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GENERATE REVENUE

Seamless Acceptance
Seamless acceptance is the strategy to radically streamline all processes related to business mail acceptance, including documentation, scheduling, payment, and entry. The Postal Service's Transformation goal is to move to a totally electronic system that allows customers to transact all of the business of entering mail without the need to submit paper documentation. In 2006 a seamless acceptance pilot test was conducted to test the verification of letters in-process (while being sorted on postal automation) and determine the accuracy of postage paid through the PostalOne! system. This method for electronically verifying mail simplifies the mailing process for customers and reduces postal workhours needed to verify mailings. The next step is to complete the pilot to define all aspects of verification that can be done electronically and to define a postage assessment approach for this new automated model. The Postal Service will then establish a deployment schedule.

This year also saw deployment of the Postage Statement Wizard, which allows customers and mailing agents to complete postage statements online and submit documentation in PostalOne! The Postage Statement Wizard is for smaller volume mailers. Customers now have a secure way to access their account and print commonly-used business mailing forms 24hours a day, 7 days a week. Field employees have been trained and are ready for an aggressive customer adoption schedule in 2007. With more than 14 million statements a year, automating the process will reduce errors as well as the cost of manually entering data.

Because every mailing does not need the same level of verification, a performance-based verification approach was tested in 2006 for a 2007 rollout. It allows for an accelerated verification process for proven mailers who consistently provide high-quality mailings. Business Mail Entry Units will use customer profiles completed for prior mailings to determine the frequency and sample size of verifications. Resources can be applied to assist new mailers or those who have had quality problems in the past.

Electronic Verification System (eVS) is a manifesting model that simplifies acceptance, verification, and induction for parcel shippers. After testing was completed, eVS was launched for three consolidators. Two other consolidators are in the final stages of their parallel testing with plans to launch in early 2007. In Quarter I, 2007, a new version of eVS will launch, allowing destination-entry parcel shippers to document and pay for packages electronically. eVS will be mandatory for all Parcel Select mailings beginning August 2007. Use of electronic verification decreases costs and improves service for commercial mailers.

4. Aggressive Sales, Promotions, and Outreach
This year's National Postal Forum (NPF) was held in Orlando, Florida in April. In addition to workshops and exhibits detailing every facet of the mail, the 6,192 attendees were shown the value of mail as a total customer relationship management tool. Many workshops focused on improving address quality and reducing undeliverable-as-addressed mail.

The 2007 NPF will be held in Washington, D.C., on March 25–28. Attendees will take advantage of even more educational opportunities with two general sessions, special sessions on the rate case and other important topics, and expanded certificate offerings. More than 140 workshops will be presented as part of 13 different tracks including Customer Acquisition and Loyalty, Mail Acceptance, Preparation and Entry, Address Quality Excellence, and more.

More than 15,000 customers participated in September's Postal Customer Council (PCC) Day with corresponding local events held in 100 locations. The primary focus was helping businesses get the most from mail as an integral part of their marketing mix. A number of Postal Service efforts were recruitment, and new postal business publications.