As of 2020, according to The House of Commons Library Business Statistics Report, there were over 6 million small to medium enterprises (SMEs) in the UK, making up over 99% of businesses across the country. These types of organisations typically have fewer than 250 employees, whilst accounting collectively for the largest type of business to employ UK residents.
SMEs form part of all sectors within the UK including energy, materials, industrials, consumer discretionary, consumer staples, health care, financials and information technology and touch consumer lives daily, whether directly or indirectly, playing a critical role for both the individual and the economy.
With this in mind, SMEs understand the importance of getting communication right, in order to drive positive engagement with their audiences, and reflect their changing requirements. This concept is best explained by using a unified communications approach which in short is the adoption of different media formats to engage with the end audience.
Unified communications take a ‘customer first’ approach allowing organisations to bring their clients on a journey with them.
Communication is vital for all types of organisations, not just SMEs. And getting it right, is even more important.
Sending effective communication is the start of building an engaged audience base and helping businesses succeed in an increasingly challenging marketplace.
Many SMEs, find themselves in saturated markets, where competition is fierce and getting the right clientele through the door is even more challenging. By using a unified business communication method, businesses have the ability to communicate with their audiences in a way that best drives engagement, delivers results and increases sales and/or brand awareness - depending on the desired outcome.
Different types of business communications work for different types of SMEs - communication is not a one size fits all approach anymore and audience expectations are increasing in line with what the market has to offer.
For example, the way in which a dentist engages with their patients may require a different unified mixture of communication than that required by an accountant. SMEs need to understand the composition of their market, who their audiences are and what media formats they choose to engage with in order to communicate with them effectively.
Research in fact shows that consumers engage best with a blend of communication, but with limited resources and not enough hours in the day, how do SMEs manage this within their daily tasks?
Hybrid communications are a digital-first approach to sending business communications, direct to the end audience straight from a PC or laptop.
For SMEs hybrid communication solutions offer the ability to engage, re-engage and connect with their different audiences, in a variety of formats including print, SMS and digital delivery. Utilising the perfect blend of automated communications that hybrid mail offers, SMEs develop an engaged target market, whilst continually reaching their desired outcomes.
Hybrid solutions have therefore become increasingly popular over the last 12 months, acting as a vital tool within an organisation’s portfolio. This type of solution allows business communications to be managed from all working locations, being adaptable and flexible for both office and remote-based workers.
Time saved - No more standing at the printer, folding envelopes or trips to the post office. Instantly send printed communications directly from your PC or laptop directly to your end audience.
Save up to 59% on each document sent - Removing the resources required to produce postal communications, hybrid mail consolidates the cost for you with a saving of 59% on each document sent in comparison to traditional business mail methods.
No hidden costs - Some hybrid mail software is free to use, you only pay for the documents you send. There is no contract or minimum quantity, it’s an easy, online printing service for all your communication requirements.
Highly customisable - Send personalised documents and envelopes at scale, with ease all from one secure online account. Include your own letterheads, logos, images and a whole host of other features.
Ease of use - Hybrid mail allows you to simply print from your desktop, laptop or Mac and easily manage your communications from the secure online portal, making it easy to work remotely or in the office.
Flexible & scalable - Your documents can be printed in black and white or in colour. From one page or 100+ pages, 1st or 2nd class post – the choice is yours. You simply tell the provider how you would like it printed and they take care of everything else.
100% security approved - Most hybrid mail systems are GDPR compliant, secure and supported by the vert technologies to keep your data and communication safe.
But where do you find a hybrid mail provider that you can trust, whilst guaranteeing you receive these benefits?
CFH Docmail Limited are an award-winning communications provider offering a secure, trusted hybrid mail solution that is used by over 30,000 organisations to streamline business communications.
Used by SMEs for the management and sending of every day and bulk communications, the hybrid mail solution Docmail has been adopted at a rapid pace over the last 2 years, as businesses find their working environments evolve along with COVID-19. The solution provides impressive savings for both time and money, helps drive audience engagement and deliver real business outcomes.
For a free communication review and to find out more information on hybrid mail, please get in touch below and one of our sector experts will be in touch.
Fife-based Electricity Asset Services, specializing in electrical and civil engineering, employs CFH's Docmail system for improved communication with Scottish Power and staff.
Hybrid mail helps drive engagement and inform local residents on road, lighting and footway maintenance.
