Top 5 Mailing and Shipping Tips for Small Businesses

www.quadientconnects.comIf you are employed by or own a small business, you understand the challenges of managing mailing and shipping operations. But did you know that many of the related time-consuming tasks can be surmounted with accessible and easy-to-use automation solutions that can save you time and money. 

Recently, our Quadient Connects live event offered education and resources to help SMBs and businesses of all sizes BE MORE and achieve next-level success. Below are some of the key insights from our Best Practices and Technology for Small Businesses presentation which explains how SMBs can leverage essential tools and modern mailing technologies to help streamline processes, reduce costs, and save precious time. 

1. Embrace mail automation technology

Manually folding and inserting documents into envelopes is time-consuming and prone to errors.  but you can cut down on repetitive and tedious tasks by automating your mailing processes. Folder inserters save time and increase productivity by folding and inserting documents and even sealing the envelopes, ensuring a professional finish every time. Also you can replace traditional paper mail, like Certified Mail, with digital solutions to minimize the need for physical storage and make mail easier to archive and track. 

• Save hours of stuffing with a folder inserter
• Simplify tracking with digital mailing tools 
• Save on storage space

2. Make the most of every mail piece 

Personalized mail with customer-specific information and colorful designs is more likely to capture the recipient’s attention and prompt action. By enhancing the readability and attractiveness of your documents you ensure that your communications are professional and effective. Using the white space on envelopes is an effective way to communicate with your customers and set your envelopes apart.  Seasonal greetings and promotional offers add a personal touch and have been shown to boost engagement and response rates.
 

• Customize envelopes with personal messaging
• Convey important information, such as past-due notices, to speed up payment. 
• Make business-critical communications stand out

3. Ensure secure and trackable delivery

Secure your mailing processes to protect sensitive information. Document automation software ensures your mail is handled and delivered with the utmost integrity, reducing the risk of data breaches. Barcoding technology is critical for proper sorting and processing. By adding barcodes to documents, businesses can reduce manual errors and guarantee accurate mail assembly so that every document is inserted correctly.

Finally, implementing address hygiene software to ensure your mailing lists are accurate and up to date reduces returned mail and ensures your communications reach the intended recipients promptly. 

• Ensure the right document is inserted in the right envelope
• Send mail that is compliant and meets privacy requirements 
• Reduce the hassle and cost of undeliverable mail

4.  Leverage postal automation

Postal automation tools speed up mail processing and offer significant savings by allowing businesses to take advantage of discounted rates and services. Mailing systems can handle large batches of mail quickly and efficiently, significantly reducing the time spent on redundant tasks. With built-in scales and up-to-the-minute rates, they take out the guesswork and help you avoid under or overpayments.

Running out of ink in the middle of an important mail run can also be a major setback. But you can enroll in programs that automatically ship new ink cartridges when levels are low to ensure uninterrupted mailing operations. 

• Prevent postage over or under-paying
• Never worry about running out of ink
• Take advantage of faster delivery and reduced rates

5. Streamline shipping processes

S.M.A.R.T shipping solutions include a rate shopping feature that allows businesses to compare rates from multiple carriers on a single screen. This ensures that you always get the best rates for your shipments. Additionally, choosing the right-sized box for your products helps avoid unnecessary costs, and printing barcoded labels makes managing and tracking shipments faster and easier. 

• Find the fastest and cheapest rate in no time 
• Batch process multiple shipments at once  
• Get discounts on USPS® services like Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express

Reinvest your time and effort  into more revenue-driving work

To learn more about how you can transform your mailing and shipping operations visit Quadient Connects and watch on-demand. You can also choose from over 60+ complimentary sessions, demonstrations, and insights from more than 40 digital transformation experts. With topics from mailing solutions to customer communications management, document and finance automation and secure parcel delivery there is no limit to what you can learn and achieve.