Top 6 Things to Consider – Mail and Package Screening

Top 6 Things to Consider – Mail and Package Screening

CMS has been providing our Clients’ with a wide array of Mail and Package screening services ever since the attacks on 9/11 in NYC and all around the country.  Security of your people and your business is paramount to business continuity and avoiding negative personal and business impacts.
  1. Keep your people safe!
    • Maintaining a safe and secure workplace is the number 1 priority of all companies, regardless of industry vertical or type of business.  If your people are not feeling safe in the workplace it is very difficult to stay focused on the task at hand.
  2. Loss of Revenue and Productivity
    • Each company is different in the function of their Headquarters locations.  For example, a Financial Firm being evacuated could result in loss of valuable trading hours and missed opportunities.  A retail organization with offices combined with Distribution Centers could experience a loss in product shipments and revenue, a TV/Movie Studio would lose valuable production time.  The valuation of disruption depends on the operation, which we can help you assess.
  3. Threat Level
    • Is your organization a low or high profile threat?  The level of screening and location of screening services should be developed to match the level of threat your company is exposed to.  This depends on your industry, leadership, location and current procedures to name a few of the main factors.
  4. Location
    • Mail and package screening can be done On-Site, Near-Site or Off-Site to best reduce any risks and threats.  CMS provides all three types of services for our clients in order to match the risk and methods of screening.  Many of the intercepted packages were handled at a near or off-site facility supporting the companies in question.
  5. Methods and Capabilities
    • All of the CMS mail operations have the standard USPS Suspicious Mail and Package information available on-site for manual inspection.  The 21 Specific Indicators of a suspicious package are extremely useful in identifying these items, as they were in the case of all of the recent packages sent in October 2018.  A CMS Security Assessment would look at the need for additional equipment such as X-Ray equipment, Explosive Trace Detection equipment, K-9 support, ventilation systems, etc.  Weighing the cost and risk is key in identifying the methods of screening required.
  6. Deciding What to Screen
    • Just as important as where and how is the WHAT!  Major couriers like FedEx and UPS have X-Ray and K-9 capabilities in their distribution centers to make it more difficult to get suspicious packages through.  The USPS is only able to perform manual checks so Post Office Mail is always a top priority for screening.  The second is local messenger and courier items that are hand delivered by non-uniformed couriers.
The recent mail bombs sent is a reminder that close attention needs to be paid to what is coming in and out of your building to maintain a safe workplace and ensure business continuity.  If you are interested in a security assessment of your current operations and potential risks, reach out to CMS to be paired with a Subject Matter Expert that can help evaluate your needs.

More from our blog

Top 6 Things to Consider – Mail and Package Screening

CMS has been providing our Clients’ with a wide array of Mail and Package screening services ever since the attacks on 9/11 in NYC and all around the country.  The recent mail bombs sent is a reminder that close attention needs to be paid to what is coming in and out of your building to maintain a safe workplace and ensure business continuity. 

Top 4 Change Management Decisions

Top 4 Change Management Decisions

One of the biggest projects we work hand-in-hand on with our clients is process change within their organizations. This process change could be regarding services, technology, space, equipment or any other support provided to employees for the day to day activities in your office.

Is now the time to Introduce AI to your Organization?

Is now the time to Introduce AI to your Organization?

The hottest term in our everyday life seems to be Artificial Intelligence. What used to be a Sci-Fi movie theme is now in our homes, cars, cell phones and making its way into our offices.

Top 4 Change Management Decisions

Top 4 Change Management Decisions

Top 4 Change Management Decisions

One of the biggest projects we work hand-in-hand on with our clients is process change within their organizations.  This process change could be regarding services, technology, space, equipment or any other support provided to employees for the day to day activities in your office.
  1. Timing is everything!
    • If you are moving to a new office location or restacking an existing office space it is prime time to look at initiatives that have been on the back burner. Simple changes that employees may normally find undesirable (like walking an extra 15 feet to a central printer) become just a part of a new and exciting transition within the company.
  2. Change Philosophy – Mandates or Organic?
    • The most difficult decision is the method to implement a change. The most direct way is through a corporate mandate, but this is not always the most effective.  The efficacy depends on the culture of your company and if it is more focused on financial savings or employee amenities.  A more financial driven mindset (such as financial services industry) can adapt more quickly to cost savings initiatives, while a more amenity driven company can benefit more from an example driven change process from the top down.
  3. Amount of Change
    • There is not much “science” to how much change an employee base can handle at one time, but if done strategically many changes can be implemented in one fell swoop. The best way to maximize the amount of change that can be accomplished is by engaging your employees to make sure they feel part of the process.  Our service transitions are best received when we engage in Town Hall style introductions to bring all stakeholders into the fold.
  4. Defining and Understanding Objectives
    • The most important part of the change is making sure you understand what the goal is and how it makes sense to your business. If it cannot be communicated clearly and succinctly then the adoption will be difficult to keep moving forward.  Outlining clear objectives will be key to driving your project plan and effective management.
If you are considering a major corporate services change in your organization, reach out to CMS to be paired with a Subject Matter Expert that can help evaluate your needs.

More from our blog

Top 6 Things to Consider – Mail and Package Screening

CMS has been providing our Clients’ with a wide array of Mail and Package screening services ever since the attacks on 9/11 in NYC and all around the country.  The recent mail bombs sent is a reminder that close attention needs to be paid to what is coming in and out of your building to maintain a safe workplace and ensure business continuity. 

