The link between the post office and business success

Many office are trying to go fully paperless and use electronic communication only

“Electronic” business is becoming increasingly popular in today’s society. Communication is largely done via email, a lot of banking procedures are done via e-banking, suppliers are paid via e-payments and products are sold via e-commerce. Many businesses are trying to rely on electronic communication and do everything electronically however the world is not yet ready for the paperless office. Consequently, the post office still plays a large part in the world of business, and even more so in small business.

Customer invoices and statements are sent through the postal system. If the customer fails to receive the invoices and statements they will not settle their debts on time, the cash flow suffers and the business may incur unnecessary costs as a result.

On the flip side, supplier contracts, finance agreements, hire purchase agreements, purchase invoices and purchase statements are all documents received through the postal system. If a business fails to receive a purchase statement it will not pay it supplier on time which could lead to additional costs or in the worst case scenario the loss of a key supplier, which is likely to have a detrimental effect on the business.

With so many important documents running through a small business it is necessary to manage and control them as much as possible. Important documentation should be sent recorded delivery so it can be traced through the post office tracking system. The Post office charges a premium for the post office tracking system but the additional costs are well worth it, especially when you consider the potential implications and costs that can arise if the document fails to reach the recipient.

Small businesses are more reliant than the post office than they realise

Post office hours are the standard nine to five therefore all small businesses must ensure its post reaches postal system, i.e. the local post office, in good time to reach the sorting office. Because of post office location many small businesses have to suffer downtime in order to get their post to the post office within normal post office hours. During the holiday period the post office holidays also affect the running of small businesses, which creates additional problems to overcome.

It is easy to see that the post office plays a pivotal role within all businesses, especially since every piece of paper that enters or leaves the office has to go through the postal system. Businesses are more tied in to the postal system than small business owners seem to realise, and since the postal system is something that is totally out of our control we are at its mercy. This poses a significant business risk, especially when the postal service decides to go on strike.

Even though the tax payer funds the postal service, the post office is still business that has to be controlled, managed and operated like any other business, although the postal service is often perceived to be non-profit making. Because of this the post office often conflicts with small businesses although it is the small business that has to work around the post office. Because of the way we do business, and the volume of post, it is important to remain on good terms with the post office and all post office staff.