Preparing for January 2013 & 2014 Intelligent Mail® Options: Adopt or Fold

With the clock ticking down to USPS Intelligent Mail implementation dates in January 2013 and 2014, Window Book has published a free informative white paper titled, "Preparing for January 2013 & 2014 Intelligent Mail Options: Adopt or Fold".

This white paper specifically addresses the new Intelligent Mail requirements that mailers and shippers will need to adopt in 2013 and 2014 in order to retain the best postage rates (i.e., automation presort rates for letters and flats, and presorted drop ship pricing for parcels) while still having access to additional benefits and incentives offered by the USPS.

Here is a look at the Table of Contents from Window Book's newly published white paper:
 

Introduction	..................	5
Getting Ready for IMb Requirements: January 28, 2013	..................	7
IMb for Mailpieces (Letters and Flats)	..................	7
Your Check List	..................	9
FREE Pertinent Postal Education	..................	11
Getting Ready for IMpb Requirements: January 28, 2013	..................	12
Benefits	..................	12
IMpb (Intelligent Mail Package Barcode)	..................	13
Your Challenges for IMpb	..................	14
Your Check List	..................	16
Postage Saving Incentives and Promotions for 2013 & 2014	..................	17
Your Consequences for NOT Implementing IMb or IMpb for 2013	..................	18
Getting Ready for January 2014 Intelligent Mail Full-Service	..................	19
Your Check List for Intelligent Mail Full-Service	..................	21
Full-Service Technology Credit ("Tech Credit")	..................	23
MUST READ !!!	..................	24

 

 Visit www.windowbook.com/Intelligent-Mail-Warning to download and read a copy of this paper.

Mandatory Use of IMpb Set to Take Effect on the Same Day IMb's Become Required

If you're one of the mailers who have already been certified for eDoc and Intelligent Mail options, you probably can remember how long it took to get certified – weeks – maybe even months.

Well, now, if you also ship parcels using the USPS, you have a whole new set of rules to comply with beginning January 28, 2013 – and those rules all center on the Intelligent Mail Package barcode (IMpb). Using IMpb’s requires a similar process of getting approved and certified by the Postal Service before you can start using the IMpb on your presort parcels. However, there are additional steps to take because you also have to have your printer(s), IMpb’s, and 1.6+ Shipping Services Files (SSF) approved. If you plan to use multiple printers and multiple classes of mail, you have to submit a Shipping Services File of at least 100 records to TEM - with at least 10 sample labels for each printer you wish to certify - and for each class of mail you plan to mail. See page 6 of this newsletter for some USPS IMpb FAQs.

So many files and labels to print - and only a short time left until January 28, 2013…. What will you do? Do you at least have a strategy for becoming compliant? We know – you’re working on it. No worries – we can help. Our postal specialists have already been through the entire process of getting certified for the Intelligent Mail Package barcode. AND – we’ve already helped numerous shippers get through the process themselves. In fact, we’ve done it so many times already, we created a new service offering for you to take advantage of. Built along the same lines as our award-winning Intelligent Mail On-Ramp Service, we are pleased to offer our brand new IMpb On-Ramp Service!

 

IMpb On-Ramp Service We can help you retain your presort and drop ship rates, and get tracking data with IMpb. This economical, fixed-cost service will walk you through the entire onboarding process, answer any questions you have, make sure you have everything you need to meet the new requirements and assist you with certification of one SSF file and one printer. All this for one low-cost, fixed fee. Start the New Year Right! Take 10% off the purchase of IMpb On-Ramp Service or request both IMpb On-Ramp Service & Intelligent Mail On-Ramp Service and get 25% off the purchase! Email us at parcelspecialist@windowbook.com or call 1-800-524-0380 for more information. There's absolutely no time to waste!! This offer expires January 25, 2012, so don't wait. Call us today.

 

Cool New Things from Window Book

Do you Drop Ship? Do you have to manually update your Destination Postal Data – Drop Ship Database, FAST re-directions and Labeling List Data? If so, I guess you have to remember when to get these updates, check the web site frequently, and set aside time to do these manual downloads? Do you really have time for all this? I didn't think so.

It's time to install your FREE Automatic Postal Data Updates system! (APDU) and get some peace of mind, save some time and ultimately, money!

APDU will let you automatically update the Drop Ship Redirection Files and Labeling Lists on your PC as changes are made and posted on the USPS website. It will download the new data automatically, out of sight, on a schedule that you determine. Now you never again have to wonder if the USPS data files you're using are the most up-to-date versions there are.

Who can use this system?
Anyone who is using DAT-MAIL, Post Master, TagMaster, DropShipIT, or Postal Package Partner with Open and Distribute can benefit from this system.

Email postalspecialist@windowbook.com if you have any questions on installing or using this FREE system. Automatic Postal Data Updates system ensures efficiency and a more productive work environment. The sooner you start using it, more time you'll have to focus on other important tasks.

