Postal Customer Council

1. Postal Customer Council Seamless, eInduction and EPS Presented by Janine Egloff, BMS Analyst October 17, 2018

2. Benefits of Seamless acceptance

3. Seamless Acceptance Overview • Electronic Documentation • Sampling • Mail Processing Equipment (MPE) Scans Seamless Acceptance automates and simplifies the entry, verification, and induction of commercial mail at both Business Mail Acceptance Units and Detached Mail Units (DMU) Data collection points in the mail stream: Mail enters the mail stream with minimal manual validations –validations are performed electronically post-induction

4. Seamless Acceptance Requirements • Mailers must be able to meet the following requirements before transitioning to Seamless Acceptance: • 90% Full-Service • Submission of eDoc • Unique barcodes • Participate in eInduction program • Seamless Parallel- demonstrate performance under all Seamless thresholds for 30 days • Available for First-Class Mail, Periodicals, Marketing Mail letters/flats and Bound Printed Matter barcoded flats

5. Finalize Postage Statement Mail Preparation Mail Acceptance Mail Processing Generate Reports Mail Verification Feedback Provided Throughout the Process

6. Mail Preparation Step • Prepare mailings with unique barcodes and upload eDoc to PostalOne! • Using the eDoc allows additional details to be provided at the piece level, which supports more detailed reporting • eDoc submitted using: • Mail.dat • Mail.XML • Postal Wizard

7. Finalize Postage Statement Step • Postage Statements will auto-finalize on the mailing date that is included in the eDoc • Allows mailer to control the date the statement finalizes • If mailer is late with production and the Acceptance Employee is no longer on site, the mailer can still finalize the postage statement

8. Mail Acceptance Step • Traditional Verifications are replaced by Seamless Sampling • Seamless Sampling brings in randomization which makes the sample representative of the mailings presented during the month by the mailer • Mail is verified through the comparison of eDoc to scans from sampling (called sampling verification)

9. USPS MANUALLY collects piece attributes using handheld scanners by performing a random sample • The data collected during randomized sampling is used to validate: • Postage: Has to match the postage affixed specified in eDoc • Weight: Has to match the weight specified in eDoc • Mail Characteristic: Has to qualify as the type of mailing from the eDoc *This information CANNOT be obtained electronically

10. Mail Characteristics • Non-profit Eligible • Organization is not organized for profit • None of the organization’s net income is intended to benefit any individual or private stockholder • Mail Classes Eligible • First-Class Mail • Periodicals (formal authorization needed) • USPS Marketing Mail • Mail Processing Categories Eligible • Letters • Cards • Flats Mail Characteristic errors are calculated using a Postage Assessment Factor (PAF)

11. Postage assessment factor (PAF) Overview Minimum requirements to statistically validate PAF BMEU Mailers At least 600 pieces sampled and at least 6 days represented in the volume If the sample does not meet these requirements, a PAF will be forgiven Other Mailers Requirements modified to 400 pieces sampled over at least 5 days • Method to apply an error rate determined from handheld scanner samplings to the entire population of mailings within a calendar month • Designed to evaluate and interpret trends in mail preparation quality • Random sampling process uses statistical controls to confirm monthly samples are representative of overall mail population • Statistical significance ensures: • Sample size is large enough to represent the population of mailings over the month • Error rate from samples is large enough to distinguish itself from noise caused by the environment, differences in equipment, and differences in personnel

12. Postage assessment factor (PAF) Types • If a verification exceeds a threshold, the mailer may be charged additional postage

13. Mail Characteristic Postage assessment factor (PAF) Calculated by the following equation:

14. Mail Processing Step • Electronically collect mailing information using scans from Mail Processing Equipment (MPE) • Mail is verified through the comparison of eDoc to MPE scans called census verification

15. Mail Processing Equipment (MPE) scans all Intelligent Mail Barcodes (IMb) collecting data needed for 2 validations: • Undocumented Piece: Scanned IMb must be found in the eDoc that has an associated finalized postage statement • Nesting/Sortation: Piece scanned must be nested in a the tray or bundle that was identified in eDoc

16. Mail Verification Step • Compare manual and electronic sampling data to eDoc information • Validation results sent to Mailer Scorecard for reporting purposes • Mailer Scorecard provides insight to possible mail quality or preparation issues • Reporting is trend based to provide mailer opportunity to improve mail preparation during the month

