Posted by Norine Butte on Thu, Jul 02, 2009 @ 03:57 PM
USPS NPF offices have
CANCELLED the Intelligent Mail University for
Columbus OH, on Thursday, July 9, 2009. USPS NPF offices plan to reschedule the same event and same location for a date in October, 2009, details will be forthcoming.
The Intelligent Mail University scheduled for Fort Worth, TX, on Thursday, July 16, 2009 will continue as planned. For additional information and to register: http://imb.npf.org/register.aspx
Posted by Norine Butte on Tue, Jun 30, 2009 @ 09:44 AM
Come and join Window Book, Inc at the USPS® Intelligent Mail University --------------------------------------------------
As a proud sponsor of the upcoming Intelligent Mail Universities, we would like to extend our invitation to you.
Please join us on July 9th in Columbus, OH and / or July 16th Fort Worth, TX. This is your great opportunity to meet Window Book staff on-site
- Do you need assistance getting through the Intelligent Mail Compliance Process?
- Do you need assistance with Post-Presort Solutions, Mail.dat, Mail.XML, Spoilage Reconciliation, Freight Planning, Postage Reconciliation?
Meet with our Window Book staff member on-site and you will receive a complimentary *TagMaster CD, our USPS certified 24-digit IMB label software.
Register NOW for either location at: http://imb.npf.org/register.aspx
* We will mail you the TagMaster CD after the event.
Posted by Norine Butte on Thu, Jun 25, 2009 @ 09:10 AM
Mary Busch Joins Window Book as the Manager of Mail Transportation Services
June 25, 2009, Cambridge, MA
Window Book is pleased to announce Mary Busch as the Manager of Mail Transportation Services.
Mary is responsible for helping companies that drop ship mail by processing their Mail.dat files for them. Companies that have mail data processors that need to take vacation or sick time and need an expert to actually process their mail now have a solution. It is a temporary help service for mailers.
By working with transportation companies and drop ship mailers Mary will deliver a service when the mailer has increased demand or mail data processing workers are out. She will enable them to process all the mail without needing to hire another full time staff member. She will also provide them with technical support and optimal mail transportation service solutions by utilizing Window Book mailing software. She will be offering regional training seminars on how to fully utilize all the functionalities in DAT-MAIL and providing mail processing services from preparation to delivery including file analysis, USPS entry planning, and postage statements.
DAT-MAIL mailing software includes many features that transportation companies as well as printers and lettershops can benefit from for transportation and drop ship logistics: Entry View, Quick Plan, Palletization, CoPal for copalletization, Freight Planning analysis, and Destination Data Distribution System for automatic database updates to the FAST destination data. It also includes modules that you can add-on to meet your specific needs and requirements. It is precisely this complete functionality, flexibility, and versatility that sets DAT-MAIL apart from other mailing software in the mailing industry.
Mary brings over 25 years of experience in various facets of customer service, logistics, and mail transportation. Prior to joining Window Book, she served as the Director of Data Processing for Postal Logistics Services where she was instrumental for the start up of the company. She also worked for RR Donnelley Logistics as a Pre-production Manager and provided their clients optimal load planning efficiencies to meet their specific requirements for mail delivery.
"Quite often, many companies are not aware of new methods they can use which may help them enhance their current system. Others simply conduct their business the same old way they always have without considering how to improve their operation. Mary will definitely prove to be an asset to these companies by investigating their current system, addressing their temporary mail processing needs, and helping them fully utilize all the tools available to them," said Jeffery Peoples, Window Book's CEO.
Posted by Norine Butte on Wed, Jun 24, 2009 @ 10:26 AM
ACS OneCode for UAA and Automation
Jeffery Peoples, CEO & Founder, Window Book, Inc.
In 2004 the United States Postal Service® (USPS) commissioned an independent study to examine the volume and cost of "undeliverable-as-addressed" mail (UAA). The result showed that 4.75% of all mail the USPS received for delivery could not be delivered as addressed. This means almost 5 out of every 100 mailpieces are undeliverable-as-addressed. Standard Mail® accounted for almost 63% of all UAA mail and 75% of UAA Mail was due to move-related reasons. Each year, over 45 million people and over 2.3 million businesses move. On the average, mailing lists deteriorate over 1% a month.
Using incorrect addresses is one of the major contributing factors for the rising costs of the Postal Service. If mail cannot be delivered to the address on the mailpiece it will be forwarded, returned or treated as waste. Each option impacts large volumes of mail and incurs high expenses to both the USPS and its customers. Cost-effective and timely delivery of every mailpiece depends on having accurate addresses with complete and correct address elements. According to the R-2006-1 Rate Case Study (Christiansen UAA Study), there were 9.724 billion UAA mailpieces annually which cost $1.8 billion for the USPS annually: $421.9 M for forwarded mail, $822.5 M for returned mail, and $269.8M for mail treated as waste.
