T-Mobile recently announced a monthly charge of $1.50 to receive a basic (1 page) paper bill and $3.50 to receive a detailed paper bill. That, on top of their average $75 per month service charge. After a net-based backlash, T-Mobile has temporarily reversed the charge for the basic paper bill -- though it's kept the $3.50 charge for a detailed paper bill.
There is, of course, no charge for paperless bills.
These fees, and the costs they represent, tie directly to the data and feedback we've heard from our almost 1,000,000 users. Generally, our customers measure EchoSign in terms of revenue ROI, i.e. the value in (x) closing deals and contracts more quickly, and (y) how much more revenue that generates in terms of addition days of revenue and additional deals closing which otherwise would have been lost (deals which die while waiting for a fax or FedEx that never comes).
But especially with our non-sales focused customers, the ROI can often turn to the costs saved by going paperless. The indirect cost savings are actually the largest cost savings category by far, in particular, never losing track of a contract ever again. The cost to an enterprise of trying to find lost contracts can be vast.
However, the direct cost savings are simpler to measure. Some customers measure the costs of e-signatures vs. overnight or fax, and e-signatures almost always win. Others use a subtler measure of the basic cost of processing a contract. Those numbers typically pencial out to about $3-$6 per contract (before fax and FedEx charges).
Which seems to be exactly what T-Mobile is charging for a detailed paper-based bill.
T-Mobile has relented, in part, for now. But in the coming 12-24 months, you'll find yourself charged more and more for not going paperless.
It's just too darn cost effective to be 100% digital and electronic. So the luddites are going to have to pay.
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