Postal Affairs Blog

One of the hottest topics at MTAC was definitely “Evolutionary Network Redesign (END)”. The END program is a cost-cutting (and hopefully improved service) initiative, focusing and realigning the current mailing network toshape-based processing facilities. The entire BMC, SCF, and DDU network that are familiar to drop ship mailers will change dramatically. Destination details will be coming out in the next few weeks. New destinations will include Regional Distribution Centers (RDCs), Local Processing Centers (LPCs), Destinating Processing Centers (DPCs) and delivery units. There is no indication yet as to how the drop ship discounting will be reallocated to reflect these new locations.

On February 16, the Postal Service filed a notification of a national network change with the Postal Rate Commission. An advisory opinion is expected to be issued within 90 days. The USPS intends to start making destination changes as early as May 15^th, according to DM News (2/20 issue). Mailers need to have their drop ship mail delivered to the proper location, without delay our re-routing. During the realignment, destination changes and temporary drop point information will be a moving target. The destination database update quality will become critical.

These changes and the transition period will be a painful one for mailers if they are not prepared. Mailing Software users need to question their current vendors on how they plan to handle the anticipated changes. It needs to be a quick, accurate, and easy solution (like our weekly update). All drop ship mailers are going to need a resource to keep them informed and up to date.

Stop back for more information on this subject as it becomes available.

Best wishes,
Lisa

During MTAC Week at USPS Headquarters there are many chances to network and excahnge information with other attendees. I had the opportunity last week to speak to a great many of our current customers as well as other mailers in the industry, and was taken aback by some of the misinformation that is proliferating regarding DAT-MAIL. Please, if some unscrupulous software vendor is giving you “facts” about DAT-MAIL, check them out with us in order to confirm the information you are being given!

Yes, DAT-MAIL can edit Mail.dat files!

Yes, DAT-MAIL can handle commingle, co-palletization, and co-mailings!

Yes, DAT-MAIL supports PostalOne! via Mail.dat files, PostalOne Web Services, as well as FAST Web Services!

Yes, DAT-MAIL gives you the ability to edit your Pallet Placards and Sack/Tray Tags!

Furthermore, DAT-MAIL is the ONLY statement management system that supports both Mail.dat and non-Mail.dat data entry. That is a fact.

It makes me wonder about vendors who are so insecure about the merits of their own product that they feel a need to fabricate information about DAT-MAIL in order to close sales, regardless of the sacrifice to their integrity. Although busy customers (who expect and deserve honest and reliable information from their vendors) may be fooled the first time, most customers are not easy to fool twice. Once the facts are confirmed, folks need to ask themselves if they want to do business with a company that falsifies information regarding the competition. The truth might not always be what my clients and prospects want to hear, and it is not always easy to give people information that may disqualify them from being able to use our products. However, I have a higher responsibility to do the right thing and respect my peers enough to provide them with the most accurate, clear, and completely truthful information possible.

Be sure to get the facts before you get taken in.

Best wishes,

Lisa

There have been some questions about the frequency of updates for the mailing products that I would like to address here. The driving factor behind the Mailing Products update schedule is always conformance to USPS requirements. Recently the USPS has begun to update their Drop Ship database on a weekly basis. The Drop Ship information contained in this database consists of critical Drop Ship Delivery Point information necessary in order to send the truckloads of mail to the correct USPS dock in order to retain your Drop Ship discounts. Mailing Products customers that are Drop Ship Mailers (those producing 8125 forms, even occasionally) will need to update their Mailing Products software on a weekly basis in order to get the latest USPS information. This update is OPTIONAL, based on your specific mailing needs. Personally, I advise you to schedule and run an update weekly. The latest version of the software has a new messaging feature that will notify you that an update has been posted and is available.

For everyone else, program updates will continue as always. Scheduled Mandatory Program updates for all users in 2006 will take place as follows:

May Release – will need to be run by 5/31/2006
August Release – will need to be run by 8/31/2006
November Release – will need to be run by 11/30/2006

All Mailing Products may also have a Mandatory Update as dictated by USPS requirements changes such as forms or rate changes, while DAT-MAIL customers may also have a Mandatory Update outside of this schedule based on required Mail.dat specification changes.

It is always our goal to minimize the impact of updating on our customers. The Programming Team is in constant development to fine-tune and improve upon each update. The new messaging system was designed to greatly speed and enhance pertinent communications out to our users. We remain committed to keeping you updated-easily!

