India Post will now have state-of–the art digital franking machines, which automatically stamp letters or packages and compute the total charge.
K M Nanaiah, managing director of the Indian unit of US-based provider of mail management services Pitney Bowes, which is offering the technology to India Post, told reporters that the new generation of high speed digital franking machines will replace the older technology franking machines of India Post by June 2013.
He said the innovative mega series launched in India allows users to users to automatically stamp letters or packages up to Rs 9999.99 and has added security like six-digit alphanumeric password for machine locking and downloading funds.
He said the new technology also has a ‘Weigh on the Way’ feature, which allows processing of mail in mixed weights and sizes as they are measured and franked appropriately on the go.
“These new features meet customers’ needs, save time and provide convenience,” said Nanaiah. Interestingly, Pitney Bowes is betting big on Indian market for franking machines and is also eyeing to have a tie-up with state utility service providers.
Interestingly, while reports indicate the mail culture is slowly vanishing with people preferring the electronic mode, Naniah says it is untrue. “People still love to get mails and there is a huge business following rapid increase in cellphone subscribers, statement-based credit and debit card usage and computerised billing by utilities,” he adds.
The company now has 60 per cent of the market share in India and feels it will be one of the leaders in the field. Interestingly, a couple of international players are also planning to test the Indian market. But Naniah feels the market is vast and Pitney Bowes is hardly bothered about competition.