Royal Mail Services
Inland letters which are distinguished into first class and second class. First class letters are more urgent; they are charged more and delivered next day. Second class letters are cheaper and are delivered within three days. Charges depend on their weight and size.
Business reply service. The users of this service enclose in their communications an unstamped envelope or reply card and pay postal charges only on the replies received. This is a system of encouraging replies from potential customers.
Freepost service is designed to encourage prospective customers to make enquiries or answer advertisements without paying postal charges. Replies bear a special address and the word 'Freepost' and are posted without a stamp.
Registered letters service is useful for sending money or items of value such as jewellery. This service includes an insurance fee which is dependent on the value, proof of posting and signature on delivery.
Recorded delivery service is useful for sending documents. The service has no special security but a signature from the consignee is always required on delivery.
Datapost is a same day or overnight courier service for documents and other items which are collected and delivered door-to-door. This service is for customers with a regular contract.
Cash on delivery (COD) service is provided for mail order companies. The postman will collect payment for the sender and an invoice is enclosed stating the amount to be paid.
Express service is provided for parcels, letters and printed paper. Items travel with the ordinary mail to the delivery office from where they are taken and delivered by a messenger. This service is also available to all overses countries. Air mail items carry a 'Swiftair' label and receive express delivery abroad
Intelpost is an electronic service using facsimile equipment to transmit copies of documents to 32 countries throughout the world. Such documents are transmitted by facsimile, telex or microcomputer to an Intelpost centre which delivers them the same day.
Data transmission services include telegrams, telex, teletex, fax, E-mail. Overseas telegrams may be sent to most parts of the world, to ships in port, to aircraft at airports, to trains at railway stations abroad.
A Business Reply Card
The working knowledge of business English demands that people engaged in business acquire ability in the use of the most common channels of communication. Effective use of these media implies the possession of the language skills necessary to communicate and the knowledge of the principal forms of written communication. Language oral skills are very important when it comes to do a telephone conversation or any act of oral reporting. Apart from the traditional and still important business letter, the different types of written information comprise memos, advertisements and coupon ads, fill-in forms, telex and fax messages, and, of course, the wide range of office paper work regarding orders, invoices, statements, etc.
The Automated Office
The automated office is an office that exploits information advanced technologies and organizes office work around the automatic control of information flow. The new pattern of work is made up by the basic activities of collecting, processing and communicating information and is supported by an integrated system of hi-tech tools and machines. Among the most common are: word processors, data processing systems, electronic files, electronic mail, electronic typewriter, computer, telex and fax machines, modem, scanner, laser printer, copiers and duplicating machines, software applications (graphics, communications, database, spreadsheet, desk top publishing, utilities, etc.).
Electronic Tools
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