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SWACUMS Lubbock, TX October 23, 2013. Getting Started with Full-Service. Presented by Felicia Carter Manager, Business Mail Entry Fort Worth District. Now’s the time to upgrade .
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Getting Started with Full-Service Presented by Felicia Carter Manager, Business Mail Entry Fort Worth District
Now’s the time to upgrade. Effective January 26, 2014, only mailings meeting the requirements of the Full-Service Intelligent Mail® Barcode will qualify for automation discounts.
This change will apply to mailings of Standard Mail® letters and flats, Periodicals®, Bound Printed Matter® flats, and First-Class Mail® postcards, letters and flats. With the Full-Service Intelligent Mail® Barcode, you’ll get: • The lowest automation discount price available • The opportunity to eliminate permit fees • Address correction • Visibility into your mailings We encourage you to contact your Mail Service Provider (MSP) or software vendor well in advance of January 26 to upgrade your level of service. Any mailing not using Full-Service will be charged the higher non-automation postage rate.
Agenda Todays topics: • Describe concepts of Intelligent Mail • Understand the Do’s & Don’t for Full-Service Intelligent Mail • Understand the benefits of Full-Service • eInduction • Reply Mail
Background of Intelligent Mail® • In 2009 the Postal Service began offering the mailing industry two Intelligent Mail options for automation discounts: Intelligent Mail Barcode (IMb)
Mail Eligible for Full-Service • Effective January 26, 2014, use of Full-Service Intelligent Mail is required to qualify for automation prices for • First-Class Mail® postcards, letters and flats • Standard Mail® letters and flats • Periodicals letters and flats • Bound Printed Matter flats • On April 18, 2013 the Postal Service posted the Final Rule Federal Register Notice which outlines the requirement for January 2014 • This Federal Register Final Notice can be reviewed in its entirety by visiting the website federalregister.gov
What is Intelligent Mail? The Intelligent Mail Service uses information-rich barcodes and electronic documentation, providing valuable services that enhance business operations such as marketing, financials and customer support Intelligent Mail barcode (IMb) Intelligent Mail Tray barcode (IMtb) Intelligent Mail Container barcode (IMcb) Under the Full-Service option, most mailers are required to use unique Intelligent Mail barcodes for mailpieces and handling units (trays or sacks) and keep those barcodes unique for 45 days.
Common Full-Service Terminology ABC Company CUSTOMER IDENTIFICATION PAYMENT METHOD MAILER IDENTIFICATION CRID MID Permit There can only be one CRID for each physical business location. However, there can be multiple Permits and MIDs associated to the one CRID. Permit MID Permit Permit - permission to use a certain postage payment method for bulk and commercial mailings. For commercial mailings, an annual fee applies. CRID - unique ID number used by USPS to identify a customer’s physical business location (address). MID - A six- or nine-digit number the USPS assigns to a Mail Owner or Mail Service Provider based on calendar-year mail volume 9
Common Full-Service Terminology • Electronic documentation allows mailers to submit electronic data and information about their mailings and payment through the PostalOne! system • Expedites acceptance and payment verification • Electronic Documentation is required for all Full-Service mailings 10
Common Full-Service Terminology Mailpiece HandlingUnit • Most Full-Service mailings must use unique barcodes that don’t repeat for 45 days from the date the mailing is accepted into the mailstream • Exception: For mailings less than 10,000 pieces, mailers may use Identical Barcode Serial Numbers within a single mailing but must maintain uniqueness across mailings for 45 days if: • Postage is affixed to the piece at the correct price OR • All mailpieces are identical weight and separated by price
Full-Service Requirements There are two major components to Full-Service: the Intelligent Mail barcode and Electronic Documentation 12
Intelligent Mailpiece Barcode TRACKING CODE ROUTING CODE Barcode Uniqueness Barcode ID Example: 50 for Mixed AADC Service Type ID Example: 300 for First-Class Mail® Mailer ID Example: 123456 USPS assigned Serial Number Example: 200800001 Mailer assigned Routing Code Example: 6449 Earl CT, Memphis, TN 38141834649
Service Type Identifier Requirement • The Service Type ID is a 3-digit code to identify the class of mail and any additional or special services requested for the mailpiece • Must be provided in the IMb • Must be contained in the eDoc • A table of Service Type IDs is available on RIBBS: ribbs.usps.gov/index.cfm?page=intellmailmailpieces IMb on Mailpiece
MID/CRID Requirement Valid MIDs and CRIDs are required for Full-Service MIDs (Mailer IDs) are unique ID numbers assigned by USPS to identify a specific mail owner, mailing agent, or other service provider MIDs are used in both the Intelligent Mail barcode as well as mailers’ electronic documentation Each MID is linked to a CRID (Customer Registration ID), which represents a specific business location MIDs and CRIDs are used to identify the BY/FOR relationship in a mailing Mail is prepared BY the Mail Preparer Mail is prepared FOR the Mail Owner 15
As a New Customer, how do I obtain a single MID? • When creating a new business account on the Business Customer Gateway (BCG), a MID and CRID will automatically be assigned for that business location • Log-on to the Business Customer Gateway to access all online services. https://gateway.usps.com 16
As an Existing Customer, how do I obtain an additional MID? • Customers can obtain additional MIDs through the BCG “Mailer ID” portal, which can be accessed one of three ways: • Mailing Services menu • Shipping Services menu • Click on the “Mailer ID” button within the Favorite Services panel
As an MSP, how do I obtain an additional MID? Mail Service Providers may request individual or bulk CRIDs, MIDs or both on behalf of a client through the BCG
Unique Intelligent Mail Tray Barcode for Handling Units (IMtb) Barcode Uniqueness Under the Full-Service option, most mailers are required to use a unique Intelligent Mail® tray barcode on all handling units (trays or sacks) and keep this barcode unique for 45 days.
