Since 2015, digital mailboxes for residents have saved public companies over one billion kronor. It results based on calculations by the Norwegian Directorate of Digital Affairs. In the case of the private sector, the gains are likely to be much higher.
The calculation is based on savings in shipping, paper and materials. In addition to financial benefits, cost-effective environmental benefits and increased information security, as well as improved working hours and procedures.
- This calculation shows that the digital mailbox (Digipost) is a successful digitization project for the authorities with positive effects for society as a whole. We've been aware of the benefits and potential for a long time, and it's fun to achieve such a milestone. Increasing the number of broadcasters and recipients will ensure greater profits in the coming years, says Thomas Mathisen, head of Digipost.
Digitization for everyone
The fact that the authorities in their time chose a market model for the development of digital mailboxes also allowed private companies to digitize shipments of sensitive information and documents with personal data.
Private companies sent significantly more mail than public companies. If the same computational model is used as a basis, the actual financial gains for digital mailboxes are much larger than 1 billion NOK.
- Many companies experience that streamlining their work processes has more benefits than the financial benefits of sending mail. 2,6 million people using digital mailboxes also have a simpler overview of important messages than private and public. This would not be possible if the infrastructure was not accessible to everyone.
Digital mailboxes make a positive contribution
The purpose of the digital mailbox was in its time so that the administration could send digital letters to the residents. This should both streamline the procedure and ensure financial savings, but as society evolved, benefits beyond price became an incentive in itself.
Internet fraud and the abuse of brand and identity have become increasingly common, while awareness of making climate and environmentally friendly choices has increased. Digital mailboxes make a positive contribution in both areas.
- It's important to look at what we're adding to a valuable society beyond purely financial gain. Security is our most important asset and we are particularly concerned about the security of digital mailboxes they provide to users and businesses compared to other communication channels. There are no other channels that have verifiable senders and recipients, which provides protection against internet abuse and fraud, concludes Mathisen.
Source: Norwegian Post
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