How to Save Money and Get Paid - Wind, Rain or Shine
Small businesses waste hours preparing, sending and opening mail. They depend upon an ever more expensive and notoriously unreliable service to send important information to the right people, and hope they will receive it on time and intact.
Ashley Commercial Finance has already implemented a failsafe solution to this problem. The small business invoice finance specialist uses Virtual Mail Room (VMR), a company based in Twickenham. VMR overcomes the traditional problems of snail-mail by allowing Ashley to send its mail electronically, via email or fax. What would amount to a mountain of envelopes is delivered to all the recipients at the click of a mouse. Speed and flexibility are the goals and with customers paying faster Ashley is able to provide its clients with an even better service.
A recent survey conducted by The Federation of Small Businesses has called for a shake-up of postal services. The survey of more than 3,000 small businesses across the UK found that the introduction of Pricing in Proportion by Royal Mail has increased postage costs for 43 per cent of firms and time spent on preparing the mail for 44 per cent of businesses, with 48 per cent of firms reporting that their mail arrives later.
Steve Hart, Ashley’s IT Director, recognised that VMR would make a valuable contribution to Ashley’s service. He wasn’t wrong! Not only does the VMR solution speed up mail delivery, VMR report back to Ashley on the delivery of each item. Paper usage is reduced with the obvious environmental advantages; cost savings are made in reduced labour, paper and postage.
Operations Director of Ashley Commercial Finance, Jayne Merriman, said:
“Using Virtual Mail Room makes good business sense, both for us and our clients. Speed of service is so important in finance and Ashley has been able to improve its service to clients. We have saved more than 50 per cent of what it would cost Ashley to use an envelope and a stamp, not to mention the time element that is saved by outsourcing. We save money for every one of thousands of letters that are distributed electronically, which equates to a four figure saving for Ashley.”
Mickel Bak, Director of VMR, said:
“Ashley was quick to see the advantages of our system and has been very responsive to our suggestions. Ashley was an early adopter of this technology and has migrated from using a 100 per cent hand prepared and delivered postal service in 2003 to more than 80 per cent of their post sent electronically, ensuring therefore the majority of their clients are getting their documentation within hours. This initiative and other activities have given Ashley great green credentials. Embracing this technology has created real benefits in the way Ashley works. Ashley will be communicating with their clients independently of postal strikes, increased postal traffic or inclement weather.”
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Ashley Commercial Finance is a truly independent invoice finance company, with no ties to banks or other financial institutions. Ashley provides invoice finance for the smaller business (including start ups and turnarounds) across England and Wales. Ashley has offices in Manchester, London, Leeds and Bristol. The company has almost 200 clients with turnovers between £50,000 and £1.5 million. They range from printers to road haulage companies, recruitment agencies to taxi firms, recycling companies to IT organisations.
Ashley provides ongoing finance for a business at up to 90% of the value of a client’s sales ledger, which, coupled with professional credit control, makes invoice finance an attractive option for a growing business and a smarter alternative to an overdraft. As the facility is based on a percentage of turnover, the funding available grows with the business. Ashley’s independence and lack of bureaucracy means that funding can be in place for new clients to draw down within 24 hours of receiving sales invoices and at the lowest minimum fee. Full Online Account Access enables clients to obtain account information 24 hours a day.
Unlike many other invoice finance companies, Ashley allows clients to choose which accounts they factor, thus avoiding paying unnecessary fees.
In response to client demand, Ashley launched an asset finance facility in June 2005. This is available for anything from computers, telephone systems and office equipment, through to company vehicles, yellow plant and machinery.
There is a great step by step “Guide to Invoice Finance’ and more information about the company at www.ashleyfinance.co.uk. You can contact Ashley on 0161 741 7410 for your free copy of their guide to “Being Paid on Time.’
Ashley Commercial Finance is a patron of the National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers (NACFB) and a member of Federation of Small Businesses.
Editors notes:
Photos (300dpi plus) and further press information available (including press packs) at Marketing Projects’ web site in the press office for Ashley Commercial Finance at http://www.marketingprojects.co.uk/admin/clients/ashley-commercial-finance/articles/how-to-save-money-and-get-paid-wind-rain-or-shine-2/edit
Virtual Mail Room Ltd (VMR) is a service company which was founded in June 1999. The management team has more than 25 years of experience in the provision of outsourced data handling and electronic messaging services to both domestic and international clientele. The company is based in Twickenham, near London, UK. For more information visit: http://www.vmailroom.co.uk/
Press Contact: Jane Harrad-Roberts Consultant Director, Marketing Projects Email: jane@marketingprojects.co.uk Mobile: +44 7785 395705 Tel: +44 1244 330000 Press hotline: +44 1244 330101
Company Contact: Jayne Merriman Operations Director, Ashley Commercial Finance Email: jayne.merriman@ashleyfinance.co.uk Tel: 0161 741 7400
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