Why The Software Bureau Should Be Your First Choice for Data Processing, Cleansing & Postal Sortation Software

By |2025-11-04T06:48:18+00:00November 4th, 2025|

Choosing a software provider for data processing and mail sortation is not just about ticking boxes. It is about ensuring your business is protected, supported, and future proofed. The Software Bureau has earned its place as a trusted partner for organisations across the UK. Our software processes over 2 billion items annually, powering more than 75% of all UK advertising mail. That scale is no accident. It is the result of years of refinement, investment, and industry insight. Led by Experience Our management team brings together over 100 years of hands-on experience in software development, direct mail, data management, and production. We understand the pressures and complexities of the sector because we have worked in it. That experience shapes every [...]

Revolutionising UK Mail Sortation with USE, the Engine Behind Cygnus & SwiftSort

By |2025-10-28T06:59:54+00:00November 3rd, 2025|

For over 25 years, The Software Bureau has been at the forefront of data processing and postal sortation in the UK. Our commitment to innovation and accuracy has helped over 100 clients, ranging from direct mail producers to charities and corporates, navigate the ever-evolving complexities of bulk mail sortation. At the heart of our sortation ecosystem lies USE, the Universal Sortation Engine, a powerful on-premise API that drives our flagship products, Cygnus and SwiftSort. What is USE? USE is our Postal Sortation API, designed to automate and integrate the sortation of UK mail in compliance with all major postal service operators, including: Royal Mail UK Mail Whistl Citipost The Delivery Group Whether you're sorting for Mailmark, Zonal, or Unsorted services, [...]

Third Party Data Breaches Highlight the Need for Strong Vendor Security

By |2025-10-20T16:16:30+00:00October 20th, 2025|

At The Software Bureau, we take information security seriously. Our recent retention of the ISO 27001:2022 certification reflects our ongoing commitment to protecting sensitive data and maintaining the highest standards of security across our operations. However, the recent data breach involving LNER’s customer communications database, managed by a third party supplier - https://www.printweek.com/content/news/lner-data-accessed-in-customer-comms-breach, is a stark reminder that security must extend beyond internal systems. Reports indicate that unauthorised access was gained through a supplier, compromising customer data and raising serious concerns about vendor oversight. This incident reinforces a critical point. Your organisation’s data security is only as strong as the weakest link in your supply chain. While The Software Bureau does not share any customer data with third parties, we [...]

The Software Bureau Retains ISO 27001:2022 Certification

By |2025-10-09T11:27:26+00:00October 9th, 2025|

We’re proud to announce that The Software Bureau has once again successfully retained its ISO 27001 certification. This achievement isn’t just a piece of paper on the wall for us. It’s a reflection of how deeply Information Security runs through everything we do. We take data protection seriously because we know the devastating impact that a breach of GDPR can have on any business – including our own. Protecting information isn’t just about compliance; it’s about trust, integrity and responsibility. Our dedicated Information Security team leads the charge. They hold senior positions within the business and carry significant responsibility to ensure our processes, systems and people remain aligned with the highest standards of security. Their expertise and vigilance mean our [...]

The Software Bureau Unveils Two Major API Releases

By |2025-09-10T11:12:54+00:00September 10th, 2025|

We are pleased to announce two significant advances in our API suite, each a UK first in its own right. SwiftCore PAF v2 API – Cloud Based Address Enhancement We have released SwiftCore PAF v2 API, another ground-breaking milestone for The Software Bureau. SwiftCore PAF is the only UK batch address enhancement and verification platform hosted entirely in the cloud. It already processes over 100 million address records every month, and thanks to the limitless scalability of our Microsoft Azure backbone, its capacity is effectively infinite. This is address verification at industrial scale, delivered securely and reliably from the cloud. Learn more about SwiftCore PAF v2 API → Postal Sortation API (USE) – On Premise Sortation Simplified Alongside SwiftCore PAF [...]

The Software Bureau Becomes Employee-Owned

By |2025-09-03T12:40:56+00:00September 2nd, 2025|

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2nd September 2025 The Software Bureau Becomes Employee-Owned (And Nothing’s Changing – Good News, Right?) Croydon, UK – Friday 29th August, The Software Bureau officially transferred ownership to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT). This move, made by our shareholders, locks in a future owned by the people who make it tick: our employees, not some corporate overlord. Rest assured, business remains business as usual. Why EOT? Because lasting value isn’t built overnight. At The Software Bureau, we’ve spent the past quarter-century building more than just cutting-edge data-marketing software. We’ve built a family. With a team of 19 devoted professionals, each with at least eight years under their belt (and some here for the full 25-year ride), we [...]

SwiftCore PAF Smashes Records Again in August

By |2025-10-27T11:38:25+00:00September 1st, 2025|

Another record beating month in the bag. In August, our Azure hosted Cloud Address Verification and Enhancement engine, SwiftCore PAF, handled a jaw dropping 112 million data records. That brings us to a staggering 1,022,480,841 records processed over the last 12 months. Let that sink in: over a billion addresses verified, validated and enhanced without even breaking into full gear. Why This Matters and Why You Should Care Accuracy is not a nice to have. It is the difference between reaching your audience and flushing money down the drain. Each month, Royal Mail makes 57,442 changes to the Postcode Address File: street names, new addresses, businesses moving, people relocating. PAF is constantly evolving to keep pace. If your address data [...]

The High Cost of Rubbish Direct Mail Data

By |2025-08-28T08:21:02+00:00August 28th, 2025|

I hate to keep banging on about this, but it still confuses me why brands using direct mail continue to post using poor-quality data. We’ve all received it—the catalogue for the previous resident, the duplicate mailer that shows up a week apart, the promotional offer for someone who passed away years ago. It's more than just annoying; it's a massive waste of resources. Sending mail to bad addresses, deceased individuals, or people who no longer live at that location is like throwing money into a bonfire. It drives up costs, reduces your return on investment (ROI), and damages your brand's reputation. Let's break down the most common mistakes and why they're so costly. Duplicates and Undeliverable Addresses One of the [...]

Why Keeping Contact Data Up to Date Is Business-Critical

By |2025-08-18T14:39:17+00:00August 18th, 2025|

When it comes to customer data, accuracy isn’t a “nice to have” — it’s the difference between reaching your audience and wasting money. Out-of-date or inaccurate contact data drives up costs, damages customer relationships, and makes your organisation look sloppy. Let’s put it into perspective: last month alone, Royal Mail made 57,442 changes to the Postcode Address File (PAF). That’s not an annual figure, that’s a monthly update. Streets get renamed, new addresses are added, businesses move, people relocate — and the PAF is constantly shifting to reflect this. If your database isn’t keeping pace, you’re already behind. There’s really no excuse for poor address management anymore. The tools are out there, and they’re not just good — they’re automated, [...]

Our Ethos: Professional, Caring, and Built to Last

By |2025-08-12T14:34:13+00:00August 12th, 2025|

At The Software Bureau, we've been at the forefront of data marketing innovation for over a quarter of a century. Our journey began 25 years ago, and since then, we've grown into a dynamic team of 19 dedicated professionals, each playing a crucial role in our continued success. We're not just another software company; we're pioneers, creating ground-breaking solutions that revolutionise the data marketing landscape. Our commitment to excellence is reflected in the longevity of our team. Every single one of our employees has been with us for at least eight years, with some loyal members having been part of our family for the entire 25-year journey. What sets us apart isn't just our innovative software; it's our people. Each [...]

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