Business Post launches i-mail

Business Post’s UK Mail business has announced the New Year launch of its i-mail next day service in a partnership with Royal Mail. Business Post customers will be able to send an electronic copy of a letter or document to one of Royal Mail’s sort centres where it will be printed, sealed and transferred to Royal Mail for final-leg delivery.

Business Post says prices for the new service will start at less than the price of a first-class stamp, including stationery and printing. It claims the agreement makes UK Mail the first private organisation to provide an alternative next-day service to nationwide addresses. Customers will be able to send mail as late as 6pm to secure next-day delivery.

“We’ve been looking at it a little while,” says head of group marketing Nigel Proctor, who adds that the group has been in talks with Royal Mail for around eight months. In-house trials of the service will begin next month and software developments are in place with a third-party provider.