Bills, Statements and Payments – Paper and Electronic Delivery
The adoption of electronic bills, statements and payments has grown significantly in recent
years, as has the explosive growth in Internet penetration, the evolving consumer
preferences for new media, and a determined push by financial institutions to convert users
from paper to electronic. Most forecasters, observers, and the general press typically
characterize these electronic options as severely and negatively affecting the volume of
bills, statements and payments that are mailed. Is there reliable industry data that can be
used to check these assertions? Are the quantifiable trends universal or do they vary by
region? Exactly how have electronic alternatives impacted user preferences so far and how
will they continue to impact mail volumes in the foreseeable future?
Much has been written in recent years about the rapidly rising adoption of electronic bills,
statements and payments. However, few attempts have been made to systematically review all
available research and make sound predictions, especially pertaining to mail volumes and the
expected growth of electronic alternatives2. This paper first defines several terms and delineates
the scope of this study. Second, the paper analyzes the U.S. and European landscape vis-à-vis:
the adoption rates of electronic bills, statements and payments, and the evolution of the
corresponding mail volumes. Third, the paper examines how consumers prefer to receive and
pay bills so as to provide an outlook on the future of paper vs. electronic methods. Finally, the
paper looks at the progress billers have made to effectively institute and establish new bill,
statement and payment mechanisms.
