Mail Prep - PostalOne!® Mail.dat® and Intelligent Mail®

Is My Life About To Change?

What Do I need To Do?

Presented by: Angelo Anagnostopoulos, GrayHair Software

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So What’s New?

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Intelligent Mail™

What is the Postal Service saying about Intelligent Mail?

“The Postal Service has proposed that beginning in May 2009, mailers will be required to use Intelligent Mail® or POSTNET barcodes to access Basic automation prices for letters and flats and preferential pricing will be given for Full Service Intelligent Mail.  As of May 2010, only Intelligent Mail barcodes will be eligible for letters and flats mailed at automation prices”

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What About It?

Federal Register Proposal Published Additional Federal Register is due soon You have until May 2009 to start using Intelligent Mail

Barcodes (IMB’s) if you want to receive partial or full automation discounts

Options include Full Service Basic POSTNET

POSTNET only good until May 2010 None

There will be incentives (positive or negative) to do business electronically with the Postal Service

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Intelligent Mail Discount Options

You can choose not use Intelligent Mail POSTNET (only good until May 2010) Basic

Intelligent Mail Barcode on Mailpieces (does not have to be unique)

Full Service Unique Intelligent Mail Barcode on Mailpieces, Trays, Sacks

and Containers (unique how?) Electronic Mailing Documentation (eDoc) Schedule Appointments for all mail (including Origin) Free services included with Full Service

Address Correction Information Start-the-Clock

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IM Options – How Much and How Hard?

Full Service & IMB

Postnet or Basic & IMB

No Barcodes

Harder

Easier

Best Discounts

Worst Discounts

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I Think Some People Are Living In Denial

A survey of nearly 300 executives and IT managers in the mailing industry was conducted jointly by Pitney Bowes Group 1 Software and Mailing Systems Technology

42 percent are awaiting future announcements regarding USPS postal discounts before deciding on an Intelligent Mail Barcode (IMB) option (basic vs. full service)

9 percent plan to continue using the POSTNET barcode until it is officially phased out in 2010

39 percent will begin Intelligent Mail Barcode implementation over the next 12 months

6 percent do not have plans to implement Intelligent Mail Results show that companies are already thinking about migrating to

the new IMB, but require more information and discount incentives to help guide the investments in the technology that will enable them to meet the new postal mandate in 2009

Source: PB Group 1 Software, Inc. 3/31/2008 Press Release

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Intelligent Mail Challenges

A mailing can be either Basic or Full Service but not both Issue in Co-Mail, Commingle and Co-Palletization environments

Generating good and complete electronic data Cast of Characters and security Mailpiece redesign IMB Service Codes

What if I print the piece and want to change Mail Class? IMB OEL information 45 day uniqueness rule Logical vs. physical trays, sacks and pallets Origin Appointments First Class Palletization

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The Future of Postage Payment

Note: Required for Full Service

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Options For Postage Payment

Mail.dat Batch orWeb Services and TM

Mail.dat Manual

Wizard Web Services

Paper

Easy

Hard

Most Expensive

Least Expensive

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Paper

Can be created manually or by software

Reports like the Qual Report are bulky and costly to produce and store for one year

There will be incentives to stop producing paper

Not available for Full Service

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Postage Statement Wizard

Easier than paper Made for small

businesses Specialty use situations Labor intensive for large

mailers Can use for Full Service

if volume is < 10,000

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What is Mail.dat?

Developed by IDEAlliance Industry standard. Nearly everyone can create it Safe from Privacy Issues. Only stores mailing information not

names and addresses An excellent alternative to manual paper reports and round-

stamped postage statements

Mail.dat

=Trays

Bundles

Pallets

Entry Points

=3602 8125

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Mail.dat File Set

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Web Services

The USPS Wizard Web Service API consists of five major areas of functionality, each with its own Web Service Definition Language (WSDL) file that defines the objects and methods available Password Management Mailing Groups Postage Statements Qualification Reports Plant-Verified Drop Shipment

Transaction Messaging (TM) Developed by IDEAlliance Provides Additional Functionality Used for making FAST Appointments

PDR XML

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XML – What Does It Look Like?

  <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?> - <wsdl:definitions targetNamespace="http://postagestatementwizard.wws" xmlns:apachesoap="http://xml.apache.org/xml-soap"

xmlns:impl="http://postagestatementwizard.wws" xmlns:intf="http://postagestatementwizard.wws" xmlns:soapenc="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/encoding/" xmlns:tns1="http://data.postagestatement.postagestatementwizard.wws" xmlns:tns2="http://data.postagestatementwizard.wws" xmlns:tns3="http://data.user.postagestatementwizard.wws" xmlns:tns4="data.postagestatement.postagestatementwizard.wws" xmlns:wsdl="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/wsdl/" xmlns:wsdlsoap="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/wsdl/soap/" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema">

