Business

GI Direct has teamed up with Haigh Consultancy Services to create Unity, a virtual mail system claimed to save businesses around 70% compared to sending communications by conventional post.

Companies can send their mail electronically to the Leicester-based company, which will print and fold the item in a fully automated process, before sorting it and sending it to Royal Mail.

Prices start at 36p for a full-colour duplex document with a personalised envelope, equivalent to the price of a first class stamp.

Haigh Consultancy Ser­vices claimed that the average saving could be up to £1.14 per item, based on a single letter costing between £1.00 and £1.50 to send. This figure included costs avoided with stationery, print consumables and postage, as well as staff costs.

Paul Haigh, managing director of Haigh Consultancy Services, said: "We are targeting many public sector organisations and various SMEs, including housing associations and companies that re­­quire ad-hoc mailing services."

David Palmer-Jeffery, a consultant for Unity, said: "With Unity, companies don’t have to suffer the expense of employees using the post bag for personal use and the system could spell the end of the franking machine."