India Post Launches Digi Frank Plus

Franklin Machine Manufacturers have come up with an India-specific solution to ensure foolproof security of funds and be futuristic in approach. I M G Khan, secretary, Department of Posts, gave a green signal to this endeavour of India Post by formally introducing two models of Remotely Managed Franking System (RMFS) Machines, one each from Neopost and Piney Bowse. These machines have been fully tested as per the laid down specifications and cleared by the Electronic Testing Machinery under the Department of Information and Technology. The new generation, digitally operated franking system, on which these machines are based, has been appropriately given the name ‘digi frank plus’.

Unlike the older machines fitted with impact printing of franks, these new franking machines will use digitally controlled inkjet printing technology and will print a clear, clean, dynamically bar-coded secure frank that may even be used to offer track and trace by the India Post. The term plus in ‘digi frank plus’ actually signifies these additional features offered by the Remotely Managed Franking System.

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RMFS primarily means that the franking machines based on this system would not be required to be physically carried to the post office for crediting. The network that India Post is setting up with the help of the franking machine manufacturers, will enable the new technology franking machine user to remotely credit his machine through dial up or any other network while sitting in his office.

The system involves setting up of Remote Resetting Centres by the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). The Department of Posts will set up their own Centre for electronically receiving fund deposit instructions from the State Bank of India, which is the designated bank for receiving payments for the franking machine credits. The franking machine users will deposit funds through cash / cheque / draft / internet banking in any branch of the State Bank of India across the country. The bank will pass on the details to the India Post Server which will authenticate the transactions and pass the necessary instructions to the OEM’s Remote Servers. The users will simply connect their machines to the OEM’s server through a telephone line and download the required funds from their accounts maintained at the Remote Servers. The complete transaction will take between 60 to 90 seconds only. The transactions will be entirely managed electronically, involving no manual intervention. This will make the process faster, convenient and secure.