What is a Postage Meter?

In the digital age, it can be easy to disregard the use of physical mail. However, physical mail remains a necessity today, and like many other industries, equipment is available to streamline mailing processes. One of these pieces of equipment is a postage meter. In this blog post, we’re sharing what you need to know about postage meters. We’ll start by answering the question, “What is a postage meter machine?” before exploring how the machines work and the benefits of using a postage meter.

What is a Postage Meter Machine?

Also known as a franking machine, a postage meter machine adds postage markings to parcels before they are shipped. These machines are commonly used in organizations that frequently send out mail. They can save businesses money in the long term by completely erasing the need for stamps.

How Does a Postage Meter Work?

As with any machinery, the exact method a postage meter uses depends on the machine type. However, we are sharing the general methodology for how to use a postage meter below:

Parcel weight - You should put the letter or parcel on the postage meter so the machine can correctly identify the item's weight.

Select postage - Next, select the type of postage you need. For example, are you shipping a letter or a parcel? Do you need first class, second class postage, etc.?

Calculates postage - The machine will then calculate the postage cost and display the price for you to accept.

Print postage marking - Once you have established postage type and cost, the machine is ready to mark the parcel. Input your item into the machine, wait for it to add a postage mark, and your mail is now ready to be shipped.

Note: If you have bigger items that do not fit through the machine, the postage meter will print the marking on a label instead. You can then stick the label onto the parcel.

The Benefits of Using a Postage Meter

There are several benefits of using a postage meter. Some of these benefits include:

Time Savings

Using a postage meter is sure to save you time. First, you will spend less time going to and from the post office, as your machine can efficiently add postage markings and get your mail ready to be shipped. The device will also work out your postage costs, saving you the time-consuming task of manually calculating shipping fees. Additionally, there will be less risk of human error, as the machine does all the work for you.

With all the time you save with your postage meter, you can put this towards doing more valuable tasks instead.

Cost Savings

Using a postage meter allows an organization to make significant cost savings. Many of these meters provide discounted postage rates. Additionally, postage meters can entirely replace the need for stamps, which can be expensive when buying large quantities. As the machine will automatically calculate costs itself, you can be assured that you will be paying an accurate price, and are safe from overpaying, which can happen if manually calculating shipping costs.

Complete Convenience

When you get a postage machine, the machine does everything you need to ship parcels from the comfort of your home. A postage meter brings the post office to you, instead of the other way around. This means you can instantly ship mail - you don’t have to worry about post office closing hours or cut-off times. Instead, you can mark your parcels and ship them off whenever necessary.

Maintain a Professional Image

A postage meter will make sure every letter and parcel you ship has a clean, professional look. Postage markings are accurately displayed and will be consistent with each parcel. Using a postage meter also helps to maintain a professional brand image, and shows your customers your dedication to professionalism.

Summary

Postage meters are exceptional pieces of equipment, and are best for businesses that regularly mail items. They allow organizations to save time and money, while providing complete convenience and accuracy. Youl have seen the benefits of a postage meter above, which you can easily take advantage of. If you are interested in purchasing a postage meter, or would like more information about them, browse all our postage meters here. Alternatively, if you need assistance with any office or mailroom equipment, feel free to get in touch with our expert team who will be happy to help.