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Businesses Shun Royal Mail In Favour Of E-communications

29/10/2009

By Lea Pachta

Many small businesses were left relatively unaffected by the Royal Mail strike with most opting to send most of their correspondence electronically, according to social business network Ecademy.

Over 800 people viewed a blog entitled 'Your business and the Royal Mail, time for a divorce?' by William Buist last week on popular social business network Ecademy with many commenting on how the strike would impact their business.

A high proportion claimed that the strike would have little or no effect on their day-to-day business as they opted to use the Internet for most of their correspondence.

"It would seem that many small businesses have already made the transition to electronic based communications some time ago, relying mainly on the Royal Mail for delivery of cheques from customers and items which had to be sent physically. Many say they already send PDF versions of letters and invoices and receive payments by BACS and rarely venture to the Post Office at all," says Societal Web expert William Buist of Abelard Management Services.

Many commenting on the forum post did have sympathy with the Royal Mail workers and blamed the management for failing to move with times and embrace new technology as part of their offering.

Penny Power, founder of Ecademy believes that the Royal Mail needs to turn its attention to the web for valuable customer insight and take into account the views of its customers and what they want from their postal service in the future if they want to survive.

"The strike has highlighted how many businesses have moved their marketing activities online, opting for social networks and online media to create a brand rather than utilizing Direct Mail.

"People are becoming a lot more vocal online and willing to express their views and opinions with their peers, this activity is gaining many businesses an opportunity to build their brand globally and with a very low cost associated with the activity. The Post Office is fast becoming out dated in their use of technology for businesses".

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