In 2010, 1.9 billion e-mailers sent 107 trillion e-mails [1]. If past trends continue, this figure will grow exponentially in 2011. The impact of Facebook and Gmail's new e-mail enhancements are also going to drive the use of e-mail into an always on and always available communication tool.
“It is evident that e-mail is still the killer app, with e-mail billing being a natural extension - the inbox is rapidly replacing the post-box. Although eBill Consolidators are all marketing a single place for storing your bill, the inbox remains the perfect and preferred consolidator,” says Mike Wright, CEO of Striata.
Wright believes that Europe is ready for e-mail billing: “Striata is doing well in the UK market - our secure 'push' e-mail delivery technology enables billers to deliver fully encrypted, secure electronic versions of bills or statements directly to their customer's inboxes. Organisations across Europe are starting to realise the benefits of e-billing, namely environmental, cost - paper and postage savings, immediacy - for payment, and customer convenience - the e-mail bill is delivered directly to their inbox.”
Peter Kwakernaak, CEO of AcceptEmail, says: “Like Striata in the UK, AcceptEmail is doing well in the Benelux. AcceptEmail is an innovative, simple and secure electronic payment solution that also utilises the power and reach of e-mail. Managing your bills from your inbox and getting real-time status updates on the payment process makes eBills so much more convenient for both senders and receivers.”
The results of paperless adoption initiatives have continued to disappoint. While the inbox is the logical electronic equivalent to the mailbox, most billers have opted to rather build self-serve portals. According to Striata and AcceptEmail, this is where paperless adoption falls down.
Says Wright: “Customers are being asked to replace the convenience of a paper bill with the process of registering, plus remembering another unique username and password for each and every biller, as well as up to three consolidators. Mass adoption of paperless process will only occur when the alternative is as easy as the status quo. Opening an e-mail is as easy as opening a paper document; in fact, it's even more convenient with the functionality that e-mail delivery enables.”
Billers looking to speed up payments should also consider the merits of e-mail delivery. Companies like Striata and AcceptEmail provide customers with the ability to pay directly off the face of the e-mail or the attached PDF bill.
Says Kwakernaak: “Our clients have seen a dramatic reduction of up to 15 days in DSO (days sales outstanding) through the introduction of e-mail billing. It's a win-win situation, if you want to save money on billing and collection, increase customer service and reduce your DSO, then use e-mail billing - all you need is your customer's e-mail address to get started.”
[1] According to Web monitoring service Royal Pingdom.
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AcceptEmail
Based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, AcceptEmail deploys a comprehensive e-billing and payment service. AcceptEmail combines the power of e-mail with the ease of online payments in a complete, safe and accessible SaaS solution. The service of AcceptEmail, which can be used throughout Europe, is now used by over 100 companies and institutions, including T-Mobile, Nuon, Ziggo, Cordaid, neckermann.com, UPC, AB Inbev, Santander and many others. For more information on the company and the service, please visit: http://www.acceptemail.com.
Striata
Striata's Secure eDocument Delivery and Email Bill Presentment and Payment (EBPP) are solution sets that deliver a rapid reduction in operational costs, quicker payments and an enhanced customer experience.
Striata revolutionises the way bills, statements, policies, collection notices, letters, paystubs and other high volume system-generated documents are delivered and paid. Registration requirements are eliminated by e-mailing feature rich, interactive, encrypted documents directly to the inbox and enabling innovative 1-click electronic payment from within the document itself. Direct e-mail delivery of bills and statements dramatically increases customer adoption of electronic documents, paper turn off and ePayments. This enables Striata's clients to achieve rapid ROI; complement their existing self-service and e-communication strategies; significantly reduce paper output; and to meet their carbon footprint/environmental impact targets.
As a leading international provider of electronic messaging since 1999, with more than 200 blue chip customers, Striata has operations in New York, London, Sydney, Johannesburg, Hong Kong and partners in North, Central and South America, Europe and Asia Pacific. Web site: http://www.striata.com
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