Unique Intelligent Mail Container Barcodes (IMcb) APPLICATION IDENTIFIER Example: 99 TYPE INDICATOR Example: M MAILER ID Example: USPS ASSIGNED, Ex: 2034Z SERIAL NUMBER Example: Mailer Assigned, Ex: 200800000001 Barcode Uniqueness Under the Full-Service option, most mailers are required to use a unique Intelligent Mail® container barcode on the Intelligent Mail® container placard and keep this barcode unique for 45 days.
Container Placard • Container Placards are usually required for Full-Service mailings but there are some exceptions • When discussing the exceptions, the following terms are important to understand: • BMEU: mailings presented by a customer at a BMEU • Processing Facility: mailings verified at a BMEU but given back to mailer to be taken to a processing facility 21
When is a container placard required for Full-Service?Entering mail at the BMEU - First-Class Mail Letters & Flats HIGH VOLUME MAILING Mailer does not separate mail into different containers by destination Mailer separates mail into different containers by destination Small volume mailing Mailer has a CSA First-Class Mail Separations • Letters • Less than 48 1-foot trays • Less than 24 2-foot trays • Flats • Less than 16 tubs 5-digit Origin SCF SCF AADC ADC Origin MDX Surface Mixed ADC Air No Container Placard Required No Container Placard Required Container with Unique Placard Container with Unique Placard
Entering Mail at the processing facility - First-Class Mail Letters & Flats The mailing is larger than the minimum Mailer has a CSA Small volume mailing • Small Volume Mailing in an APC • Letters • Less than 48 1-foot trays • Less than 24 2-foot trays • Flats • Less than 16 tubs • OR • Small Volume Mailing on a Pallet • Letters • Less than 72 1-foot trays • Less than 36 2-foot trays • Flats • Less than 24 tubs No Container Placard Required Container with Unique Placard Container with Unique Placard
Full-Service Standard Mail, Periodicals, BPM Letters & Flats At the BMEU Mailing is small and mailer does not separate mail into different containers by destination Mailing is small and mailer separates mail into different containers by destination (OPTIONAL) Mailing is more than 500 pounds of bundles/sacks or 72 1-foot trays 250-499 pounds of bundles/sacks or 36-71 1-foot trays OR • Small Mailing • Less than 500 pounds of bundles/sacks • Less than 72 1-foot trays 100-249 pounds of bundles/sacks or 12-35 1-foot trays, AND entering mail at a co-located BMEU within service area for the mail OR Under 100 pounds of bundles/sacks or 35 1-foot trays, AND entering flats claiming DDU rate No Container Placard Required Container with Unique Placard Container with Unique Placard
What is Electronic Documentation (eDoc)? • Electronic documentation allows mailers to submit postage statements and qualification reports electronically through the PostalOne! system • The 4 Options for submitting electronic documentation are: • Mail.dat • Mail.XML • Postal Wizard • Intelligent Mail for Small Business (IMsb) Tool 25
Exclusion rules are applied to determine which mailpieces should get measured Exclusions are caused by operational events (scans, appointments) as well as manifest information (eDoc) provided by the mailer Exclusions are identified at one of three levels: Container (Pallet) Level Handling Unit (Tray) Level Piece Level Exclusions
Exclusions • Container / Handling Unit Level Exclusions
Exclusions • Container / Handling Unit Level Exclusions
Exclusions • Container / Handling Unit Level Exclusions
Exclusions • Piece Level Exclusions
Exclusions • Piece Level Exclusions
Full-Service Mailing Solutions • Mailing software vendors offer easy, ready-to-go solutions for preparing and submitting Full-Service mailings. • Mail.dat/Mail.XML: software solutions for mailers who wish to use software to prepare presort mailings, generate unique barcodes, and submit mailing information electronically to USPS. • Postal Wizard: software solution which allow mailers to presort mail and generate unique barcodes, but require the mailer to enter the postage statement information online via the online Postal Wizard tool. Commercial Mailing Software Vendors For additional details, reference the RIBBS Certifications > eDoc & Full-Service page: https://ribbs.usps.gov/index.cfm?page=electronicdoc
