Pitney Bowes

In-house digital franking machines used to only be available to large businesses, who have for a long time enjoyed the efficiency and speed of in-house franking machines.

However, now the Pitney Bowes Postage Machine is aiming to bring the inherent savings in cost and time to smaller businesses.

Pitney Bowes offer postage machines in two formats, both about the size of an mini fax machine.

1. The first is the "Personal Post Basic", which is supplied with a separate 2kg (5lb) postal scale. It has a frontloading slot for envelopes. You weigh the mail, take the postage cost from the rate table and key that amount in to the device. This device costs £21.95 / month.
   
   
2. The second format is the "Personal Post Plus", which has an integrated postal scale to automatically input the correct postal rate. This device costs £26.95 / month.
   
   

Both systems print out the postage labels that are affixed to your letters and packages. These labels can be customised with a "personalised logo plate" that allows you to promote your brand or company with every letter you send, thus enhancing your professional image.

Both systems can also be customised for the UK postal service, and also for some EU postal services, including Germany.

It is estimated that using a digital franking machine such as this will make cost savings of around 20%.

Setting up the System

The system is easy to set up.

1. You install the supplied cartridge and plug the machine in.
2. After doing this, the LCD display asks you to input your "Postage by Phone" account number, which you receive from Pitney Bowes when you set up your account. The date is set automatically.
3. Connect it to a phone line.
4. You have already prepaid postage into your account. You now decide how much of this to download to your machine. The machine dials up and downloads the value of this postage.
5. You're now ready to go!
6. Imput the postal value your require and insert the envelope or postage label.
7. A standard or customised message can be printed on the postage label, if you so wish.

Currently, you can get a 30 day free trial of this system, together with £20 worth of free postage.

Pitney Bowes Postage Franking Machine - Click here for further details and to order.

Neopost Franking Machines

Neopost target their franking machines at businesses needing to send anything from 10 to 10,000 letters per week, having three separate machines targetting businesses with low, mid and high volume needs. The Neopost system has won many awards, including the "What to Buy for Business" Best Buy, and they are now the number one system in Europe.

The Royal Mail has confirmed that from April 2005, businesses and individuals using franking machines will save at least 1p on the first class postage letter rate. They also recommend systems such as those by Neopost, as they speed up the processing of mail and give companies a professional image, as you can add your name and logo to your franked impression.

The above system, aimed at small businesses, is currently available with a 30 day free trial. You can gain credits for postal costs easily using the credifon for remote recrediting - the system dials up a Neopost premium rate number via a modem link, and you enter your PIN and select the required credit value.

Neopost Autostamp - Click here for further details and to order.

Are there any the alternatives to these systems?

1. The Royal Mail has a system called SmartStamp, which consists of software that allows you to print postal labels and envelopes using the printer attached to your PC. You do not have to buy stamps, you simply pay a monthly or annual subscription plus your actual postal costs.