Move Update
Move Update is one of the requirements the Postal Service has embarked on to deal with the rising costs of processing UAA mail. Move Update requires First-Class and Standard Mail mailers to match their mailing addresses to the USPS Change-of-Address (COA) database periodically to get the most current addresses for their customers who have moved. Move update will reduce the number mailpieces that are forwarded to the new address, returned to the mailer, or treated as waste.
Effective November 23, 2008, the USPS revised the Move Update standard in order to increase the volume of deliverable mail. They increased the minimum frequency of Move Update processing from 185 days to 95 days prior to the mailing date. In addition, the USPS expanded Move Update to include automation-rate and presort-rate First-Class Mail as well as Standard Mail (letters and flats, parcels, and non-flat-machinables).
In order to meet the Move Update standard, you must use an authorized Move Update method. The USPS offers four primary methods and two alternative methods, one of which is for First-Class Mail only. Of the primary methods, there are two "pre-mailing" methods and two "post-mailing" methods based on when you actually receive the updated address. In this article, we will focus on ACSTM and OneCode ACS®.
|
Authorized Move Update Methods |
|
Pre-mailing methods |
NCOALink® |
|
|
FASTforward® MLOCR |
|
Post-mailing methods |
ACSTM or OneCode ACS |
|
|
Ancillary Service Endorsement |
ACS (Address Change Service)
ACS is a post-mailing service that was developed in the mid-1980s to enhance the way mailers received change-of-address (COA) information from the USPS. The new electronic environment was
designed to help reduce manual labor and costs involved in providing updated addresses to the mailers.
When a mailer uses ACS, they print a USPS assigned participant code in the address block which identifies the mailpiece as requesting ACS service. For example, when a mailpiece for a customer's old address is received by the postal carrier, it is sent to CFS (Computerized Forwarding System) for forwarding. At CFS, the operator keys the ACS participant code and any optional keyline data that may be present. This causes a transaction to be generated that sends the change-of-address update back to the mailer electronically so the address can be updated automatically.
Mailers may elect to add an optional line to their address block that contains a "keyline," or a tie-back to the original record that was used to create the address block. This keyline allows mailers to automatically update their address records without any manual intervention and helps them reduce the costs associated with manual keying of data.
To participate in ACS, mailers need to apply for a ‘Participant Code' from the ACS Dept. at the National Customer Support Center (NCSC). There is a Participant Code assigned for each class mail. It is free to enroll in ACS, but there is a "per piece fee" for records supplied back to a customer. Currently ACS corrections for First-Class Mail are 10¢ each and 26¢ each for all other classes of mail.
OneCode ACS
OneCode ACS is a new and improved option of the traditional ACS service for First-Class, Standard Mail, and Periodical flats/letters that mailers can use to get automated or electronic address corrections. The difference is in the triggering mechanism: ACS uses the Participant Code whereas OneCode ACS requires the Intelligent Mail Barcode (IMb).
OneCode ACS is a fully automated service and greatly reduces the amount of resources required to identify the mailer and the mailer's choice of services, and provides feedback to the mailer regarding the disposition of the mailpiece. OneCode ACS provides an efficient and accurate way of capturing all of this data from IMb. In addition, combining the former POSTNET barcode and the ACS code into OneCode ACS frees up a great deal of "real estate" on a mailpiece, giving mailers the advantage of having more space to utilize for customer messaging or leaving the mailpiece cleaner.
ACS vs. OneCode ACS
Overall, OneCode ACS offers a simpler and more advanced system for processing address corrections. It requires using IMb which incorporates both the former POSTNET barcode and the former PLANET barcode into one simple barcode. This allows more ‘real estate' space on the mailpiece and a lower service fee than the traditional ACS service. In the example below you can see how much you will have to pay if you did not have any service, used the traditional ACS, or OneCode ACS.
