CFS and Xerox sign £12 million mail handling deal

Co-operative Financial Services (CFS) has signed a 12 million deal with Xerox, with the aim of transforming its current mail-handling processes into a fully automated e-mailroom.

CFS is an Industrial and Provident Society which brought together Co-operative Insurance (CIS), The Co-operative Bank and the internet bank Smile in 2002. It hopes the Xerox agreement will change the group's business and document processes, and improve customer service.

The CFS also said the deal would help its aim in leading the way on ethical, environmental and community matters as well as allowing it to be sustainable and efficient. The Co-operative Insurance and The Co-operative Bank said they try to implement ethical policies.

"By adhering to the highest ethical standards, reducing our waste wherever possible and curtailing our energy usage we will significantly increase our capability and credentials," said Dick Parkhouse, executive director for strategy and change at CFS.

Under the agreement Xerox will roll out through six years and five stages a new mail handling and distribution system. It is claimed 10,000 incoming pieces of mail will be scanned, identified, categorised and indexed each day.

CFS hopes in time that the integrated enterprise distribution offered using language recognition technology will allow it to handle all of its information electronically.

"The key to successful business transformation is understanding how to combine industry expertise, workflow processes and advanced technology," said director and general manager for Xerox Global Service, Xerox UK Peter Romaine.