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Gary Reblin and Jan CaldwellIntelligent Mail & Address Quality

IntelligentMAIL™

in the U. S. Postal Service

MTAC February 5, 2004

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Intelligent Mail Strategies

Vision

Place one unique code on all mail allowing end-to-end visibility into the

mailstream.

Develop

and Deploy Enabling

Infrastructure

Enhance Address Quality

Uniquely Identify All Types of Mail

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LETTERS AND FLATS PROGRESS

Determining capabilities for mailers and USPS to move to a new code– Mail Technology Study

• Widespread usage of high-speed IJP (2-D problematic)

• 2-D viable for meter and on-line users

– 4-state coding alternative more promising for permit mailers

E.g., Data Matrix, PDF 417E.g., Data Matrix, PDF 417

2-D2-D

E.g., 4-State BarcodeE.g., 4-State Barcode

Height ModulatedHeight Modulated

STRATEGY 1

Uniquely

Identify All Types of

mail

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LETTERS AND FLATS

IBI Initiatives Underway– Development of AFCS-IBI Detection

• Research and Development – (2 –year timeframe)− Red ink creates some reading issues

– IBI Revenue Protection• Creates ability track mail pieces on equipment

− New Hand Held Scanners read IBI

Replace PLANET with a 4-state Code (Spring Test)

– Under contract to upgrade letter sorting capabilities

– Characters – 31 (includes: country ID (2), service ID (3), subscriber ID (6), unique ID (9), ZIP (11))

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FLATS ID CODE SORT

Add ID Tag read/print capability to AFSM 100flat sorters

Ability to read 4-state and IBI

Deployment complete in FY ‘05

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Leverage PLANET Code and PARS to Supply Mailers Notice Of Undeliverable-As-Addressed Mail Pieces

Eliminates Separate Participant Code And Keyline to Obtain UAA Notification

– Provide Electronic Notice To Mailer

Planet ACS Update - Overview

USPS CONFIDENTIAL RESTRICTED INFORMATION

C/O BANK ONEDulles VA 20200

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

#BWNGKVN#9999 9920 0104 276#

IRENE PAYNE6449 AMBERVIEW CVMEMPHIS TN 38141-8346

38141-8346

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Pre-PARS (Electronic Return Notification Service):

Electronic Notification Of Returned UAA Mailpiece

–Individual Nixie Reasons Not Provided

Post-PARS (Planet ACS):

Electronic Notification of UAA Nixie Reason Codes Provided for Individual Mailpiece

Forwarding Address for Moving Customer

Information Provided To Mailer

USPS CONFIDENTIAL RESTRICTED INFORMATION

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Pre-PARS: Return Mail Will Be Directed To Nearest Regional PARS Site

– During Pilot All UAA Mail Will Be Sent To Central Processing Site

Electronic UAA Notification Record Created using PLANET Barcode & Delivery Point Barcode (If available)

– UAA Mail Piece Will Be Disposed

Post-PARS: Read The PLANET/4-State Barcode

– Provide Notification In Normal Course Of Processing The UAA Mail Piece

How It Works With PARS

USPS CONFIDENTIAL RESTRICTED INFORMATION

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Pilot Test Objectives

Conduct Pilot Test At One P&DC To: Develop Operational Experience

– Compare Results Manual Entry Of Participant And Keyline Information

Obtain Mailer Feedback

– Linking Electronic Notification To Originally Mailed Address Information

Evaluate Accuracy Of Scanned Information Establish Plan For Expanding Mailer Participation

USPS CONFIDENTIAL RESTRICTED INFORMATION

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Implementation Following Pilot Test

Following Successful Pilot Test

Evaluate Expansion To Regional P&DC Locations

– Electronic Return Notification Service

Slowly Expand Number Of Participating Mailers

Incorporate USPS 4-State Barcode

USPS CONFIDENTIAL RESTRICTED INFORMATION

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Thank you!