The Power of Mailroom Automation

This post originally appeared on EO Johnson's blog.

Businesses are continually seeking innovative ways to streamline their operations and improve efficiency. One area that has seen significant transformation in recent years is mailroom management. Traditional mailrooms, characterized by heaps of paper, manual sorting, and delivery processes, are gradually being replaced by digital mailroom services. But exactly what is mailroom automation? This blog post will help explain mailroom automation, its benefits, and how it can enhance your business operations.

What is mailroom automation?

Mailroom automation refers to the use of technology to digitize and automate the process of receiving, sorting, and distributing incoming mail within an organization. The process involves scanning physical mail into digital formats which can then be easily sorted and distributed electronically. A digital mailroom allows your employees to work from anywhere and still receive their inbound paper mail electronically.?Mailroom automation typically involves a third-party service provider who handles the opening of the paper mail, scanning it into a digital format, and sending the electronic version to the right people.

Five benefits of mailroom automation

1. Staff efficiency

Manual sorting of mail can be time-consuming, especially for large organizations that receive a high volume of mail daily. It's easy to underestimate the amount of time and effort it takes your staff to open, scan, and route mail electronically.?With automation, the process is outsourced, handled quickly, and frees your staff up for more valuable work.

2. Cost savings

By reducing the need for manual labor with mailroom activities, businesses can save on labor costs. Additionally, digital storage reduces the need for physical storage space which can also be quite costly.

3. Fast mail delivery

The physical legwork of sorting and delivering means sometimes important documents aren’t seen right away. Digital mailrooms have consistent processes that route mail quickly to any location with greater accuracy.

4. Improved security

Automated mailrooms enhance security by providing a clear audit trail of all mail processed and better security for sensitive documents as access can be restricted and monitored. This is particularly important for businesses dealing with confidential information and strict regulatory requirements.

5. Environmental sustainability

By reducing the use of paper, mailroom automation contributes to environmental sustainability efforts.

Choosing a digital mailroom service provider

When choosing a provider for digital mailroom services, there are several factors to consider. These include:

1. Experience: How long has the provider been offering digital mailroom services? Look for a provider with a proven track record in mailroom automation. Experienced providers will have the knowledge and expertise to handle the unique challenges of your industry and can offer tailored solutions to meet your specific needs. Plus, an experienced provider is likely to offer more reliable services.
2. Technology: What technologies does the provider use? Look for providers that use advanced scanning and data extraction technologies for greater efficiency and accuracy. They also should be able to integrate with your existing business systems.
3. Security: How secure are their systems and processes? Given that your mail may contain sensitive information, it's crucial to choose a provider with robust security measures in place. Ensure the provider has stringent security measures in place, including data encryption, access controls, and regular security audits.
4. Scalability: Can they accommodate growth? Your mailroom needs may grow over time, so it's essential to choose a provider that can scale their services accordingly. Whether you're a small business or a large enterprise, the provider should be able to accommodate your needs and expand their services as your business evolves.
5. Customer support: Does the provider offer reliable customer support? Choose a provider that offers responsive and knowledgeable support to address any issues promptly. Check their support channels and availability to ensure they can provide assistance when needed.

Getting started with mailroom automation

Mailroom automation is an innovative solution that can significantly improve your business operations by making your mail management process more efficient, accurate, secure, and cost-effective. As businesses continue to embrace digital transformation in various aspects of their operations, those that adopt digital mailroom services will undoubtedly have a competitive edge.

Selecting the right digital mailroom service provider is key to unlocking these benefits and ensuring a smooth transition to an automated system. The team at EO Johnson is here to help you on your digital transformation journey, including mailroom automation. We are not only a SOC 2 Type 2 audited service provider, but we also have the horsepower and expertise to handle the most robust mailroom automation needs. Contact us today to learn more about our mailroom automation services.