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Moving Forward

Intelligent Mail Barcode and Flats Sequencing System will provide value

The Postal Service is ready to go with technologies that will help position USPS so that “when the economy comes back, we’re there for you, helping you to grow,” Postmaster General John Potter told the recent Mailers Technical Advisory Committee meeting.

“We’re feeling your pain,” he told mailers whose industry has been hit hard by the economic slowdown. The Postal Service ended its third fiscal quarter with a greater-than-expected net loss of $1.1 billion. “We’re doing what we can to tighten up,” he said, adding that service continues at record levels.

Potter said USPS is moving forward with the Intelligent Mail Barcode and Flats Sequencing System, technologies that will benefit both USPS and mailers.

“We’re all going to get a lot of value out of the Intelligent Mail Barcode,” Potter said in reaffirming that the Postal Service will be ready for mail bearing the smart barcodes next May as planned. The IMB allows mailers to track individual mailpieces as they travel through the postal network.

An advance copy of the Federal Register notice announcing new mailing standards for Intelligent Mail Barcodes is available on Postal Explorer at pe.usps.com. The new standards describe a basic option and a full-service option for Intelligent Mail Barcode use, with additional benefits for mailers choosing the full-service option.

Meantime, another technology, the Flats Sequencing System, is “exceeding our expectations,” Potter told MTAC.

FSS sorts large envelopes, catalogs and magazines in delivery point sequence, enabling carriers to take them directly to the street. In addition, FSS can read the IMB and will provide business mailers with a clearer picture of USPS distribution and delivery networks.

“Bottom line — it will work,” Potter said.

Up Close With FSS

Printing industry members share ideas for lowest combined cost solutions

Collaboration with mailing industry partners is important to the Postal Service as it moves closer to deploying the Flats Sequencing System (FSS). At a recent think tank session with postal representatives, members of IDEAlliance, a printing industry organization, shared their ideas about flats preparation and processing and how to make it work at the lowest combined cost for both USPS and its business customers.

“The landscape of the print market is changing dramatically and rapidly as a result of new cost pressures, digital workflows and digital communication,” says IDEAlliance President and CEO David Steinhardt. “Organizations throughout the print supply chain are severely stressed to meet changing and quickening demands. Many of the changes that impact the Postal Service are taking place in the Postal Service and it is critical for USPS to understand there is enormous stress placed on the print industry.”

The meeting held July 29-30 at USPS Headquarters in Washington, DC, focused on the best ways to implement new flats induction technology. Participants also took a trip to the nearby Dulles Processing and Distribution Center in Northern Virginia for a close-up look at the first production FSS, which automatically sorts flat-size mail into delivery point sequence at high speeds.

In October, USPS begins a two-year deployment of 100 FSS machines at facilities throughout the nation.

“The meeting was extremely productive,” FSS Executive Director Rosa Fulton said. “Working with the mailing industry early in the process in this kind of a forum will help the Postal Service further define and successfully implement its flats end-to-end strategy.”

Need A Mailer ID?

It’s an essential part of the Intelligent Mail Barcode

A Mailer ID is your key to getting data about your mailings using the Intelligent Mail Barcode. It’s used to identify mail owners and mailing agents or other service providers, such as consolidators. The Mailer ID, which is assigned by the Postal Service, can be a 9-digit or a 6-digit number, based on your annual mail volume. The Mailer ID is a field within the IMB and it’s used in identifying mailpieces, trays, sacks or containers.

How do you get one? You can apply for a Mailer ID at your local Business Mail Entry Unit (BMEU) or contact your local Mailpiece Design Analyst (MDA). The BMEU locator is at usps.com/nationalpremieraccounts/findlocators.htm. You can find contact information for your local MDA at usps.com/replymail/mailpiece.htm.

Information about the application process is now available at ribbs.usps.gov. Look for “Intelligent Mail/Mailer ID application” in the left column. There’s a form you can download and instructions that will help you speed up the application process.

