INTELLIGENT MAIL FULLY OPERATIONAL BY 2009

The Postal Service says its new vision of Intelligent Mail services will revolutionize business mail by using standardized intelligent barcodes, continuous mail tracking and real-time feedback to business customers. These services will be fully operational for all commercial mailers by 2009.

“Intelligent Mail is like having a GPS system for mail,” said Postmaster General John E. Potter during the January Board of Governors meeting.

The centerpiece of the technology is one standardized intelligent barcode used on each piece of mail (letters and large envelopes known as “flats”) as well as each mail container. As these travel through the postal network, and are scanned at key points, the technology enables business customers to ”see” their mail at every step — from arrival at the postal facility to processing to transportation to delivery.

The Intelligent Mail services process is fully automated. Customers provide advance notification of each shipment electronically, enabling the Postal Service to better match appropriate resources. Verification — checking address quality, pre-sorting accuracy and postage — also is automated instead of performed manually.

This sophisticated system enables real-time data to be captured and communicated — identifying problems such as bad addresses and improper pre-sort and feeding the information back to the mailers for correction.

“Constant feedback is what really differentiates Intelligent Mail from our current process,” said Potter. “This increases the overall value of mail as a business communications medium.”

Intelligent Mail services enable business customers to better plan promotions and payments. Intelligent Mail services:

• Increases ability to track mail.
• Saves time through automated acceptance and verification.
• Enables electronic postage payment and around-the-clock access to account.
• Allows businesses to compare printer services.
• Adds more envelope space for valuable marketing messages.
• Provides real-time feedback on mail quality.

“Intelligent Mail is the smart way for customers to do business,” said Potter. “Our vision is becoming a reality and we’re looking forward to having everyone on board by 2009.”

Volume 1 Number 1

Editorial
Ilze Sella
Thomas DeVaughan

Design
David Ostroff

John E. Potter
Postmaster General and
Chief Executive Officer

Anita Bizzotto
Chief Marketing Officer and
Executive Vice President

Thomas G. Day
Senior Vice President,
Government Relations

Steve Kearney
Vice President,
Pricing and Classification

Joanne Giordano
Vice President, Public Affairs
and Communications

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