Smith & Ouzman is helping Royal Mail overcome poll card processing problems

Automated sorting equipment has streamlined mail sorting in the UK, but not without creating many challenges for Royal Mail, especially when processing card products such as poll cards. At Smith & Ouzman we are currently working with Royal Mail to help them resolve these problems without changing the unit cost of the poll card product, thereby minimising the impact of change upon local authorities. Two issues that cause rejections of poll cards within the feeding and sorting processes are the flat nature of card material and the dual address format printed on the face of the cards. Sorting equipment Read More …

Pros and cons of electronic ticketing

Traditionally, physical tickets are bought at the retailer or posted to recipients through the post. While they bring a sense of occasion to the event in question (and sometimes serve as memorabilia), physical tickets are susceptible to theft, damage, getting lost in the post or even after they’re in the customer’s hands. Electronic ticketing thus poses a few advantages: Electronic tickets are less likely to be lost in the post or once they’ve reached the customer, as they’re sent to a customer’s email. There’s no need to worry about reissuing the physical tickets. Electronic tickets are more convenient – they can Read More …

Voucher Scams Still At Large

As people were getting ready to stock up on items before Christmas, scores of people were duped into thinking they were going to get a great deal at their local Aldi. Aldi was forced to warn customers that the “40% off all items” vouchers in circulation were fake, and may in fact be a scam to get personal details. In this case, the fake vouchers weren’t redeemable and Aldi didn’t lose money – though it didn’t do anything to benefit their reputation. Recently at Asda, two men used fraudulent £5 vouchers to purchase £320 worth of alcohol. Having fake vouchers Read More …

Improving communication for a flexible workforce

An increasingly flexible workforce and millenials that are not only tech savvy but expect quick and expedient online services means that employers are starting to offer more efficient and accessible forms of communicating with their staff. This is especially important when it comes to key information to do with HR and payroll. Effective communication becomes even more difficult to manage as employees have more flexible working hours, or are working remotely. It’s essential to have secure infrastructure in place so they can access HR and payroll information when they’re not necessarily in the office. HR queries are dominated by Read More …

Postal blunder leaves people without polling cards

Errors in delivering polling cards to voters meant that many were left unsure of how to vote in the upcoming elections. Polling cards contain information on where and when to vote. Though one can vote without their polling card, there were concerns that people wouldn’t realise this and would not know how to look up their polling station online. Potentially, it could mean people not turning up to vote at all, with indicates clear consequences for the election. Shepway District Council was forced to write to effected electors to tell them their polling station after hundreds of people had apparently not Read More …