During the Covid-19 Pandemic, the importance of an efficient mail system has become more apparent than ever. With many stores forced to close and people instructed to socially distance, everything from food to medicine has been reliant on interrupted mail service. Sending mail has come a long way since the days of individual mail carriers on horseback or the local postman who was known by the whole neighborhood. But while the process may have changed, the fundamentals of mail have remained the same; speed, security, and professionalism are absolutely key for a quality mail service.
A truly in-depth analysis of today’s mail service would be far too extensive for one article, but to give you some insight into how things have changed, here is everything you need to know about modernized mail and how it works.
1. The Traditional Mail Solutions
As the old saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” and the traditional postal mail service is still incredibly important in so many countries around the world. The future of the Royal Mail in the UK has looked uncertain for a while due to the uncertainty around Brexit and now with the expectation of huge government cuts post-Covid. The British public has huge affection for the Royal Mail, however, and it continues to prove invaluable for people to stay in touch while lockdown continues.
The 2020 US election put pressure on the American postal service with then-President Donald Trump seemingly impeding its ability to function properly in order to restrict mail-in ballots. Like the British mail service, however, the American people have a warm and long-lasting relationship with their postal service and there was considerable public pushback against the Trump administration’s actions. With a new administration now in office, the postal service has been able to return to business as usual.
2. Innovative Technology
While posting a letter or parcel is about as traditional as it gets, technological innovations have transformed many aspects of the process. From electronic tracking to next-day delivery, many of the modern mail services would have been impossible only a few decades ago. The folks at Francotyp explain that one very useful piece of technology is mail franking machines. These enable businesses and individuals to prepare their own mail without needing to buy postage stamps or take the mail to the post office. Franking machines attach indicia which work in the same way as a stamp but are cheaper and don’t require someone to manually stick stamps on envelopes. This can save a lot of time and money and also gives mail a more professional look.
3. Courier Services
In years gone by, when somebody sent a letter it would be carried much of the way by individual mailmen. In the US, the mail was often transported between towns across huge expanses of wilderness by mail carriers on horseback but this personal touch was lost to a degree when mail was mechanized on a massive scale. There has been somewhat of a reversion to these earlier times, however, with the availability of modern courier services of course. Many people who are sending something particularly important or need to ensure that their letter or package reaches the recipient quickly and safely can pay for a series of couriers to ensure that their mail is always supervised during every stage of its journey.
4. International Mailing
Another fantastic advancement in modern mail is that it is now possible to send things to other countries which are guaranteed to arrive within a reasonable time and for relatively low costs (depending on what is being sent and where it is going). Air travel has revolutionized so many aspects of our lives and has created a truly global world, but in terms of the mail, what would previously have taken months of risky sea transportation to send something to another country, can now arrive directly in the recipient’s hands within days. Often, the only real consideration which needs to be made is the custom rules and duties which need to be paid when an item is entering a country.
The mail service holds special memories for all of us and it is just as important now as it ever was. We send cards, presents, and flowers to our loved ones through the mail, and especially during difficult times, it is a crucial means to stay connected to others. While these modern innovations have changed the face of mail, the fundamentals of customer efficiency and quality service have never changed. Despite the pressure which has been put on the mail service over the years, it remains one of our most beloved institutions.