Stop back next week for a series of important notes from the Mailer’s Technical Advisory Committee meetings that affect all mailers…

Best wishes,

Lisa

I will be attending meetings today at Postal Headquarters in Washington DC. MTAC (Mailers Technical Advisory Committee) operates as many special-interest groups called “Workgroups”, which meet throughout the year, and come together to report to the full MTAC group 4 times per year. Today’s meetings include a PostalOne! User Group meeting. I will also be participating in Workgroup #93. Workgroup #93 is the Design and Concept Testing workgoup. Watch future blogs for details on what we cover.

Best wishes,
Lisa

Next week I will be attending MTAC meetings in Washington DC. I’ll be posting some blogs on what I learn and what I hear regarding Postal Service trends and future plans that affect mailers. Window Book is your representative at these meetings, be sure to drop me a note if there is any information I can retrieve specifically, or any postal issues you might want reviewed.

What is MTAC?

MTAC is an acronym for the United States Postal Service Mailers Technical Advisory Committee. MTAC is a venue for the USPS to share and disseminate technical information with mailers. It is also a forum for mailers to make recommendations and advise the USPS on matters concerning mailing-related products and services, in order to enhance customer value and expand the use of these tools for mutual benefit.

Who is MTAC?

Membership and participation on MTAC committees are comprised of mailing associations and organizations related to the Mailing Industry. The member group reflects all facets of the mailing community. MTAC Meetings are held quarterly.

Window Book, MTAC, and You

WBI has been an active participant in MTAC meetings, and on MTAC Committees such as the PostalOne! Group, and the Streamlining Verification group. Participation and networking at MTAC meetings gives Mailing Products Users an inside track as to what is coming down the road from the USPS. Open lines of communications both ways help facilitate dealings with the USPS. Window Book represents our own mailing family of users at these high level meetings. I will be attending MTAC quarterly metings next week in Washington DC. Watch for a blog post with notes from the February MTAC meetings.

For more information on MTAC, visit the USPS MTAC website here http://ribbs.usps.gov/mtac.htm.

Best wishes,

Lisa Bowes

My name is Lisa Bowes. I have over 20 years of service in mailing.  My experience out in the mailing industry was hands- on. I got my start as a material handler at RR Donnelley in Old Saybrook, CT. At RRD, I progressed through every bindery job level, up to journeyman Magazine Line Bindery Operator. I also spent some time in Customer Service. From RRD, I moved on to a start up bindery operation at Northeast Graphics as Mailing Manager. At Northeast we went from 8 million pieces of mail annually, to nearly 200 million pieces annually after 5 years–growth which we could not have accomplished without the flexibility of DAT-MAIL! I continued at Northeast after the company was purchased by World Color Press, and then Quebecor. I have been on the Window Book Team for more than 6 years.

My time out in the industry gives me a tremendous advantage in communicating with you, because I know where mailers are coming from. I know what is important to you. I can relate to the challenges mailers face on a daily basis. I can help mailers to navigate through the US Postal Service requirements.

It is one of my priorities in 2006 to listen and respond to your specific mailing challenges and requirements in order to help you to meet and surpass your business needs, both now and in the future. There is a new feature on our website that gives you a place to register suggestions. Your input is critical! The more we can learn about your requirements, the better we can service you.

Please use the Suggestions link to submit an idea or request, or contact me directly any time.

Best wishes,
Lisa Bowes

Welcome to my first blog post!

First off, a definition of this form of communication:

A blog is a website in which items are posted on a regular basis and displayed in reverse chronological order. The term blog is a shortened form of weblog or web log. Authoring a blog, maintaining a blog or adding an article to an existing blog is called “blogging”. Individual articles on a blog are called “blog posts,” “posts” or “entries”. A person who posts these entries is called a “blogger”. A blog comprises text, hypertext, images, and links (to other web pages and to video, audio and other files). Blogs use a conversational style of documentation.
From Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blog

I have maintained a personal blog for some time now, but I am just starting to see the vast potential for communicating with our Mailing Products users in an interpersonal manner such as a blog affords. You will have the ability to subscribe to receive my blog posts on a regular basis, and you will also be able to add your own comments. This blog will give me an opportunity to keep you up to date on USPS news, industry trends, and tips on how to use your Mailing Products software in ways you might not have considered.

I look forward to posting here on a regular basis. As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome.

Best wishes,
Lisa Bowes

Next time: A little bit about me.
Future blog(s): Mailer’s Technical Advisory Committee meeting notes.