Improve Cash Flow and Get Paid Faster: How CheckAlt’s Catch! and Online Payments Help Overcome USPS Delays

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In today’s fast-paced business environment, organizations across the country are facing significant operational disruptions due to issues within the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). Widespread mail delays, coupled with increased fraud risks, are affecting businesses of all sizes, particularly those that rely on traditional check-based payments. The inefficiencies of the national postal system have created an urgent need for reliable, alternative payment processing methods to help businesses maintain their financial stability.

Current USPS Challenges

Mail delays have become a national issue, garnering attention from media outlets and prompting discussions about how the USPS plans to address the growing backlog. Many businesses have reported prolonged delays in receiving checks and other critical correspondence. The downstream impact of these delays can be seen in disrupted cash flow and ultimately, a negative impact on the bottom line.

For small businesses, these disruptions are particularly damaging. When checks take longer to arrive, bills may go unpaid, and revenue generation stalls, leaving business owners struggling to maintain liquidity. 

Real-Life Examples

To illustrate the severity of the issue, we recently conducted a study on USPS mail delivery times across multiple states. Over the past three months, we mailed more than 100 pieces across different regions, and our findings were concerning.

• One piece of mail sent from Dallas to Miami took an astonishing 43 days to arrive.
• The average delivery time was 13 calendar days—nearly two full weeks.
• 3% of mail was undelivered and never located.

These statistics demonstrate the growing unpredictability of USPS delivery times and the substantial risks for businesses that depend on timely mail-based payments.

Best Practices for Managing Check Payments

For businesses that continue to rely on traditional check payments, adopting certain best practices can help mitigate some of the delays and risks:

1. Priority Mail: When consumer and business customers need to send critical or time-sensitive traditional check payments through the mail, encourage them to use USPS Priority Mail. This service ensures faster delivery, provides tracking, and requires a signature upon receipt, offering both speed and peace of mind. You will need to provide a physical shipping address, so check with your processor to confirm. Learn more from USPS about Priority Mail here.
2. Returned Mail Handling: If mail is returned undeliverable or misdelivered, it can cause significant setbacks for businesses. Properly managing returned mail can save time and avoid further delays. Find out what to do if your mail is undeliverable or misdelivered.

While these measures offer some level of protection, they don’t solve the root problem: the reliance on a flawed mail system.

How CheckAlt Is Helping Businesses Improve Cash Flow

At CheckAlt, we recognize the need for solutions that bypass USPS challenges altogether. Our suite of digital solutions offers businesses effective ways to receive payments faster and improve cash flow, providing a robust alternative to mail-dependent processes. These tools can help mitigate the impact of postal service delays on your operations.

1. Catch! Electronic Lockbox: Our Catch! solution enables businesses to receive payments digitally, bypassing USPS-related delays. Many online banking bill payments unexpectedly result in paper checks but Catch! ensures truly electronic processing. This means faster fund receipt, no risk of lost or stolen checks, and improved cash flow. The result is a more secure and efficient payment process for both businesses and their customers.
2. Online Payments: With CheckAlt’s Online Payments solution, businesses can provide their customers with the ability to pay directly through a secure online portal via ACH, debit, or credit card. By embracing digital payments, businesses can bypass mail delays entirely and ensure a faster, more reliable payment process.

In a business world that demands speed and reliability, traditional check payments and reliance on USPS mail can no longer keep pace. To avoid costly delays and improve cash flow, businesses should consider digital payment alternatives like CheckAlt’s Catch! and Online Payments solutions. 

If your business is ready to move beyond mail-based payments and improve cash flow, contact your Relationship Manager today, or reach out to us at inquiry@checkalt.com. We’ll help you find the right solution to navigate the challenges caused by USPS delays.

For more resources and tools for managing mail delivery, visit the USPS website.