What is Mailmark?
Mailmark is Royal Mail’s barcode system for business mail. It helps automate the sorting process, improve processing efficiency and can provide useful indicators into how a mailing is progressing through the postal network.
Although the barcode looks technical, most customers never need to understand exactly how it works. For businesses sending regular mailings, Mailmark is largely something that happens behind the scenes as part of the mailing preparation process.
How does Mailmark work?
Each Letter or Large Letter is printed with a unique barcode. As items move through Royal Mail’s network, the barcode can be scanned automatically, allowing the mailing to be processed more efficiently than traditional mail.
The information generated from these scans can provide insights into delivery. This can help businesses understand how a mailing is progressing through Royal Mail’s network, although it shouldn’t be thought of as the same as tracking an individual item like a parcel.
What are the benefits of Mailmark?
Mailmark offers several advantages for businesses sending regular mailings, including:
- Improved processing and delivery efficiency
- Indicators and insights into how a mailing is progressing
- Greater confidence that mail has been prepared correctly
- Potential postage savings on qualifying mailings
For businesses sending larger or regular mailings, these benefits can make Mailmark a useful part of the overall mailing process.
Does Mailmark reduce postage costs?
Mailmark itself isn’t a postage discount scheme. However, it forms part of the specifications for certain business mail services and can be associated with qualifying postage options.
The potential savings depend on the type and volume of mailing, the service being used and whether the mailing meets Royal Mail’s requirements.
This is why accurate address data and correct mailing preparation are important. Mailmark is one part of the process rather than a shortcut to cheaper postage.
Do I need to understand Mailmark?
Not really. Most organisations simply want their mailing to be prepared correctly, processed efficiently and to qualify for the best available postage options.
For most businesses, Mailmark works behind the scenes. Your mailing house or mailing provider can take care of the technical requirements while you concentrate on the campaign itself.
Does every mailing use Mailmark?
No. Mailmark is primarily used for business mailings prepared to Royal Mail’s specifications. Smaller mailings sent with ordinary stamps or standard franking would not normally use Mailmark.
Whether Mailmark is appropriate depends on the type of mailing, the postage service being used and the requirements of the campaign.
Summary
Mailmark is Royal Mail’s barcode system for business mail. It helps improve processing efficiency and can provide useful indicators and insights into how mailings are progressing through the postal network.
Although it works largely behind the scenes, Mailmark plays an important role in preparing qualifying business mail for the postal network and can form part of a mailing strategy designed to achieve efficient processing and the best available postage options.