17. MPE or Census error types • If a verification exceeds a threshold, the mailer may be charged additional postage

18. Access Mailer Scorecard 1 2 OR 4 3 Access the Mailer Scorecard via Business Customer Gateway (BCG):

19. Generate Report Step • Results are sent for reporting purposes and available on Mailer Scorecard • Provides view of reports at anytime at a drilldown level

20. eInduction Program Overview

21. eInduction Overview • eInduction leverages Full Service to simplify induction of mail and allow for greater management through improved visibility • eInduction mail shipments enter facilities at Origin and Destination entry points without the need for paper forms and go through a series of verifications to ensure each container has • Been paid for • Been paid at the correct rate • To participate in eInduction mailers must • Prepare and submit an eDoc using Mail.dat, Mail.XML, or Postal Wizard Software • Activate their CRID in PostalOne! • Use IMcb placard barcodes • Flag all eInduction containers in eDoc

22. eInduction Overview: Purpose • Scan data, instead of paper records, is used to determine postage payments Improved Controls 8125/8017 paper forms no longer need to be verified and signed off by induction personnel (for eInduction containers) Elimination of Paper Process Streamlined Induction Process • With eInduction, each container is treated separately where if it is scanned as Expected, or on the Container Manifest Report, it can be moved directly to processing eInduction allows USPS to determine if PVDS containers are paid for and shipped to the correct facility without the use of paper 8125/8017 forms. It provides the following benefits:

23. eInduction Overview: Process • System interactions between PostalOne! and the SV-IMD or Container Manifest Report • Containers are flagged as eInduction in electronic postage statements • The SV-IMD collects container data and compares it to data in the eDoc • At Non-SV locations data is collected as the mail moves along mail processing equipment • The systems perform validations on the container (entry point discount; mis-shipped; etc.) • Better determine if mailers qualify for the discounts claimed • A list of validations is included in the Appendix

24. BME PVDS Key Terms • Non-eInduction Shipment – A drop shipment that contains no eInduction containers • Mixed Load– A drop shipment that contains both eInduction and non-eInduction containers • 100% eInduction Shipment – A drop shipment that contains only eInduction containers

25. Dock eInduction Overview: Process Site Process

26. Dock eInduction Overview: Process Accept Not Expected Duplicate Mis-Shipped

27. eInduction Assessable Metrics Thresholds 0% eDoc Verifications Description Undocumented Container not listed on finalized postage statement 0% Payment Container listed on eDoc but not paid for .17% Duplicate Multiple containers utilizing the same bar code in a 45 day period 1.05% Misshipped Container inducted at a location other than what was listed on the eDoc .05% Entry Point Discount Incorrect Entry Point Discount was claimed on the eDoc .01% Zone Incorrect Zone discount claimed on eDoc

29. Postal Customer Council (PCC) Enterprise Payment System

30. BEFORE AFTER Commercial Products + Services Commercial Products + Services Post Office Post Office PO Boxes PO Boxes Address Quality Services Address Quality Services NCSC EnterprisePayment System Stamps/ Packaging Stamps/ Packaging NCMS Commercial ShippingProducts Commercial ShippingProducts CAPS Express MailCorporate Accounts CreditCards Express MailCorporate Accounts

31. Why EPS? Pay for all Products and Services with one account Manage accounts online Establish permits online Manage postage spent Convenient payment options

32. Commercial Products + Services Commercial Mailing Today • Electronic Funds Transfer: Pre-fund mailings via an electronic funds transfer (Fedwire or ACH Credit) • Retail Deposit: Deposit checks, cash or money orders at anyPost Office • Mobile Deposit: Deposit a check remotely using Mobile Check Capture • ACH Debit: Establish an ACH Debit account to have funds withdrawn directly from bank account • Use a single payment account for all permits; if mail at multiple sites PO Boxes Address Quality Services Stamps/ Packaging Commercial ShippingProducts Express MailCorporate Accounts Commercial Mailings Legacy • Deposit funds in person at assigned Post Office • Checks, Cash, or Money Orders to fund permit mailings • Mail at multiple sites, maintain permit balances at each assigned Post Office

