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real time postage selection and sortation
De-regulated UK Postal Market
- iSortTM leverages constantly changing postal market
21 Grams helps mailers truly manage the constant changes in a de-regulated market - the iSortTM system allows mailers to both optimise each of their mailing runs as well as provide the necessary governance to comply with postal rules
PostStream® postal management
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UK Postal Market

The introduction of Downstream Access (DSA), pricing in proportion (PiP) and full deregulation in January 2006, has changed the UK mail market forever.

New entrants and products are competing with Royal Mail and each other, leading to greater innovation and price sensitivity in the market, all of which provide exciting opportunities for the smart mailer.

As a result of this competion, in 2010 we see a range of changes to the postal markets that have added further opportunities for mailers to leverage. In April 2010 we saw the introduction by Royal Mail Wholesale of four zones rather than the previous five zones for the Zonal Downstream Access (DSA) product available to postal carriers such as UK Mail. In addition, we see Royal Mail Wholesale applying similar four zone percentages to the National Geographic Postal Profile (NGPP) rules for their National Downstream Access product.

Where does POSTStream and iSort fit?

POSTStream postal management services incorporate the unique 21 Grams iSort software technology that enables mailers to truly manage the constant changes in a de-regulated market. The iSortTM system allows mailers to both optimise each of their mailing runs (transactional, operational or promotional), as well as providing the necessary governance to comply with postal rules, such as the National NGPP rules.

uk mail market

In essence there are four categories of delivery option available for larger mailers in the UK today:

  1. Cleanmail, Mailsort and Walksort
    (120, 700 and 1400, CBC & OCR) - Royal Mail Retail
  2. National Downstream Access
    DSA operators such as Secured Mail, Citipost, UK Mail, TNT Post and DHL Global Mail
  3. Zonal downstream access - DSA Operators such as Citipost, Secured Mail, DHL Global Mail
  4. End to end hand delivery networks - Operators such as DX Mail and Citipost

Until recently the decision has been a straight choice between a national DSA operator and Royal Mail Mailsort service. This is no longer the most cost effective solution for a mailer, with the introduction of zonal pricing and new alternatie end to end networks, especially when using our POSTStream Optimisation services.