Example: Standard Mail Undeliverable-As-Addressed (UAA) Mail Fee
|
Without ACS |
With ACS |
With OneCode ACS and IM Full Service |
|
•Ø Address Service Requested endorsement
- Ø First-Class Mail full rate:
- Ø $0.78
- Ø Weighted factor: 2.472
- Ø Actual return postage:
$0.78 x 2.472 = $1.93 |
- Ø 2.8 ounces
- Ø Address Service Requested endorsement
- Ø First-Class Mail full rate:
$0.78
- Ø No Weighted factor
- Ø Return postage + ACS:
- Ø $0.78 + $0.26 = $1.04
|
- Ø 2.8 ounces
- Ø Address Service Requested endorsement
- Ø First-Class Mail full rate:
- Ø $0.78
- Ø No Weighted factor
- Ø Return postage + ACS:
- Ø $0.78 + $0.00 = $.78
|
ACS vs. OneCode ACS
|
|
Traditional ACS |
OneCode ACS |
|
Requires IMb |
No |
Yes |
|
Need to print ACS Participant Code & Keyline in the address block of mailpiece |
Yes |
No |
|
Need to print Ancillary Endorsement (tells USPS how the mailer wants undeliverable pieces to be handled) * |
Yes |
Yes for Standard Mail.
Optional for First-Class Mail |
|
Need to print Electronic Service Request endorsement |
No |
Yes |
|
Available for IM Full Service |
Yes, but ACS fees apply. |
Yes, ACS service is free. |
|
Required for IM Full Service |
No |
- § No. You can use either Traditional ACS or OneCode ACS.
- § OneCode ACS requires use of IM Full Service
- § OneCode ACS is free for IM Full Service users
|
Who benefits from free ACS?
One of the requirements for Intelligent Mail Full Service is to use IMb on mailpieces, tray/sack labels and pallet placards. OneCode ACS requires using Intelligent Mail Full Service and IMb, and ACS is free to Intelligent Mail Full Service users if they use OneCode ACS.
One may question why any mailer would not want to use the free ACS service within Intelligent Mail. While most mailers may see some benefit from the free ACS service, some types of mailers will benefit more than others.
Periodicals mailers, for example, are probably the primary beneficiaries of this free service because address corrections are required of them by the USPS, this is not optional. Thus, taking advantage of Intelligent Mail Full Service and the free ACS is a very beneficial service for them. Similarly, any mailer who has consistently used ACS service in the past will benefit by the fact that they can now receive this service for free when in the past there was a cost involved. In fact, any mailer who was previously using a post-mailing address correction method will probably find this new service attractive. It may even provide a new revenue stream for mailers who mail for multiple clients and have the tools which allow them to manage these address changes for their clients. If they can charge for this management service while getting the corrections for free, this may prove to be lucrative.
On the other hand, mailers who use highly accurate mailing lists, prefer pre-mail address corrections or use primarily rental lists may not see as much benefit from this free ACS service. For example, photo finishing companies usually receive their mailing addresses fresh each time from their customers whenever they submit an order for photo processing. Since they do not maintain any address databases, and their addresses are unlikely to be old and outdated, ACS service would not be as attractive for them.
Many mailers prefer to obtain their address corrections pre-mailing, such as with NCOALink. For these mailers, they may see some benefit from receiving post-mailing corrections that the NCOA processing may have missed due to the time gap between the processing and the actual mailing. However, it might be tough to get a positive ROI on any systems implemented to incorporate these changes. Other mailers may lack the tools to incorporate the returned data from the ACS process into their databases.
In conclusion, Move Update will certainly help the Postal Service better manage the volume of undeliverable-as-addressed mail. The USPS offers various options for participating in the Move Update program, and OneCode ACS is the most advanced post-mailing system that offers fast, reliable and accurate services to mailers for updating addresses. It lets you participate in the Intelligent Mail Full Service which will unquestionably help everyone in the Postal industry move ahead and automate their operations. Intelligent Mail Full Service is the way the Postal Service will require mailers to process mailings in the future and OneCode ACS will help mailers get ready and be automated.
Posted by Norine Butte on Thu, Jun 18, 2009 @ 08:26 AM
Tom Taylor Joins Window Book as the VP of Logistics and Distribution Systems
June 18, 2009, Cambridge, MA
Window Book is pleased to announce Tom Taylor as the VP of Logistics and Distribution Systems.
Tom will be responsible for helping printers and lettershops improve their transportation, drop ship, and freight planning. Some mailers are still not optimizing USPS drop ship entry discounts and do not have Palletization or Freight Planning functionality in their software. For mailers who are shipping their jobs at origin-based USPS postage rates, Tom will be able to help them improve their revenue while reducing labor and operational costs by introducing DAT-MAIL mailing software.
DAT-MAIL mailing software includes many features that printers and lettershops can benefit from for transportation and drop ship logistics: Entry View, Quick Plan, Palletization, CoPal for copalletization, Freight Planning analysis, and Destination Data Distribution System for automatic database updates to the FAST destination data. Compared to other post presort mailing software which requires multiple modules to import, palletize and optimize discounts, DAT-MAIL has proven its versatility and speed with easy to use enhanced functionality within one program.