Direct Mail Delivers

Website redesigned to provide small businesses with information about direct mail

The Postal Service has redesigned its direct mail website to focus on the needs of small business advertisers, and the PCC list of mail service providers is front and center as a valuable resource.

The website at usps.com/directmail is a frequent stop for small businesses that want to learn about direct mail. These smaller companies often don’t have the resources available to large advertisers, so the website was redesigned to help small businesses understand how direct mail can work for them.

The website explains the benefits of advertising through the mail and provides customers with step-by-step information on how to create a direct mail campaign. It also gives small business advertisers access to key resources, including the PCC list of mail service providers.

Direct mail delivers results. And PCC members can help make it happen.

WHAT'S UP

National PCC Day

Check with your local PCC about activities planned for National PCC Day. Nearly every PCC across the country will be hosting an event to celebrate “America’s Partnership” on Sept. 17. National PCC Day is one of the biggest mailing industry events of the year, promoting the role of PCCs in networking, education and communication. In addition to a speech by Postmaster General John Potter transmitted by satellite, many local events also will feature workshops on Intelligent Mail and Shipping Services. Go to the National PCC Network at usps.com/pcc to learn more about PCCs and National PCC Day activities in your community.

NPF 2009

Based on feedback from PCC members and other business mailers, the 2008 National Postal Forum in Anaheim, CA, was one of the best in recent years. We’re already gearing up for another great NPF next year. The 2009 NPF will be held May 17-20 in Washington, DC. If you’re interested in being considered as a speaker at the forum, or know someone who would like to make a presentation, visit the NPF website at npf.org and click Call for Papers to submit a proposal. The deadline is Aug. 31. Every proposal will be reviewed by Oct. 15 and all submissions will receive a response indicating whether they have been selected or not.

Returns Too

Free package pickup is now available for Merchandise Return Service (MRS) and Parcel Return Service (PRS) packages. This expansion meets the need of our merchants and shippers, as well as consumers, who value the convenience of using the Postal Service’s shipping services. Customers can go to the Postal Service website at usps.com/pickup to request a pickup for MRS and PRS packages when their carrier makes a regular route stop at their home or business.

Convenience Is In The SCAN

At the front counter or back dock, USPS will SCAN those packages for you. SCAN is PS Form 5630, Shipment Confirmation Acceptance Notice. When shipping online, you can print a single SCAN form with a barcode that links every package in your shipment. You can then drop off shipments at the retail counter, back dock or use Carrier Pickup. What’s new? In addition to hand-held scanners, USPS retail terminals are now equipped to scan your SCAN forms, getting your packages swiftly on their way.

FYI…

A number of outstanding PCCs are honored every year during National PCC Day. This year, there was a 27 percent increase in the number of award submissions compared to 2007. This shows PCCs are working harder than ever to strengthen the partnership between USPS and local councils.

SPOTLIGHT ON SUCCESS

We’re Making It Easy To Share Best Practices

How’d you do that?   

Do you have a best practice that other PCCs could benefit from? Now it’s quick and easy to share your success story. You can use the new best practice template under Leadership and Best Practices on the National PCC website at usps.com/pcc.

Categories include education, promotion, membership and leadership certificate — or select “other” if your idea doesn’t fit one of these main categories. Simply enter a brief description and the results achieved, and then click to submit.

Looking for ideas? As they are submitted, the best practices will be posted online for sharing with other PCC members.

It’s a new resource for PCC members. Make it your success source.

KEEPING POSTED

2008

• National PCC Day is Sept. 17. The Greater St. Louis PCC will host the main event featuring a national satellite broadcast.

2009

• National Postal Forum, May 17-20, Washington, DC. Check the NPF website at npf.org for updated information.

INFO@USPS

Your Links To Mailing Resources

U.S. Postal Service: usps.com

National PCC Network: usps.com/pcc

Rapid Information Bulletin Board System: ribbs.usps.gov

Questions? Comments? Send an e-mail to pccinsider@usps.gov

Sign up for PCC Insider at usps.com/pcc, select "PCC Insider Registration"

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