Following the announcement by the government to privatise Royal Mail, a survey has revealed that less than a quarter of firms still view traditional mail as important to their operations.

A poll of 5,000 companies found that just 23% see mail as necessary. Londoners were found to value to postal service the least with 11% saying that ‘snail mail' was important to their business. By comparison, the postal service was most prized in Yorkshire where 37% of businesses described the daily delivery as essential.

"The way in which we all communicate has changed beyond recognition over the last few years. This transformation is particularly pronounced in the south, where many businesses are now almost entirely dependent on mobile phones and email," said Andrew McGrath, executive director of Virgin Media Business.

"That said, it's vital that organisations don't completely dismiss traditional comms channels in favour of trendy online tools. Companies must take a multi-channel approach to their communications, as this will allow them to build strong relationships through human contact, whilst benefiting from the mobility that modern tools allow."