Prior to joining Window Book, Tom served as the Managing Partner for Postal Logistics Services where he developed Copal for tray mail and designed USPS Drop Ship Management System and Warehouse Management software for their customers. He also worked at RR Donnelley as a National Accounts Rep where he developed operations and customer service systems.
‘Window Book will continue to work with our clients to help them lower their operational costs while meeting their individual needs. Tom's industry experience and knowledge will help mailers examine their current operational methods and find ways to save money to thrive in this tough economy," said Jeffery Peoples, Window Book's CEO.
About Window Book:
Window Book has helped clients manage their operations more profitably since 1989. A leader in mailing and shipping software for lettershops, corporate mailers, service bureaus, and mail owners. Window Book's best-in-class postal solutions include: Intelligent Mail Full Service, eDocs, Mail.XML, FAST, Bound Printed Matter, Express Mail and Priority Mail Open and Distribute, New Commercial Plus rates, eVS, Mail.dat®, post-presort data management, entry planning, drop shipping, postage accounting, postal documentation & statements, meter and stamp management, delivery confirmation, manifesting shipping system, and PostalOne!
Posted by Norine Butte on Wed, Jun 17, 2009 @ 10:42 AM
Drop Ship Data and Labeling List Data for Drop Shippers For mailers, presort services, and transportation companies who process drop shipments, having up-to-date information on drop ship data and labeling list data is a critical part of their operation. Using updated data helps mailers benefit from greater drop ship discounts and improve efficiency by having accurate information. Drop Ship data is updated daily by the USPS on their FAST system website. It provides drop ship data including information on SCF (Sectional Center Facility), BMC (Bulk Mail Center), ADC (Area Distribution Center), and DDU (Destination Delivery Unit) facilities. You can easily obtain detailed information on the facility type, city, state, zip code, dock information, contact phone numbers, and hours of operation by using this drop ship data. The Labeling List data is updated and published in the DMM by the U.S. Postal Service and is also posted on Postal Explorer®. It consists of 3 and 5 digit zip code data and the corresponding city, state, and zip code that mailers use to direct their mail to the correct destination postal facilities. The lists are categorized by type of class, presort level and automation rate for General Use, Periodicals and First-Class Mail, Standard Mail and Package Services, and Automation Rate Mailings. This data is not updated on a daily basis, but rather bi-monthly to allow time for mailers and their service providers time to incorporate changes into their software and systems. The Labeling List data and Drop Ship data help mailers, presort services, and transportation companies to properly sort and label their trays, sacks and pallets for delivery and to get the best postal discounts. The Postal regulations are continuously changing and it is critical for mailers to have updated information for presorting and labeling their mailings. Ideally, your software should be able to automatically update Drop Ship data and Labeling list information as changes are made on the USPS website without having to update it manually. You should also be able to automatically update it on a schedule that you determine: daily/weekly/monthly and at a set time. Having the ability to update the data electronically and automatically at a set schedule will allow mailers to reduce errors as well as save time and labor spent on updating each change manually. By Jeffery Peoples
Posted by Norine Butte on Tue, Jun 16, 2009 @ 11:28 AM
National Postal Forum Presents... A comprehensive day of Intelligent Mail® education.
- Learn about the Postal Services newly implemented Intelligent Mail Service for letters and flats.
- Gain a thorough understanding of what you need to do to ensure your organization is ready to make the most of the Intelligent Mail barcodes and Intelligent Mail Full Service Option.
- Hear how Intelligent Mail barcodes drive improvements in both service and efficiency, and adds more value to your mail.
|
Featuring expert Intelligent Mail speakers provided by the United States Postal Service®. A full day of Intelligent Mail information will be presented from 8am - 5pm. Your $79.00 registration fee includes:
- Full Day Program
- Continental breakfast
- Lunch
|
The symposiums will provide you with a unique opportunity to hear from the experts, learn about the new requirements and get answers to some of your questions such as:
- What are the requirements for using Intelligent Mail barcodes?
- How can I implement the Intelligent Mail barcode in my operation?
- Will I need to invest in new equipment or modify my operational processes?
- Where can I find help in transitioning to this new technology?
*Speakers may vary by location. Please call (703) 218-5015 for more information.