Top 4 Change Management Decisions

Top 4 Change Management Decisions

One of the biggest projects we work hand-in-hand on with our clients is process change within their organizations. This process change could be regarding services, technology, space, equipment or any other support provided to employees for the day to day activities in your office.

Is now the time to Introduce AI to your Organization?

Is now the time to Introduce AI to your Organization?

The hottest term in our everyday life seems to be Artificial Intelligence. What used to be a Sci-Fi movie theme is now in our homes, cars, cell phones and making its way into our offices.

Is now the time to Introduce AI to your Organization?

Is now the time to Introduce AI to your Organization?

Is now the time to Introduce AI to your Organization?

The hottest term in our everyday life seems to be Artificial Intelligence.  What used to be a Sci-Fi movie theme is now in our homes, cars, cell phones and making its way into our offices.  Recent improvements in this space has brought us to look for companies that can improve the experience when checking into a lobby of a building, greeting a guest at reception or even showing them how to use a copier! As a partner with our clients we are always scouring the space to find opportunities for technology that makes sense without too great of a barrier to entry. One of the most challenging transitions we find in the implementation phase is requiring our Clients to change systems they currently use as part of their core IT infrastructure.  The best companies we have found to work with are a “middle man” between your infrastructure and the end product to provide integration with YOUR data rather than reinventing the wheel. Reach out to our team to see if Artificial Intelligence and a hologram concierge desk would be a good fit for your organization.

More from our blog

Top 6 Things to Consider – Mail and Package Screening

CMS has been providing our Clients’ with a wide array of Mail and Package screening services ever since the attacks on 9/11 in NYC and all around the country.  The recent mail bombs sent is a reminder that close attention needs to be paid to what is coming in and out of your building to maintain a safe workplace and ensure business continuity. 

Top 4 Change Management Decisions

Top 4 Change Management Decisions

One of the biggest projects we work hand-in-hand on with our clients is process change within their organizations. This process change could be regarding services, technology, space, equipment or any other support provided to employees for the day to day activities in your office.

Is now the time to Introduce AI to your Organization?

Is now the time to Introduce AI to your Organization?

The hottest term in our everyday life seems to be Artificial Intelligence. What used to be a Sci-Fi movie theme is now in our homes, cars, cell phones and making its way into our offices.

Top 5 Considerations for On-Site Outsourcing

Top 5 Considerations for On-Site Outsourcing

Top 5 Considerations for On-Site Outsourcing

“Outsourcing” can be such an unsettling term, but it doesn’t have to be!  The on-site provision of office support services by a true partner can be a competitive advantage within your industry when done right. There are some key factors to consider when deciding IF you should be outsourcing, and more importantly with WHO!
  1. Core Function or Support Function?
    • The first thing to consider is if the services in question are part of your Core offering to your customer or a function supporting your core business. The decision to outsource your services should be one that drives efficiency to your core operations by better supporting your internal resources.
  2. Recruitment and Training
    • Regardless of your industry, your HR group is (and should be) focused on recruiting and retaining talent that helps grow your business. It is very rare that the recruitment process for Reception, Mailroom, Print Production or Facilities Services aligns with your core focus.  On the contrary, our recruitment process is transferable between both services and industries because of our services first/hospitality-based approach to all of our offerings.
  3. Implementing Best Practices
    • Outsourcing providers like CMS operate in many industry verticals. Our clients greatly benefit from our ability to bring fresh new concepts from Banking to Retail, or from Retail to Publishing, etc. For example, our retail clients are experts in distribution and logistics to get product to a store or consumer.  We are constantly adapting our experiences in other industries to deliver a state of the art service to give your business a stronger support structure that matches your culture and goals.
  4. Culture Fit
    • The success or failure of a transition to outsourcing a service can often be boiled down to culture fit within your organization. Have you ever walked into a casual work environment and seen a mail clerk in a shirt and tie while SVP’s are in khakis and a polo shirt?  That is a classic case of a rigid provider with a corporate culture being imposed on your organization.  The best fit is the company that can adapt recruiting, training and operational support to YOUR culture.  The best transition is one that is barely noticed!
  5. Integrated Services
    • According to the SUSB, in 2015 the number of companies with 100-499 employees is more than 4x the number of companies with 500+. The larger firms usually have a need for dedicated services teams, i.e. a mailroom staff and manager, while the vast majority require a truly integrated model to be efficient.  This model is difficult for some of the larger outsourcing providers to implement because it requires an extremely flexible operating model that cannot be “cookie cutter” at its core.
The true competitive advantage for CMS is our ability to integrate and support multiple service lines to build a true support team through our hiring and training practices to make sure we can grow with and adapt to your changing financial and operational goals. Please reach out to us if you would like our experts to do a walkthrough and evaluation of your service needs and determine if outsourcing is the right model for you!

More from our blog

Top 6 Things to Consider – Mail and Package Screening

CMS has been providing our Clients’ with a wide array of Mail and Package screening services ever since the attacks on 9/11 in NYC and all around the country.  The recent mail bombs sent is a reminder that close attention needs to be paid to what is coming in and out of your building to maintain a safe workplace and ensure business continuity. 

Top 4 Change Management Decisions

Top 4 Change Management Decisions

One of the biggest projects we work hand-in-hand on with our clients is process change within their organizations. This process change could be regarding services, technology, space, equipment or any other support provided to employees for the day to day activities in your office.

Is now the time to Introduce AI to your Organization?

Is now the time to Introduce AI to your Organization?

The hottest term in our everyday life seems to be Artificial Intelligence. What used to be a Sci-Fi movie theme is now in our homes, cars, cell phones and making its way into our offices.