Accenture's fifth annual global e-government study

In the United Kingdom, the Royal Mail introduced
the SmartStamp service (www.royalmail.com/portal/
rm/onlinepostage), allowing business customers
to print postage directly from a computer. The
SmartStamp software can be used with Microsoft
Outlook address books so that users can print
stamped and addressed envelopes all at the same
time. In addition to first- and second-class mail,
SmartStamp allows users to print stamps for most
Royal Mail UK and overseas services. Businesses can
purchase one corporate account, which can then
be used by all staff—even those working remotely.
Access levels can be set, restricting stamp-printing
privileges to certain users. The service is easy to use
and even allows for personalization—businesses can
design their own stamps that add to building corporate
identity through logos, slogans and the like.
Spain has a somewhat similar service in which users
can buy and print post-paid stamps and labels for
certified mail (www.correos.es).
www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/onlinepostage
Certipost (www.certipost.be), a joint venture of
Belgacom and The Belgian Post Group, is a separate
entity created to secure and certify electronic communications.
Since its origination, it has grown to
include electronic counters, electronic invoicing, B2B
exchange hubs and the infrastructure for digital certificates.
Certipost’s online registered mail service
was launched on July 16, 2003 and is offered free
via an electronic mailbox—MyCertipost. Holders of
Belgian electronic ID cards have access to the new
service by registering online. It is also accessible by
getting a free electronic signature at one of the 125
registration offices in the country. Once registered,
users have a personal secured MyCertipost account,
which they can use for certified transactions.
Human services
Human services agencies are responsible for ensuring
the social welfare of citizens. In contrast to
revenue services, whose goal it is to bring in money
for the government, human service agencies give
benefits back to the citizen. Their services are geared
toward providing support, advice, benefits and
payments. Human services deal with the most
vulnerable members of society—the elderly, the
impoverished, children and the unemployed. As
such, they have to balance a number of unique challenges.
Their customer contact is often highly
personal, which limits to some degree the extent of
services that can be offered online. Additionally, they
must be keenly aware of making sure services are
equitably offered across all channels. These reasons
www.correos.es
www.certipost.be
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