly basis.

·         PIN protection. It provides security on your account as well as from unauthorise use. 

·         Business Impression. One of the significant features of frank system is that you are able to create your own business logo and advertising message on the envelopes which makes your letters more professional.