34. Get Ready! Create BCG Account Request EPS Create EPS Account Set-up Payment Link Permits/Publications Choose the best payment option for your organization Get a list of all your active permits Register for a Business Customer Gateway (BCG) Account Customers already registered skip to the next step Link your mailing Permits to your EPA Contact the PostalOne! Helpdesk or your local Business Mail Entry Unit to request participation Access EPS using the hyperlink and invitation code Create an Enterprise Payment Account Set up the selected payment option: ACH Debit orTrust via EFT, Retail Deposit or Mobile Deposit

35. Commercial Products + Services • ePOBOL Legacy • PO Boxes Online limited to 5 PO boxes/services • ACH Debit is not supported as a payment method • Individual renewals and account management at local offices • ePOBOL Today • Enterprise PO Boxes Online allows mailers to manage (open, close, view, pay fees and renew) all PO Boxes, Caller and Reserve Services • Commercial customers manage multiple local accounts from a single application • Renewal/expiration notifications sent electronically PO Boxes Address Quality Services Enterprise PO Boxes Online Stamps/ Packaging Commercial ShippingProducts Express MailCorporate Accounts

36. Get Ready! Create BCG Account Request EPS Access Create EPA & Set-up Payment Manage PO Boxes Choose the best payment option for your organization Get a list of all your active PO Boxes Register for a Business Customer Gateway (BCG) Account Customers already registered skip to the next step Contact the PostalOne! Helpdesk or your local Business Mail Entry Unit to request participation Access EPS using the hyperlink and invitation code Create an Enterprise Payment Account Set up the selected payment option: ACH Debit orTrust via EFT, Retail Deposit or Mobile Deposit via Enterprise PO Boxes Online Open, close, view PO Boxes, Caller Services, and Reserve Boxes online Link PO Boxes to EPA Schedule when payment is withdrawn from EPA

37. Address Quality Account Management AQS Legacy Customer submits paper application forms for ACS or AEC NCSC generates daily or monthly invoices & manually processes payment AQS Today EPS accepts & processes invoice transactions electronically Consolidated transaction reporting available from EPS

38. Get Ready! Create BCG Account Request EPS*via NCSC Create EPS Account Set-up Payment Link Services Choose the best payment option for your organization Get a list of all your active AEC, AECII, SSACS Register for a Business Customer Gateway (BCG) Account Customers already registered skip to the next step Contact NCSC to request participation Access the Enterprise Payment System using the hyperlink and invitation code Create an Enterprise Payment Account Set up the selected payment option: ACH Debit orTrust via EFT, Retail Deposit or Mobile Deposit Link services to EPA

39. Customer Dashboard • Customer Dashboard provides a quick glance of all EPS accounts • View the real-time total of pending ACH debit transactions sent to the bank at the end of the day, as well as the Trust Balance • Pending Accounts where the account setup process needs to be completed are viewable as well John Smith

40. EPS Drill-Down Reporting

41. Commercial Mailing Activity Mail Class Report • Commercial Mailing Activity Mail Class Report summarizes transaction information for the selected Mail Class

42. Postage Statement Report • Postage Statement Report summarizes the total cost by section of a specific Postage Statement drilled by clicking on the Postage Statement ID from the Customer Mailing Details Report Select a Section to drilldown for more detail.

43. Postage Statement Line Detail Report • Postage Statement Line Detail summarizes the total cost by line of the Postage Statement section selected on the previous page

44. Standard Reports • Access to various data providing information on: • Overall spend • Type product/service • System activity

45. Standard Report – Mailing Details Report Mailing Details Report • Mailing Details Reportprovides detailed information of PostalOne! mailings Search results that filter real-time as you type across all columns All Account Activity Mailing Date Filter: Report Data Fields • Download Options: • CSV • Excel • PDF 0

46. Standard Report – Transaction History Report • Transaction History Report summarizes the transactions that were made within a selected timeframe

47. Ready? Submit “EPS Request” via email: Postalone@usps.gov *Include BCG username for BSA, email address & CRID(s) PostalOne! Help Desk Support customers with EPS setup & use • Postalone@usps.gov • 800.522.9085 PostalPro Provide online reference materials • https://postalpro.usps.com/eps • BMEU locator