Posted on July 20, 2009 11:28
Mail.XML™
A Present and Future Tool
Mail.XML™ is a mailing industry standard specification for light-weight transactions between participants in the mailing process. The Mail.XML™ specification, as with the mail.dat specification was established and is maintained by IDEAlliance.
Mail.dat is the powerful foundation for communicating data regarding mailings. It is a suite of relational database files which contain virtually every piece of data about a mailing except for the actual name and address records.
Mail.XML™ is a communications tool which allows for participants in the mailing process to communicate changes and updates to the Mail.dat® file in a fast, efficient manner which is almost real-time. There are numerous transactions that occur during the course of the mailing process which do not require transmission of the entire Mail.dat database. Using Mail.XML™ for these lighter-weight transactions reduces manual data entry processes and makes these transactions quicker and more efficient.
Mail.dat™ stores complete information about a mailing as a database. Prior to Mail.XML™, the complete dataset was interchanged between the list house, printer/manufacturer, trucking company and USPS.[
Mail.dat® will not be replaced by Mail.XML™. Mail.XML™ provides an alternative to exchanging the entire Mail.dat database. Mail.XML™ adds a new light-weight transaction messaging mechanism betweeen mail owner, list house, manufacturer/printer, logistics company and the USPS. (Diagram courtesy of IDEAlliance)
The United States Postal Service® (USPS) continues to move toward a forms-based transaction protocol, to which Mail.XML™ lends itself beautifully. For example, transmitting postage statements to the USPS for postage payment is a forms-based transaction, for which Mail.XML™ may be used. Making drop ship appointments through the USPS FAST system is another example.
Mail.dat® is not going away and will not be replaced with Mail.XML™. Rather, Mail.XML™ is a powerful tool to make mailing transaction communications much quicker and easier. Window Book offers numerous world-class Mail.XML™ solutions for communications between mail owners, mail preparers, the USPS and other suppliers. Come join us and tap into the future today!
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