Press Release: 4 August 2011

Pitney Bowes Batsumi’s efficient mailstream solutions bring dynamic workflow to busy Government departments

Government departments, parastatals and municipalities together generate more mail than any other single entity. Huge volumes of invoices and other printed communication, unless managed systematically and automatically, can cause massive backlogs which in time pose major issues in terms of cashflow.

Pitney Bowes Batsumi Enterprise, a highly-rated Black Economic Empowerment company headed by dynamic and energetic entrepreneur, Thoko Gumede, was formed in 2008 in association with global mailstream company, Pitney Bowes South Africa to provide tailor-made solutions to these mailstream issues.

Thoko and her highly motivated team have spent the last two-and-a-half years carving a niche for Batsumi in both the private sector and within the various Government departments. “The company has grown substantially in this period and we have gained a reputation in the market as being a reliable, service-oriented company that goes the extra mile for its customers,” Thoko says.

Thoko acknowledges that although the company has reason to be proud of its status as the first BEE mailstream company to be headed by a Black woman, she does not believe this is the only reason for the company’s ongoing success with government departments. “Apart from the fact that I am well-suited to this environment, having gained extensive managerial experience when I ran the national and provincial elections in KwaZulu-Natal, Batsumi has made its mission one of devising customised solutions that provide Government with maximised productivity and minimised downtime.”

Thoko points out that the success of the company also hinges on the uncompromising quality of its product offering. “As part of the Pitney Bowes Group, we have access to a range of high-tech mailstream products which have been tried and tested in the most demanding environments. I feel confident each and every time that I assess a customer’s specific needs and recommend a product package suited to them, that the installed system will provide them with unrelenting service.”

The feedback from Government departments that have implemented Batsumi mailstreaming solutions has been very encouraging. “We had an instance where we received a call from a Government department at 11:00 asking for a system to be provided the same day. This required drawing on our inherent capabilities to provide a seamless, instantaneous solution within a matter of hours. Needless to say, the customer was very satisfied with the service levels we exhibited.”

In another example of the Batsumi team’s ability to overcome seemingly impossible situations, a bottleneck at a large Government department’s billing section was rendered obsolete with a system that incorporated a DI425 paper folding machine, coupled to an envelope insertion machine and a franking machine. “The department had previously employed a manual system, which resulted in lengthy delays in getting bills out to customers. Within days, the Batsumi workflow solution had reduced the pile of papers to a controllable level,” says Thoko.

Thoko explains that the company provides maintenance contracts for its customers and equipment is available on either an outright purchase basis, on a rental basis or as a rent-to-purchase option. “Each customer’s requirements are individually assessed by our technical team to ensure that the system we select will provide them with maximised productivity and reduced running costs.”

Thoko says that while the mailstream solutions provided to Government are similar in makeup to the solutions implemented in the private sector, one big differentiator is the time period required from tendering to orders being signed. “Unfortunately, there is a more complex hierarchy within Government departments, which means that more people are involved in the approvals and purchasing process. However, being cognisant and sympathetic to this fact has won us great favour with the people we deal with in this environment.”

About Pitney Bowes Batsumi Enterprise 

Pitney Bowes Batsumi was formed in 2008 in association with global mailstream company, Pitney Bowes South Africa, and is a highly-rated Black Economic Empowerment company ( Level 1 BEE-rated), supplying Pitney Bowes consumables such as print cartridges and envelopes to the South African market; and other Pitney Bowes mailstream products and solutions, with the support of Pitney Bowes South Africa, who have 89 years experience in the mailstream industry. Batsumi is black majority-owned by 51%, with Gumede owning 26%, Rewards (Gumede’s other co-owned incentives company) having a 25% stake, and Pitney Bowes South Africa owning the remaining 49%. Editorial Contacts Kendal Hunt PR Consultant & Writer Kendal Hunt Communications 011 – 7045649 or kendal@kendalhunt.co.za