Quantum is the leading Circulation and Free Newspaper Distribution software in the UK and uniquely integrates PAF data and digital maps onto a solution which covers: Canvassing, Marketing, Direct Delivery, Subscriptions, Reader Clubs, Free Newspaper Distribution, National and Local Leaflet Booking, Newsagent and Wholesaler Publishing, Digital Street Mapping.
The flexibility of the Direct Delivery System provides the user with an unparalleled degree of control over the management and operation of a DD network.
Individual household balances are maintained by the system, in conjunction with a range of different payment schemes. The extent of the schemes available offers users protection from future legislative changes to cash collection by minors.
Alternatively, rather than maintain household balances, the system can be used to manage DD customers as part of a single supply point at either agent or delivery round level.
Although the prospect of maintaining individual balances across a large-scale network may seem daunting, the system has been designed to minimise the level of administration involved. In addition, the integrated relationship between the Direct Delivery, the Canvassing and the Circulation systems removes the need for double keying of new orders and supply alterations.
Digital Mapping
As a Licensed Partner with the Ordnance Survey we can identify and supply a range of maps to be used in conjunction with our software modules. Currently our map layers make use of OS StreetView and Strategi. These provide the user with detailed fully post-coded information at street level and 1:50,000 layers to include electoral ward boundaries. The map tiles are seamlessly presented to interface with existing data stored on the application. The interactive link between the data sets allows the user to view a socio-demographic profile of the distribution area at round or street level.
PAF Data
Miles 33 is a Value Added Reseller for the Royal Mail. As such we can source your data requirements directly and provide you with regular updates. In addition to the competitive rates we offer it also means that any new installations are pre-loaded with the full address records for the postcodes you determine. The information is provided at individual household level and includes businesses as well as residential records.
The system facilities allow to to perform a rapid search for specific addresses, group a range of addresses on screen for street listings and export identified lists to mail merge. As an additional service we can match existing household data with the correct PAF record to clean existing data.
The Canvassing System is based on a household database of a newspaper’s entire circulation area. As a Value Added Reseller for the Royal Mail we are ideally placed to source your data requirements. A wide range of data, stored on the database, may be used to target specific audiences. Examples include current readership habits, socio-economic groups, with or without telephone numbers and previous contact with the newspaper.
The system may be configured for a telesales team working from a pc network or through a web-based environment using smartphones. Mass market mail-shot canvassing represents a third option.
The key to any canvassing success ultimately rests on the quality of the data used. Part of the system has been designed for rapid data entry. In addition, comprehensive extraction methods are available. As a result highly selective targeting becomes a viable option.
Accurate retention figures are on hand to measure the success and costs of all canvassing activity. Comprehensive data export facilities allow a number of other third party applications to be used, such as word processing, spreadsheets plus integrated modules.
The Circulation System addresses the publishing, sales and distribution requirements for daily, weekly and monthly paid for newspapers. A comprehensive set of system functions provide for the accurate management of a newspaper’s supply network, to include wholesale, retail and direct delivered outlets.
Key areas include supply maintenance; print figures; label and driver manifests; box-outs; stacker interface; returns; invoicing and reporting. Additional features extend to automatic supply tracking; bar-coding and scanning returns; remote links to wholesalers.
Simple and comprehensive access to supply data enables the user to rapidly target specific groups for sales action. When used to its full potential, the Circulation system can significantly reduce the administrative time required to manage supplies while ensuring a high level of availability.
National and International postal copies are handled by the Subscription System. A comprehensive diary booking facility caters for regular, irregular and single purchases. A selection of multiple label formats provides a number of mailing options, coupled with Mailsort options for bulk discounts.
Embedded links between the Subscription System and the Circulation System provide the user with an automated transfer of subscriber copies onto the daily supply file. This in turn updates the overall sales figure, including where appropriate, the ABC values.
Subscriber details once recorded are easily accessible via a number of search facilities. Alternative delivery address details may be associated with an account in addition to unique comments.
Rates are associated with a package. The overall amount charged is determined by the number of copies selected and the specific week days chosen. The user may also attach a postal charge over the newspaper rate. The amount charged will depend on the postal zone, the pagination and the corresponding weight of the paper.
Discounts may be built into the rates depending on the length of the package. Long-term repeat subscriptions may be configured with a price discount for example.
The calendar screen with colour-coded insertion dates allows for a quick visual check of the subscription. Irregular buying patterns are easily catered for with little additional user input.
A range of payment options may be used to process the order including credit card and direct debit. Weekly file transfers to the Accounts department identify payment details of all orders processed, filtered by payment type.
Subscriptions can be set to automatically renew or alternatively the record can be flagged to send a reminder a fortnight prior to expiry. One-off subscriptions may be excluded from the process.
As part of an integrated system or as a single module, the Free Newspaper and Leaflet Booking System caters for all requirements, whether a single publication or a regional distribution centre.
In addition to keeping apace with legislative requirements the system allows centres to focus on leaflet sales. By absorbing the administrative tasks involved with managing a distribution network, the system releases selling time. Managerial efficiency benefits from decision-making based on accurate and readily available information.
An impressive client list, including some of the largest distribution centres in the country, serve as testament to the comprehensive nature of the system.
As a Royal Mail appointed VAR and a Licensed Partner with Ordnance Survey, Miles 33 is uniquely positioned to offer a single solution to digital mapping. The Mapping System is a street level application that currently integrates with the Free Newspaper and Leaflet system, although this will be expanded to other products in our portfolio in due course. Used in conjunction with the resident PAF data, the system provides a visual representation of a newspaper’s distribution area at postcode, round and street level.
Based on Ordnance Survey StreetView maps (1:10,000) the system provides a wide range of interrogation tools to analyse existing coverage, socio-demographic profiles and projected changes to distribution areas.
The interactive nature of the system extends to a mapped representation of leaflet orders either within the distribution area or solus orders outside the existing round structure.
