It can be difficult to estimate the costs of the alternative. However if you use mail, fax or post to your colleagues or customers then you can gain an instant benefit by sending the message electronically. We estimate that E-Mail can save around ú10 per month based on paper costs alone.
ú10 per month
Business Finder
Unlimited
Free
Compared to the alternative of Paper, CD ROM or calling 192 if you only look up 10 numbers per week then this will save more than the monthly Tel-Me license charge.
ú10 per month based on 10 numbers per week.
Teledirectory
Up to 250 searches at 12p per search, returning up to 2,500 numbers
12p per search
Searching for a phone number can costs more than you think. You can use directory enquiries at 25p a time, CD ROM based services that are out of date when you get them (with 200,000 updates per week this can be considerable), or use Tel-Me Teledirectory at half the cost of 192
ú31.25 compared with 250 directory enquiry searches from BT
Thomson Classified
Up to 250 searches or download a mailing list of 450 businesses
12p a search or ú75/1,000 addresses or ú115/1,000 with numbers
450 business names and addresses from a mailing list would typically be way below the minimum order value (usually ú500). Or you could have a clerk type in 400 names from a directory - typically this would only take two days - at ú10/hour this would cost ú160
Anywhere from ú130 to ú470
Infocheck
2 financial analyses
ú15 each
Use a company searches agency - takes far longer and the costs can be higher
ú30
CCN
3 Risk Index and credit opinions
ú9 each
One-Off's via a credit checking agency can be over ú30 each
ú60
What's New In Business
Unlimited headlines, 5 free articles then 20 at ú1.50 each
Headlines are Free, articles ú1.50 each (first five per month free)
A typical cutting agency charges ú50 per month for EACH two key words they search on and then 50p per article. And you can't tell until you get the cuttings whether they're going to be relevant
ú30 based on min charge of ú50 per month and 50p per article
News and Weather
600 news articles
Last 2 hours for free. Today's UK weather for Free. 5p per article downloaded from PA news
Your own live news feed could cost a great deal. Even just buying the FT every day adds up to over ú14 per month
ú14 - ú1,000 per month
Journey Planning and Roadwatch
176 routes with AA Roadwatch information
12p per route + 5p for Roadwatch information
There's no real alternative that allows you to plan the fastest route. Traffic jams are estimated to cost UK business over ú10Bn per annum
Up to ú30 per week based on more efficient routes and fewer delays
OS Mapper
60, 7.5KM main road maps AND 750m street maps
50p per enquiry
Town street maps typically costs ú3.50 each and you can only usually get them when you're near your destination
ú180
Postcoder
Up to 600 searches
5p per search
Manually look up Postcodes in directories or buy Postcoding software
Up to ú500 - 600 manual searches would take one person over 50 hours
DeskMail
Send over 60 letters electronically for postal delivery the next working day
48p each
Send via ordinary post - you need an envelope, have to print out the letter and then post it. Total cost estimated at ú2.00 - allowing for your time
ú120 at least
Worldspan
200 flight sectors (a journey may have several legs or sectors)
15p per sector
Spend a great deal of time talking to your travel agent. Typically at least an hour of your time per journey and it may highlight a significantly better price or more convenient route/time.
Save 1 hour per flight enquiry
Expotel
Unlimited
Free
Can save up to 44% off the published room rates
ú30 per month based on two nights per month stay in average hotels
British Rail
200 enquiries
15p per enquiry
Call British Rail enquiries. Call charges will at least equal this - but the time taken will be much longer.
Typically saves 5 minutes each time you call. Saves up to 1 hour a week for the regular traveler
AA Travelogue
100 enquiries
30p per enquiry
Manually search gazetteers etc. Travelogue identifies the most convenient and suitable hotel