- <wsdl:types>- <schema targetNamespace="http://data.postagestatement.postagestatementwizard.wws"

xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema">  <import namespace="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/encoding/" /> - <complexType name="CertificationData">- <sequence>  <element name="name" nillable="true" type="xsd:string" />   <element name="phoneAreaCode" nillable="true" type="xsd:string" />   <element name="phoneLast4" nillable="true" type="xsd:string" />   <element name="phonePrefix" nillable="true" type="xsd:string" />   </sequence>  </complexType>- <complexType name="CombinedMailingData">- <sequence>  <element name="id" type="xsd:long" />   <element name="firstCombinedMailing" type="xsd:boolean" />   <element name="lastCombinedMailing" type="xsd:boolean" />   <element name="maxStatements" type="xsd:int" />   </sequence>  </complexType>- <complexType name="ContainerData">

Thank goodness computers and geeks can read this stuff!

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The Process - Today

Address HygieneNCOAAEC

LACS

CASSDPV

PresortCust. Files

N/A File

Mail. dat Reports

Mail.dat Software

Reports &Postage

Statements

Mail. dat

Inkjet or Label Process

Lettershop or Printer

USPS

Manual or Automated

DMU

Mail Owner

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The Process - Improved

Address HygieneNCOAAEC

LACS

CASSDPV

PresortCust. Files

N/A File

Mail. dat Reports

Mail.dat Software

Reports &Postage

Statements

Mail. dat

Inkjet or Label Process

Lettershop or Printer

USPS

Manual or Automated

DMU

Mail Owner

Postage Payment through PostalOne!Seamless

Acceptance

FAST

Postage Payment Software

PostalOne!

FAST

CAPS

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PostalOne! Challenges

Postage Statements without USPS “Round Stamp”

Courtesy Pallets (software) MLOCR, Commingle and Co-Palletization Manifest mailings Spoilage Application process (getting better but wait) File upload times

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5-Digit ZIP Code

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ZIP+4 Code

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Delivery Point Barcode

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Current Envelope

6060 PRIMACY PKWY STE 201MEMPHIS TN 38188-3333

**************************** 5-Digit 38141IRENE PAYNE6449 AMBERVIEW CVMEMPHIS TN 38141-8346

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

PresortedFirst-Class MailU.S. POSTAGE PAIDWashington, DC 20260Permit No. 1

#BWNGKVN #9999 9920 0104 276

POSTNET Code POSTNET Code for Sortationfor Sortation

PLANET Code for PLANET Code for Confirm ServiceConfirm Service

Participant CodeParticipant Code Keyline for Address Keyline for Address Change ServiceChange Service

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Mailpiece With IMB

6060 PRIMACY PKWY STE 201MEMPHIS TN 38188-3333

************************ 5-Digit 38141IRENE PAYNE6449 AMBERVIEW CVMEMPHIS TN 38141-8346

PresortedFirst-Class MailU.S. POSTAGE PAIDWashington, DC 20260Permit No. 1

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IMB Milestones

Initial launch of the Intelligent Mail barcode on September 1, 2006 Letter mail OneCode Confirm™ OneCode ACS™

May 1, 2007 First-Class Mail, Periodicals, Standard Mail®, and Bound Printed

Matter for Automation Discounts First-Class Mail, Periodicals, Standard Mail, and Bound Printed

Matter flats with Intelligent Mail barcodes to participate in OneCode Confirm

First-Class Mail and Periodical letters and flats with Intelligent Mail barcodes to participate in OneCode ACS

Balance Fall 2007 May 2009

Required for Full Service and Basic Service discounts May 2010

Goodbye POSTNET

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Serial Number Delivery Point ZIPService Type

Mailer IDBarcodeID

POSTNET™ barcodeIntelligent Mail® Barcode

Optional Endorsement Line:

“50” Mixed ADC

“700” First-Class Mail“702” Standard“704” Periodicals“706” Bound Printer

MatterUSPS Assigned

“900000066”

Mailer Assigned“000235”

Jane Doe6449 Amberview CtMemphis, TN 38141-

8346

Intelligent Mail Barcode Components

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IMB Specifications

Same as POSTNET, except: 2.667 – 3.225 inches in length (3 bars longer) 0.125 – 0.165 inch in height (vs. 0.115 – 0.135) 0.028 vertical barcode clearance (vs. 0.040)

Clearance between barcode and text lines

same as clearance between text lines!

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IMB Specifications (cont.)

Same as POSTNET, except that instead of baseline, you need to look for the centerline!

< +5° max > -5° max

CL

CL

< +5° max > -5° max

CLCL

Barcode Skew Bar Rotation

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IMB Specifications (cont.)

0.010

Maximum dot matrix spacing increased from

0.005 to 0.010 inch.

Increase in the allowed space between dots (voids).

Is this enough for Flats mailers?

