{"id":10306,"date":"2025-11-11T15:38:02","date_gmt":"2025-11-11T14:38:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.retarus.com\/blog\/us\/?p=10306"},"modified":"2026-01-27T17:01:31","modified_gmt":"2026-01-27T16:01:31","slug":"ok-got-it-episode-1-how-to-improve-fax-delivery-rates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.retarus.com\/blog\/us\/ok-got-it-episode-1-how-to-improve-fax-delivery-rates\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cOK. Got It.\u201d \u2014 Episode 1: How to Improve Fax Delivery Rates"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Each week on OK. Got It.<\/em>, we tackle a question about enterprise messaging and answer it using our technical expertise and industry experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In our first episode, Chris Vaccaro, Director of Marketing for retarus (North America) Inc., sat down with Marcus Ionker, Retarus\u2019 very own Messaging Evangelist, to answer a deceptively simple but crucial question: What does a messaging solution need to have in order to generate a high delivery rate?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Critical, Compliant Messaging \u2013 Especially in Regulated Industries<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Fax remains essential across industries like healthcare, insurance, finance, and government, where compliance and guaranteed delivery are non-negotiable.
When you\u2019re transmitting sensitive data such as patient records, claims, or authorizations, failed faxes aren\u2019t just an inconvenience, they can cause costly delays and compliance risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Marcus explains, \u201cFax is always critical messaging. You can\u2019t afford for it not<\/em> to go through.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Understanding Faxing in an IP World<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The first step to improving fax delivery is understanding how fax behaves in modern networks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally designed for analog copper lines, fax transmission now has to function over IP-based networks (Voice over IP, SIP trunks, and cloud telephony). While it\u2019s possible to send faxes over IP, it introduces new challenges, such as differences in modulation standards between the U.S. and Europe, and the need for smart routing and retry logic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s why choosing a vendor experienced in both telephony and cloud infrastructure is critical. Your fax solution should handle these network nuances automatically, ensuring the best possible route for every transmission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key Factors That Influence Fax Delivery Rates<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Marcus highlighted several key technical and operational factors that determine whether a fax successfully reaches its destination:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Data Quality<\/strong> \u2013 Invalid or outdated fax numbers are still one of the biggest causes of failure.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Recipient Capability<\/strong> \u2013 The receiving system\u2019s setup (analog, IP, hybrid) affects whether a fax can connect.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Retry Logic<\/strong> \u2013 Granular retry intervals and expiration settings help maximize success without wasting time.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Routing Intelligence<\/strong> \u2013 Modern fax platforms should automatically switch carriers or hardware stacks to find the best route for each transmission.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Detailed Reporting<\/strong> \u2013 Comprehensive delivery reports allow you to pinpoint why a fax failed, not just \u201cbusy\u201d or \u201cerror,\u201d but exact root causes and suggested next steps.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Why Reporting and Monitoring Are Crucial<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Reliable fax reporting and analytics are essential for continuous improvement.
    When you can track delivery outcomes through dashboards or APIs, such as a GraphQL reporting API, you can spot trends, identify problem destinations, and optimize your configuration over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Organizations that monitor delivery performance over weeks or months often uncover patterns that lead to significant improvements in overall reliability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Real-World Impact: What a 1% Improvement Means<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    It\u2019s easy to underestimate the value of a \u201csmall\u201d percentage gain in delivery rates.
    But, for enterprise organizations sending millions of faxes per month, a single percentage point can mean thousands of fewer failed transmissions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    As Marcus explained:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cWe\u2019ve seen customers with entire teams, 10 to 20 people, dedicated full-time to handling failed fax cases. Improving your delivery rate by just one percent can free up those people to do higher-value work, not chase failed transmissions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In healthcare, that translates to faster prior authorization submission, reduced patient delays, and more efficient workflows. In finance and insurance, it means faster claims processing and fewer compliance headaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Business Value of Optimized Fax Delivery<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Improving fax delivery rates isn\u2019t just a technical achievement, it\u2019s a business enabler.
    By reducing failed transmissions and manual rework, organizations can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n