When it comes to communications with legal value, many companies are faced with the same doubt: what is more convenient, a certified e-mail or an online postal bureaufax?
Both methods have strengths, but they are not the same and do not serve the same purpose. Therefore, in this article we analyze in a clear and straightforward way the differences between certified email and online postal bureaufax to help you choose the most appropriate for each situation.
- Certified email: how it works. What it consists of and how it can help you record your communications.
- Online postal bureaufax: what makes it different. Why the online managed postal bureaufax is still a solid option.
- Differences. Point-by-point comparison.
- Which certified notification to choose depending on the case. Keys to identify which method is best for each type of shipment.
What is a certified email?
Certified email is a service that allows sending emails leaving legal proof of key aspects such as the time of sending, the exact content of the message and, in many cases, its opening. For companies, it is a simple way to have proof of a communication made, without the need to print or travel.
However, the legal validity of the certified email will depend on the level of evidence that can be generated by the service provider. Therefore, not all certified emails are the same.
What is an online postal burofax?
The online postal bureaufax combines the best of both worlds: digital management and physical delivery. From an online platform you can generate the content, send it and obtain acknowledgement of receipt, while delivery to the final recipient of the physical document, in the case of MailComms Group, is done through the Post Office.
This gives it a high level of reliability, since not only the content is certified, but also the delivery and the identity of the recipient.
Read on to learn more about the main differences between certified email and online postal bureaufax.
Comparison between certified email and online postal burofax
Both services seek the same thing: to provide a record of a business communication. But they do so with different guarantees and costs. Here are the main aspects compared:
- Delivery format. The certified email is sent and received digitally, while the online postal bureaufax is handled digitally, but is printed and delivered physically.
Learn how to send a certified email and protect your communications. - Legal validity and certification. Although both offer evidentiary value, the online postal bureaufax is usually more legally robust, as it proves both content and delivery, with acknowledgement of receipt and signature. Can email achieve the same level of evidence?
- Security and confidentiality. Postal mail handled by a state-owned company and delivered by a civil servant adds an extra layer of trust. Certified email can also be secure, but it depends on the qualifications of the trusted service provider involved in the service.
- Delivery time and cost. Certified e-mail is faster and cheaper. The online postal bureaufax, although slower and more expensive, compensates in contexts where more legal certainty is needed.
- Traceability and proof of receipt. Both services allow you to follow the process, but the online postal burofax even accredits the identity of the recipient, something that email does not always guarantee.
Online bureaufax or electronic notification? Find out which one best suits your business needs.
What is the best option for your company?
In view of the differences for companies, the conclusion is that it is not a matter of choosing one forever, but of knowing when to use each one.
- Certified email is useful for everyday communications where you need agility, a contained cost and certain traceability. For example, reminders, friendly requests, notices of non-payment or formal internal communications.
- The online postal burofax is recommended when there is a possible legal dispute, important claims, relevant non-payments or administrative processes in which sensitive situations need to be documented.
At MailComms Group we offer both services so that your company can choose the best option at any time without complications. Platforms such as CertySign allows you to send both notifications, allowing you to manage your certified mailings in a centralized way, without paperwork or travel.
Test our legally valid communications and strengthen the security of your corporate communications!
Frequently asked questions on the differences between certified email and online bureaufax
What is the difference between a certified email and an online postal bureaufax?
The certified email is sent by digital means and its legal validity depends on the provider and the evidence it is able to collect. The online postal bureaufax combines digital management with certified physical delivery, usually offering more reliability and legal guarantees.
Which is faster?
Certified email is immediate. The online postal burofax has a longer term as it involves physical delivery.
Which has more legal validity in case of dispute?
The online postal bureaufax has greater legal validity. It proves content, sending, delivery and recipient, which makes it more solid before a judge, especially if the sending is relevant or of high impact.
Do both methods offer traceability and record of delivery?
Yes, but with differences. The certified email can prove sending and opening. The online postal burofax adds acknowledgement of receipt and in many cases identifies the recipient.
Which one offers better security for sending confidential information?
The online postal bureaufax, since it involves the intervention of a courier service provider and hand delivery. However, a good certified email provider can also offer high levels of security.