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Get Authorized To Print The IMB

Apply for a Mailer ID Contact your local Mailpiece Design Analyst (MDA):

Online tool at http://pe.usps.com Click “Mailpiece Design”

Click “Lookup Tool” under heading “Mailpiece Design Analyst” Complete the survey and a 6 or 9-digit MID will be assigned

based on mail volume

Certify your IMB with the MDA If using for Confirm, certify with Confirm If using OneCode ACS™, certify with ACS

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How Do I Tell The Difference Between a 6-Digit and 9-Digit MID?

By the 1st digit of course 0 = Converted Confirm Subscriber ID 1-8 = 6-digit MID 9 = 9-digit MID

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Gathering The Parts Of The IMB

Barcode ID defines the presort makeup in conjunction with an Optional Endorsement Line (OEL). This is required

Service Type ID defines the mail class and any services requested (e.g., OneCode Confirm™, OneCode ACS™) Do not use “000”

Mailer ID is a 6-digit or 9-digit number that uniquely identifies the mail owner or mailing agent. Not required on Reply Envelopes

Serial Number uniquely identifies the mailpiece or mailing Routing Code is used to encode the destination ZIP Code of

the mailpiece Never pad ZIP Code with zeroes, spaces or any other

digits that are not part of the ZIP Code; same as POSTNET

IMB does not require a CHECK DIGIT

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How to produce the IMB

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Destination Confirm Example

Data Field Number of Digits Definition

Barcode ID 2 Fill with OEL and Presort data

Service Type ID 3 040 – Destination First Class

042 – Destination Standard Mail

044 – Destination Periodicals

Subscriber ID -> MID 6 Add a leading zero to the existing Subscriber ID

Serial Number 9 Uniquely identify each mailpiece for full service or you can use a static code for basic service (not recommended)

Routing Zip 0, 5, 9 or 11 Delivery Point Zip Code information

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Nesting Requirements

6060 PRIMACY PKWY STE 201

MEMPHIS TN 38188Address Change Service

John Doe

6449 AMBERVIEW CV

MEMPHIS TN 38141 - 8346

Unique Mailpiece Barcode Unique Mailpiece Barcode

Unique Container Barcode Unique Container Barcode

Unique Tray Barcode Unique Tray Barcode

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Full Service Requirement for Trays and Sacks

Apply a Unique Intelligent Mail Tray barcode on Tray and Sack labels

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The Tray Label Is Changing

Mailer ID Serial NumberContent Identifier

Number (CIN)

LabelSource

ZIPCode

LabelType

Current 10 digit LabelNew 10/24-digit Label

“22043”

“245” First-Class Mail Letter

AADC Barcode

“1” Automated, Barcoded,

Machinable

USPS Assigned:

“900000679” “00001” “8”

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Full Service Requirement For Pallets

Apply a Unique Intelligent Mail Container barcode on labels affixed to containers such as Pallets, Gaylords and Rolling Stock

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The Pallet Placard Is Changing

Mailer ID Serial Number M

Current Label New Container Label

99

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What Can I Do To Get More Involved?

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How To Get Involved

Join the IDEAlliance Mail.dat Workgroup if you want to help define the future of the Mail.dat Specification

Join the Transaction Messaging Business Group

Join an MTAC Workgroup Join the PostalOne Users Group Get involved with your local PCC

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Current MTAC Workgroups

ISSUE TITLE

106 Improve and integrate data sources that facilitate optimal mail preparation and induction

115 Requirements for Prep & Entry of Flat Mail in FSS Environment

116 Great Addressing to Increase the Value of Mail

117Seamless Acceptance, Performance Based Verification, Implementation Benefits Obstacles and Feedback

118 Software Certification for PostalOne!

119 FSS Implementation Communication

120 Communicating Entry Req. IHD Solutions Seasonality Impact

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Acronyms And Industry Terms

ACS – Address Change Service APPS – Automated Package Processing System END – Evolutionary Network Design FAST – Facility Access Shipment and Tracking FSS – Flats Sequencing Sorter ICB – Intelligent Container Barcode IMB – Intelligent Mail Barcode ITB – Intelligent Tray Barcode MTE – Mail Transport Equipment PARS – Postal Automation Redirection System PostalOne! – The Customer Gateway

Transportation Management Confirm Postage Payment eDoc FAST

Seamless Acceptance – Automates Mail Induction Surface Visibility – Electronic capture of Mail movements via container scans

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Resources

Information on MTAC Chris Lien - ChrisL@bccsoftware.com John Stark - john_stark@condenast.com

Mail.dat http://www.maildat.org

PostalOne! http://www.uspspostalone.com

USPS RIBBS Reference Site http://ribbs.usps.gov

FAST https://fast.usps.com/fast/main.action

Wizard Web Services https://cat.uspspostalone.com/WizardXML/

Mail Tracking and Reporting https://mailtracking.usps.com/mtr/common/index.pge

Intelligent Mail Barcode http://ribbs.usps.gov/onecodesolution/