ViaPost is a hybrid mail service. Users of the service can send physical post from their computers by downloading a print driver, uploading a letter to a website, or using a SOAP-based API.
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History
ViaPost was founded by Ben Way and Charlie Lass on 22 January 2007. David Bland OBE, formerly of PostWatch SE, became chairman shortly after the company formation.
A basic Windows version of the driver launched in summer 2008 and considerable press attention was paid to the innovative concept behind the company and software as well as the potential environmental benefits of hybrid mail.
A more advanced version, which was able to handle mail merges, launched in October 2008.
The API was made publicly available in November 2008.
Viapost Ltd. (company no. 06059866) went into administration on 12 October 2009 affecting a large number of investors and creditors. During this time Simon Campbell was CEO (Q4 2007 to Q1 2010) although it has since been taken over by ANS Group, and a new company formed. The new company maintains the Viapost name in the form of the Phoenix company “Viapost Communications Ltd.” (company no. 07037166).
Declarations from directors of Viapost Ltd. at the time it entered administration were made under rule 4.228 of the insolvency rules 1986 (United Kingdom); "NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF AN INSOLVENT COMPANY OF THE RE-USE OF A PROHIBITED NAME", permitting their return as directors of the newly formed Phoenix company Viapost Communications Ltd.
Print Driver
The core product is a Windows-compatible print driver. The driver is distributed for free. After downloading and installing the driver, the user can print a document or batch of documents from their usual software and route the document into the ViaPost system by selecting the ViaPost "printer" from their print list. That launches an application on the user's computer where the user can check and review the letter before it is actually sent to the ViaPost server. This process includes validating the address against the PAF, so only correctly formatted addresses can be sent. A requirement of downstream access (DSA) is that 90% of letters are correctly formatted, so this validation check ensures that ViaPost letters will meet DSA requirements.
If an address fails validation, the ViaPost application will reject it and mark it as failed in the queue. The user can manually amend the address in the application and try again.
Web Upload
There is also a web-based service where a user can upload a document and a corresponding mailing list. The document can be sent to everyone on the mailing list. The web service currently only handles bulk mailing (where every letter is identical apart from the address), not true mail merge (where every letter is customised for each recipient).
API
ViaPost also offer a SOAP-based API to allow developers to integrate other software with the ViaPost service. For example, a company running their accounts and other business processes on SAP could use the API to route some or all post through the ViaPost system, rather than installing the driver on every user's workstation.
Once in the ViaPost system, letters are sorted electronically and printed at a regional print hub. From the hub, they are delivered by road to the Royal Mail Inbound Mail Centre nearest the delivery location.
Usability Issues
Viapost requires upfront payment, and is unable to provide account usage statements, making it difficult for clients to monitor Viapost's use of their funds.
People
Chairman: Scott Fletcher