Digital postage stamp company Stamp Free Limited has launched its Stamp Free Digital Postage Solution for the postal and logistics sectors that it believes is the world’s first stamp to be offered by a company independent of state-owned postal services.
The Stamp Free Digital Postage Solution allows businesses and consumers to use the Stamp Free app to send parcels and letters as well as return consumer goods without the need for a postage stamp, or printing a postage stamp at home, by utilizing machine handwriting recognition as a core part of its technology.
The three key components of the solution are:
Digicode
- Eliminates need to visit a shop or post office for stamps, or printing digital stamps or label at home.
- Customers can select the mail product (letter or parcel) and pay the exact postage amount via the Stamp Free app, or integrated postal carrier app.
- The customer receives a Digicode which they write on the mail item, which is scanned/validated by the app.
- Item to be mailed as normal.
Shipcode
- Targeted at marketplace sellers, mailroom functions and small businesses that post frequently.
- Eliminates requirement for the need of franking machines or parcel shipping solutions.
Easycode
- Aimed at making online product returns easy for customer and cost-effective for retailer.
- Eliminates the need for returns labels included with products sold or printed off.
- Customers wishing to return items purchased online, receive their Easycode via the Stamp Free mobile app or the retailer’s website, which they write on the item before returning it.
- Items are returned at a local locker, drop-off point or posted.
All three solutions also benefit the postal carriers by removing issues associated with postage stamps such as fraud, liabilities and cost of printing. By having access to data on the postings made through the app, ensures they are paid correctly for the items they handle.
The company has also announced it has raised £300,000 (US$416,000) to ramp up commercial traction and further develop the Stamp Free Digital Postage Solution.
Stamp Free’s founder and managing director, Hugh Craigie Halkett, commented, “This investment enables us to conclude our product validation stage with a number of engaged postal companies as we look to disrupt a market that has been rapidly expanding under Covid and will continue to do so thereafter.”