Monday, May 21, 2012
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postal concierge weekly etips for mailers

Educational webinars to mail and ship with USPS

Intelligent Mail® Barcode Myths

It seems like no matter how much information is communicated regarding Intelligent Mail (IM), there are always some misconceptions that persist. This week’s e-tip will cover some of the more prevalent “myths” surrounding Intelligent Mail.

Containers and Handling Units

Not exactly a myth, but something that often causes confusion is the new terminology used by the USPS® to refer to sacks, trays, pallets and so on. Bundles, sacks and trays are referred to now as “handling units.” These handling units are then placed on to pallets, into rolling stock, all-purpose containers, gaylords, etc. These units into which the handling units are placed are now generically referred to as “containers”.

Containerization Not Required

Maybe the biggest myth going right now is that containerization, such as palletization, is required to be eligible for IM Full-Service (IMFS). This is not the case. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PALLETIZE TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR INTELLIGENT MAIL FULL-SERVICE DISCOUNTS! If mailers do prepare containers, such as pallets, all-purpose containers, rolling stock, gaylords, etc., then it is required that these containers be properly identified with placards containing IM container barcodes. However, this does not mean that Full-Service mail that would not normally be placed into containers, such as small volumes of sacks or trays, must now be placed into containers, or that IM barcoded container placards need to be created even if no physical containers exist. For these small volume “loose” handling units (sacks or trays), the USPS can properly track and account for these units using the IM barcode on the handling unit itself.

FAST appointments

Another requirement of IMFS that is causing confusion is the FAST appointment requirement. The Facility Access and Shipment Tracking (FAST) system is a means for mailers to make drop ship delivery appointments at destination postal facilities. For IMFS mail that is drop shipped to additional entry points, making drop ship appointments using FAST is required. For mail that is not drop shipped, but that is subject to a Customer Service Agreement (CSA), The FAST CSA information, such as the trip ID numbers, are required to be transmitted electronically to the USPS. However, for mailers who enter mail at origin postal facilities and are not subject to a CSA, no FAST information is required.

Error reporting

Mailers may be receiving some informal feedback from their local post offices on the accuracy of their IMFS mail, but this should not be relied upon as the only means of determining the quality of your IMFS mailings. Currently the USPS is reporting any errors in IMFS mail using the MicroStrategy reports, available on the PostalOne! dashboard. Mailers must go to the dashboard and view or download these reports; the USPS is not currently actively pushing any error reporting directly to mailers. This will change later this month as the USPS initiates email error reporting, as was discussed in the November 19, 2010 e-tip. Since the USPS will be implementing postage “penalties” in the form of lost IMFS discounts (effective January 2, 2011) for certain errors, mailers should be actively accessing and reviewing the MicroStrategy reports NOW. This will help alleviate surprises come January 2, and help mailers to resolve errors before the penalties are placed into effect.

May 2011

A big misconception is exactly what will take place in May of 2011 regarding the IM barcode. The USPS has announced that effective May 2011, the POSTNET barcode will no longer make mail eligible for automation discounts. At that time, mailers must be able to meet at least the requirements for IM Basic Service in order to continue to achieve automation discounts. Mailers who are not currently claiming any automation discounts on their mail need not do anything differently; the USPS will still accept mail printed with POSTNET barcodes. However, mail printed with POSTNET barcodes will NOT be eligible for any automation discounts. Mailers who do claim automation discounts currently, but have not yet converted over to Intelligent Mail are encouraged to do so as soon as possible. Converting to Intelligent Mail is not a quick or easy process, so mailers should be working on this conversion NOW and not wait until close to the May 2011 implementation date to try to make the switch. Also, mailers using Confirm® for mail tracking and are using the PLANET code® will also need to convert to the IM barcode in order to continue receiving mail tracking service. The PLANET barcode will be discontinued at the same time as the POSTNET barcode.