For a list of software vendors that offer dynamic Full-Service solutions and have tested them with USPS, reference the following documents on RIBBS: Full-Service Mailing Solutions Commercial Mailing Software Vendors (Cont’d) • The summary listis a one-page document which identifies the three types of presort software and which vendors offer each type • Also identifies the specific submission methods and classes of mail that are supported by each vendor • The detailed listis an Excel vendor matrix which provides more in-depth details about the capabilities and offerings of each software vendor • Mailers using a product on one of these lists can start mailing in production without additional testing in the Test Environment for Mailers (TEM). Mail Owners and Mail Service Providers who wish to validate a Full-Service test mailing can do so by submitting a single file through TEM instructions on the fact sheet located on RIBBS: http://ribbs.usps.gov/electronicdoc/documents/tech_guides/TEMProcessMailingsMail.dat_Mail.XML.pdf 34
Full-Service Mailing Solutions (Cont’d) Mail Service Providers (MSPs) Offer a wide variety of services for Mail Owners Talk to your MSP to learn more about the Full-Service solutions they offer There are many advantages of using an MSP to prepare your mailings. Some of the services an MSP can provide include: provide/manage your address list print and/or presort your mailing enter your mailing with the greatest discounts possible manage your feedback such as ACS monitor mail quality reports USPS Intelligent Mail for Small Business (IMsb) Tool Online tool to help small business mailers prepare Full-Service mailings with Intelligent Mail barcodes and tray labels For mailers who mail less than 10,000 pieces per mailing and less than 250,000 pieces annually To learn more about the IMsb tool and how to get started, reference the IMsb user guide on RIBBS: https://ribbs.usps.gov/intelligentmail_guides/documents/tech_guides/IMsbUserGuide.pdf 35
Full-Service Benefits • Reduce Costs • Receive automation price discounts • Eliminate permit fees • Use the same permit at any location • Address Correction • Address correction on Full-Service pieces • Monitor Service • Start-the-Clock on Mail Entry • Visibility and Tracking 36
Summary of Full-Service Requirements Full-Service Requirements Intelligent Mail barcode Barcode Uniqueness, STID, Valid MID Electronic Documentation Valid MID/CRID Available eDoc Technologies Mail.dat, Mail.XML, Postal Wizard, IMsb Tool Full-Service Mailing Solutions Commercial Software Vendors Mail Service Providers IMsb Tool Full-Service Benefits Reduced Costs, Accurate Delivery, Monitor Service 37
What is eInduction? eInduction Available to all customers in late November.
eInduction Overview: Benefits • eInduction provides many benefits to the USPS and to mailers: • Streamline the preparation and induction of drop shipments • Quicker appointment processing • Reduce container status errors • Improve revenue protection • Automatic mail quality validations • Mail quality information available through reports available via PostalOne!
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
Reply Mail IMb Requirements for Reply Mail Business Reply Mail • Qualified Business Reply Mail • Any QBRM letters and cards that mailers distribute will be required to bear an IMb • QBRM is only a postcard and letter (up to 2 oz.) product • Permit Reply Mail • Any PRM letters and flats that mailers distribute, regardless of method, will be required to bear an IMb
Resources for Mailers • RIBBS Website:https://ribbs.usps.gov • Getting Started Page: https://ribbs.usps.gov/gettingstarted • Business Customer Gateway Information: https://ribbs.usps.gov/gateway • Mailpiece Design Analyst • Phone: 855-593-6093 • Email: mda@usps.gov • PostalOne! Help Desk • Phone: 800-522-9085 • Email: postalone@usps.gov 47
Q & A 48