IDS Deliver imail Postal Service

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.emediawire.com/releases/2009 ... 231534.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

ntegrated Documents Solutions (IDS), a document production specialist since 1997, has successfully developed the UK's first electronic next-day postal service.

Taunton, UK (PRWEB) March 16, 2009 -- Integrated Documents Solutions (IDS), a document production specialist since 1997, has successfully developed the UK's first electronic next-day postal service.

UK Mail, part of the Business Post Group, commissioned IDS in January 2008 to produce a system to allow their customers to generate and physically post letters directly from their computer or laptop.

"We wanted to develop a mail solution that combined the ease and environmental friendliness of electronic communication with the impact of physical mail," states Guy Buswell, CEO of the Business Post Group. "Our challenge was to find a partner that was capable of meeting our rigorous requirements and IDS ticked all the boxes."

Users of imail login via an Internet browser, compose their letter using familiar word processing tools then "post" it with a click of the mouse. Following this, the letter is sent electronically to a UK Mail sorting depot closest to its destination, where it is printed and inserted in a pre-paid envelope ready for delivery by the Royal Mail.

Not only does imail provide a convenient desktop to doormat postal service, it also reduces costs associated with the production and delivery of letters. UK Mail estimate the traditional method of generating and posting first class mail can be as much as £1 per item. With imail, this price drops to just 47 pence, inclusive of materials, production and first class delivery.

IDS developed a Web-based interface from the ground up to allow users to compose and administer letters. They also incorporated a combination of existing document production solutions to satisfy imail's back-end sorting, spooling and printing processes.

"A proven software solution called SpoolQ was used to provide the mechanism for managing and printing imail letters", comments Mark Dowson, Managing Director of IDS. "For over ten years, SpoolQ has been used by organisations such as The Bank of England, local Government authorities and the MOD, so we were certain it was robust enough to handle imail's printing requirements."

UK Mail estimated in excess of 80,000 letters would be generated and posted each day using imail, so it was paramount the hardware and software were capable of handling this quantity.
Mark continues: "To ensure we had the bandwidth to cope with the intended high volume of letters, we used a dedicated VPN link to connect the imail server to the SpoolQ systems at each of the eight regional UK Mail sorting depots."

South West Communications in Exeter (UK) was commissioned by IDS to provide a secure Tier 4 data centre for the imail server, along with the VPN link, and communications hardware required at each sorting depot.

IDS also worked closely with UK Mail's printer supplier, Konica Minolta, to ensure each imail letter is output as expected and within the deadline imposed by the Royal Mail to attain next-day delivery.

"Despite the complexity of the imail solution, and the involvement of multiple suppliers, the project was completed on time and within budget," states Mark. "We put much of this success down to our experience integrating bespoke document production solutions for a wide range of industry sectors, and our unprecedented knowledge of the software and hardware necessary to accomplish this."

Since its launch in November 2008, IDS has continued to manage imail, providing 24/7 support, software updates, and hardware tuning.

Mark concludes: "In addition to our managed service commitment, our relationship with UK Mail is destined to continue with the development and integration of an imail facility to create and deliver postcards and direct mail marketing literature!"

To find out more about imail, visit http://www.ukmail.biz/imail/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

To find out more about the document production solutions available from IDS, visit http://www.idocsol.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.

About Integrated Document Solutions (IDS)

IDS have supplied and managed document production solutions for global businesses and organisations since 1997. All aspects of the document process are handled, from host to printer connectivity through to document delivery, and all are backed up by first-class consultancy, comprehensive training, and dedicated support.

The company operates as the solutions and services arm of its controlling company, FunAsset, who have developed hardware and software products for the print production environment for over 18 years.

http://www.idocsol.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

About UK Mail

UK Mail is part of the Business Post Group, the UK's largest independent express delivery company, operating through a network of nearly 60 locations across the UK. The Group and its associates employ over 5,000 people, have a fleet of more than 3,000 vehicles and are responsible for the movement of over 150,000 consignments every working day.

UK Mail was the first organisation to be licensed by Postcomm, the independent regulator, to provide a competitive postal service effectively ending 370 years of Royal Mail's monopoly. It is the leading alternative to Royal Mail for business mail requirements and is the Business Post Group's fastest growing division handling 2.3 billion mail items every year, with a 15% share of the UK mail market.

http://www.ukmail.biz" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[dvbuk55]

Users of imail login via an Internet browser, compose their letter using familiar word processing tools then "post" it with a click of the mouse. Following this, the letter is sent electronically to a UK Mail sorting depot closest to its destination, where it is printed and inserted in a pre-paid envelope ready for delivery by the Royal Mail.

You see this is what it all boils down to - everything is a click and point away .............. oh except for someone posting it through a letter box.

[POSTMAN]

Have we (RM) got anything like this,and if not why not? Piece of piss for us!

[MEL]

yeah it should of been a piece of piss 4 us but there u go rm 2 busy cutting costs and not embracing new technologies.
with the amount of d/os we have we could of possibly initiated a same day postal service along the same lines as this.

[Broxi51]

Have we (RM) got anything like this,and if not why not? Piece of piss for us!

Totally agree with you there. This is something that would work for us and we could even keep costs down by having it printed out in the DO that delivers. We could even offer a 2 hour delivery from customer sending it to us and being delivered obviously at a bit more cost and within DO times.

[steviemac]

so they do the same job as your local printers then put it in an envelope for you, how is this affecting RM . . . we are still walking down a path delivering letters at the same price for downsteam access.

[resperin]

Have we (RM) got anything like this,and if not why not? Piece of piss for us!

Totally agree with you there. This is something that would work for us and we could even keep costs down by having it printed out in the DO that delivers. We could even offer a 2 hour delivery from customer sending it to us and being delivered obviously at a bit more cost and within DO times.

have to admit - that sounds like a f***ing awesome idea, and deffo one way of undercutting our rivals or even if we did it the same price it'd make more money. but then the regulator will still probably f us over some how

[DGP1]

I've already flagged this up as something that RM should do but I was tolf that RM used to do it and it didn't make money so they binned it (I think Fozzie said it but I cna't be sure).

[POSTMAN]

We've got the mail shots online thing,which is similar i suppose.

http://www.royalmail.com/portal/campaig ... ding_RMHP1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[BELIAL]

Not only does imail provide a convenient desktop to doormat postal service, it also reduces costs associated with the production and delivery of letters. UK Mail estimate the traditional method of generating and posting first class mail can be as much as £1 per item. With imail, this price drops to just 47 pence, inclusive of materials, production and first class delivery.

This is either the Paul Daniels Postal service or I must be having a senior moment
Given the fact that as of yet we do not operate a zonal postage pricing system ,could someone explain why the costs drop by 50+ %
Old system = Type ;print ;wrap ; off to MC
New system= Type; email; print;wrap;off to MC.
Factor in the profits for the new third party and it gets even more unlikely

[janitor]

I've already flagged this up as something that RM should do but I was tolf that RM used to do it and it didn't make money so they binned it (I think Fozzie said it but I cna't be sure).

Yep RM had the same thing run it for a year didn't advertise, no one used it so they scrapped it.

[F0zziebear]

It wasn't me who said it, but the volumes involved are pissing in the wind. It will make little/no difference to the balance of power and not significantly eat into RM's revenues.

As stated before direct mail from banks, utilities and the public sector are far more important than small business or individuals embracing this type of technology.

This does not mean RM should not do it, but only as a side show to more significant matters such as fall-to-earth marketing campaign data being delivered to marketing managers in real time. If you want to know more about this then please ask and I'll explain