Registration online at: http://imb.npf.org/register.aspx
Locations:
Thursday, July 9
The Aladdin Shrine Center
3850 Stelzer Road
Columbus, OH 43219-3044
Thursday, July 16
The Speedway Club
Texas Motor Speedway
3545 Lone Star Circle
Fort Worth, TX 76177-8903
Posted by Norine Butte on Tue, Jun 16, 2009 @ 10:38 AM
Window Book is pleased to announce Monica Lundquist as the Postal Affairs Manager. Monica is responsible for managing postal affairs and leading Window Book's new Postal Concierge Service. The Postal Concierge Service is designed to help mailing and shipping companies by providing them with postal expertise, up-to-date information on new regulations, and help implement changes cost effectively. The downturn of the economy has left many companies with fewer resources, especially when it comes to Postal expertise. This Postal Concierge Service will help bridge the gap the mailers may have in understanding the new Postal requirements and how they can be prepared for upcoming changes. Mailers can expect to benefit from answers to their mailing design, processing, acceptance, and payment questions. They will also receive monthly eNewsletters, informational webinars on postal regulations, and tips on how to thrive in this challenging economy. Prior to joining Window Book, Monica was the Director of List Services at RR Donnelley and also served as the Director of Mailing and Distribution Services for Banta Publications Group for 11 years. She has been in the mailing industry for over 24 years and has been responsible for postal affairs and mail list processing services for a number of printing companies, as well as operating her own postal consulting business. "Window Book intends to continue to educate and help our clients to profitably utilize all the latest developments at the US Postal Service. The Postal Concierge Service is just one of the services we provide to our clients, and Monica's industry knowledge and experience will help us continue to support mailers best stay ahead in the postal world," said Jeffery Peoples, Window Book's CEO. About Window Book: Window Book has helped clients manage their operations more profitably since 1989. A leader in mailing and shipping software for lettershops, corporate mailers, service bureaus, and mail owners. Window Book's best-in-class postal solutions include: Intelligent Mail Full Service, eDocs, Mail.XML, FAST, Bound Printed Matter, Express Mail and Priority Mail Open and Distribute, New Commercial Plus rates, eVS, Mail.dat®, post-presort data management, entry planning, drop shipping, postage accounting, postal documentation & statements, meter and stamp management, delivery confirmation, manifesting shipping system, and PostalOne!.
Posted by Norine Butte on Fri, May 15, 2009 @ 04:10 PM
Special Intelligent Mail® Symposiums National Postal Forum
Washington DC Convention Center
Sunday, May 17 @ 1:00PM-5:00PM &
Wednesday, May 20 @ 2:00PM-5:30PM
Technological advancements in mail processing have enabled us to offer unique opportunities for real-time tracking and feedback, including high visibility during production, processing and delivery. The newly implemented Intelligent Mail barcode (IMB) allows us to provide visibility to customers through either a Basic Option or a Full Service Option. This symposium, along with related sessions, will provide a practical understanding of what's required for your organization to take full advantage of this exceptional technology.
One-Day Registration ON-Site $475
http://www.npf.org/pdfs/2009NPFRegFrm.pdf
Posted by Norine Butte on Fri, May 15, 2009 @ 04:01 PM
Submit your comments to the Postal regulatory Commission by May 21st for the USPS summer sale proposal regarding the Standard Mail letters and flats.
The PRC and USPS have encouraged all interested individual mailers to submit comments.
Please submit comments electronically via the PRC's Filing Online system at http://www.prc.gov/
- The sale will run from July 1, 2009 through September 30, 2009.
- Mailers who mailed over 1 million Standard letters and/or flats from October 1, 2007 through March 31, 2008 are eligible to participate in the sale (about 3,250 mailers accounting for 75% of Standard Mail volume).
- Mailers will receive a rebate of 30% on any mail volume in that period which is over the past threshold.
- Mailers' rebates will be adjusted if their October 2009 volume is less than their October 2008 mail volume, adjusted to their mailing trend.
Mailers will pay full postage during the summer. After October 31, 2009, USPS will determine the rebate which each mailer is due. Rebates will be credited to the mailer's permit account before December 31, 2009.
USPS will be sending eligible mailers letters that will provide the threshold as determined by USPS data systems. Mailers who believe they are eligible but did not receive a letter or mailers who do not agree with the USPS determined threshold may appeal to USPS. USPS, shortly, will provide DMA with the contact for any appeals. We expect mailers to receive these letters by May 4, 2009.
Mailers may enroll in the program on the web on or before July 1, 2009 (URL will be provided once available) after they receive their eligibility letter. NOTE: Enrolling on the web means that the mailer accepts the threshold as determined by USPS or as determined via appeal, whichever is applicable.
In determining the threshold, USPS will aggregate a mailer's mail from all its permits, ghost permits and subsidiaries and business names. If a mailer has entered its mail or portion thereof using another's permit (such as a mail service provider), the burden is upon the mailer to provide documentation indicating its volume of mail entered under that permit.