Another Exciting Intelligent Mail Full-Service Solution for You

Did you know that DAT-MAIL interfaces with Whittier Barcode Tagger? Comply with Full Service Intelligent Mail requirements and save money providing more accurate eDocs! With the Whittier Barcode Tagger, you can easily print extra tags for overflow trays or sacks and DAT-MAIL will add them to your Mail.dat files to meet Full-Service requirements. Here's how it works: DAT-MAIL sends special Mail.dat files to the Barcode Tagger which allow it to print additional tags when you run out of room in a tray or sack due to inaccurate presort settings. Data for each new tag is sent back to DAT-MAIL where it is either manually or automatically imported and the new trays are added to mail.dat files. You can create "sibling" tray tags and pallet labels by scanning the original tag or label. You can also "split" the mail that was supposed to be in one tray by scanning the original tray tag followed by scanning the first mail piece you put in the new tray. Unlike "sibling" trays, "split" trays can be copalletized by third parties. There are many other important capabilities made possible by this interface like being able to accurately reprint a lost or damaged tray tag by scanning a mail piece in the tray with the missing tray tag. The new Tagger/DAT-MAIL interface gives your shop floor the ability to change eDocs almost in real-time at a much lower cost than making these changes by other means!

See DAT-MAIL and Tagger's interface in action
Email us at postalspecialist@windowbook.com and test drive the system
with your own files!

 

Visit http://www.windowbook.com/webinars to register for these and other upcoming webinars.

Check out popular past webinars 

• Intelligent Mail OneCode Services (Guest presenter: Lisa Bowes)
• Tips on Saving Time and Money in Your Mailing Operations
• Hidden Gems: Using DAT-MAIL's Reports to Provide Useful Business Intelligence
• Full-Service Intelligent Mail Made Easy for First-Class Transactional Mailers
• Alternative Business Models for our Nation's Postal System (Guest Presenter: Gene Del Polito)
• Business Customer Gateway: https://gateway.usps.com
• USPS End-to-End Visibility (Guest Presenter: Jim Cochrane, Vice President – USPS)
• CRIDs and MIDs: Everything You Need to Know (Guest Presenter: Laine Ropson)
• And many more...

Visit http://www.windowbook.com/recordedwebinars to view these and other previously recorded webinars.

Window Book Tech Reps Busy Diagnosing and Analyzing

Since we began advertising our complimentary Intelligent Mail Readiness Diagnostic Analysis service, we’ve had dozens of people take us up on our offer. And we’ve been able to help all of them improve at least some portion of their business. Nothing thrills us more than that! And now that you know others are getting help and improving their businesses, don’t wait any longer. Go ahead and take that next step. Sign up for a free Intelligent Mail Readiness Diagnostic Analysis service and see exactly how you can get your job done in a more efficient and cost-effective way. Go ahead and step up and tell your boss you want to see how Window Book can save you between $10,000 and $1,000,000 per year. Be the hero! And, if you’re the boss, grab hold of the helm and steer your ship back on a course to USPS compliance, maximum efficiency and profitability.

Visit www.windowbook.com/4you, answer a few questions about you and your environment, and have one of our Postal Experts contact you to set up your free Diagnostic Analysis. Or email us at postalspecialist@windowbook.com or call us at 1-800-524-0380.

Last month in Postal History

December 15, 1960 – members of the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee received the first Benjamin Franklin awards in appreciation for the distinguished and outstanding public service each rendered as a member of the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee.

December 9, 2006 – Congress passes the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, H.R. 6407. President Bush signed the act into law on December 20, 2006. The act divided postal products into market-dominant and competitive categories; created the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) out of the Postal Rate Commission and increased the PRC’s regulatory powers; returned the obligation to pay military service costs to the Department of Treasury; and replaced escrow requirements to fund retiree health benefits.

December 8, 20xx – The day a Postal Service Governor's term expires in any given year.

Mailers Save Money Every Week with Free Postal Concierge e-Tips

Money-saving postal knowledge delivered directly to your inbox.
Window Book helps those in the mailing industry conveniently keep up with important Postal information and insights by offering complimentary weekly Postal Concierge e-Tips. Since 2009 the e-Tips subscriber list has grown to over 14,500 mailers, mail service providers and USPS personnel - with many mailers saving money on resources, materials and postage by taking advantage of the information presented in the e-Tips. Postal Concierge e-Tips include information on new and proposed USPS regulations, notices about when USPS data files (i.e., Labeling Lists) change and links to a whole host of other free educational resources.

Click here to view some of our recent e-tips and sign up to receive important industry news!

Complimentary Educational Resources

Did you know that Window Book offers various complimentary educational services? To educate mailers and the Postal industry as a whole about the critical changes happening with the United States Postal Service®, Window Book offers a wealth of free services. Check them out: weekly PC e-Tips, online Postal weekly webinars, recorded educational webinars, White Papers, Monthly newsletters, Postal industry articles of interest, Postal affairs blogs and more.

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