Facility Access and Shipment Tracking (FAST) – Overview Presentation

1. Facility Access and Shipment Tracking(FAST) – Overview Presentation April 2011

2. Agenda FAST Business Overview FAST Overview Registering for FAST / Scheduler Hierarchy FAST Components Appointments Facilities Reports Mailer Rating FAST and Full-Service

3. Agenda FAST Business Overview FAST Overview Registering for FAST / Scheduler Hierarchy FAST Components Appointments Facilities Reports Mailer Rating FAST and Full-Service

4. What is FAST? • FAST is a system designed for business mailers to schedule appointments for entry of mail into postal facilities • FAST accommodates both drop shipped and origin-entered mailings

5. Overview/Benefits The FAST system was designed to: • Provide a single integrated customer service product visibility solution for all mail classes • Simplify the scheduling process • Encourage mailers to provide further information via electronic submission (online or Web Services) for drop shipments and Origin-Entered mailings • Provide a complete profile of all mail inducted (mail classes and facilities)

6. Overview/Benefits The FAST system was designed to: • Integrate with the Drop Ship Product Files to validate drop ship discounts with drop ship entry points • Provide better knowledge to manage the capacity of a facility • Encourage better performance for mailers (via mailer rating) • Utilize mailer rating to provide greater access for appointment scheduling for “good” mailers • Reduce the overall appointment wait times and dock efficiency time • Streamline the mailers data maintenance process • Report redirection of mailings

7. Scheduling an Appointment in FAST Methods of Scheduling an Appointment in FAST • Online – Access to FAST online is provided via the Business Customer Gateway. • Access to the BCG is required for all appointment scheduling and management • Web Services - Provides the ability to submit electronic appointment management requests from mailers Supply Chain Management Systems with FAST using the Mail.XML Specification developed by IDEAlliance or Mail.dat • Phone Assistance – By calling the facility directly, the Area Coordinator may be able to schedule an appointment for the user • Please note that this method of scheduling FAST appointments should only be done if the user has an extreme circumstance that impedes them from scheduling the appointment on their own

8. Web Services FAST Web Services • A method of bi-directional communication between the Mailer and FAST • “Messaging” concept that is built on open standards, such as Mail.XML (Extensible Markup Language) all managed by IDEAlliance • Allows an industry to define the communication XML standards within an industry • Functionality used by corporations that are ready to move from online scheduling of appointments to electronic submission of appointments using Web Services

9. What is Mail.XML? Mail.XML is a method for submitting appointment and mail piece information directly to USPS Mail Owners / Mail Preparers submit tailored XML files directly to PostalOne! PostalOne! then forwards these messages to the FAST system for processing Messages containing logistics and content pass through the PostalOne! system Each Mail.XML submission consists of two parts A request message: (sent by the Mail Owner / Mail Preparer) A response message: (returned by USPS) indicating the outcome of the previously sent request Every request submission has a response What is Mail.XML

10. What is Mail.XML? Partnership between USPS and Industry Dramatic change in technology XML vs. fixed field database format Internet, Web Services messaging (automated server to server communication) Change from manual processes to highly automated processes resulting in efficiency and cost avoidance. Broadening of scope from container based processes addressed by Mail.dat to full service support that includes advanced functionality What is Mail.XML (cont.)

11. Mail.XML Benefits Simpler, faster, easier change management model Specification change does not impact each vertical Specification change with optional data fields does not impact every software Possibilities for Business to Business transactions requiring quick and automated decision making Standard Communication medium within an enterprise/company and within the industry Automated Conflict/Resolution Cost Avoidance through automation Mail.XML Benefits

12. Mail.XML Summary What is Mail.XML™ ? Message communication supporting Mail.dat Why do we need Mail.XML™ when we have Mail.dat? Different business opportunities require different tools Will Mail.XML™ replace Mail.dat? No Which should I use? Evaluate your infrastructure and choose Where to Start Visit IDEAlliance (www.idealliance.org) and USPS sites Mail.XML Summary

13. FAST Interfaces

14. PostalOne! Mail.XML 6.0D/8.0B Interface Mail.dat Recurring Content Updates Scheduler ID/Scheduler Corp ID and Hierarchy Process Acceptance Site and User to Finance Number Association (CSA) Send Mail Direction File (MDF) and MDFv2 Customer Registration/eAdmin for external user authentication/permissions FDB (Facilities Database) for facility information ELLS (External Labeling List) for Label Lists, Default Drop Entry Points, and Address data (via AMS) Active Directory for internal user authentication eAccess for internal user permissions SASP (Seamless Acceptance and Service Performance) to send appointment, container, and CSA data Key Interfaces 14

15. EDW (Enterprise Data Warehouse) for data warehousing TIMES (Transportation Information Management Evaluation System) interface Send Appointment Schedules Retrieve Closeout and Unscheduled Arrivals Incorporates interfaces to Surface Visibility (SV), TIMES Web, Yard Management System(YMS), Vehicle Tracking Analysis and Performance System (VTAPS) Key Interfaces (cont.) 15

16. Agenda FAST Business Overview Registering for FAST / Scheduler Hierarchy FAST Components Appointments / Recurring Appointments Facilities Reports Mailer Rating FAST and Full-Service

17. Understanding Corporate/Scheduler Hierarchy Before beginning the FAST and/or CSA registration process, users should understand the differences between Corporate and Scheduler locations and roles. • A Corporate location may have 1 to many users. However, these should be kept at a minimal. • There will be 1 BSA per location per service (i.e. – 1 BSA for ABC Business Entity 2 Chicago/FAST, 1 BSA for ABC Business Entity 2 Chicago/CSA). These BSAs could however be the same person. • There may be 1 to many users associated to a scheduler location. • 1 user may be associated to more than 1 location.

18. Registering for FAST / Scheduler Hierarchy Business Customer Gateway: • Allows users to register for FAST, CSAs and other services • Access to view/manage their Profile information • All users interested in scheduling appointments and using the FAST system must get access through the Business Customer Gateway. • CRID – ID associated to a customer and a business name at an address • Business Service Administrators (BSAs) is the primary point of contact (displayed in the Scheduler Profile)

19. Registering for FAST / Scheduler Hierarchy BCG New Users • To initiate the customer registration process, new FAST users must access the BCG by navigating to www.usps.com and selecting the Business Customer Gateway hyperlink on the bottom right corner • Users requesting FAST Access MUST select the “Business” account type • The Business Profile page: • Allows users to create a company profile (Contact Information, Company Information • Allows users to affiliate to an existing business entity, user must enter the company CRID • The Select Business Locations page: • Allows users to click the checkbox(es) to select existing business locations or add additional ones not listed

20. Registering for FAST / Scheduler Hierarchy Role of the Business Service Administrator (BSA) • When a user requests access at a business location, the system verifies whether or not that service requires a BSA • The BSA is the key contact for the management of the selected service and approver of the request • When registering for FAST service in the BCG: • If there is already a BSA the user will bypass the BSA registration process • If there is not already a BSA, the registration process will continue • If the user declines the BSA process, the service request will go into pending status until a BSA is designated for the service, the request is held for 10 days

21. Registering for FAST / Scheduler Hierarchy Applying for BSA FAST Service • Upon accepting the BSA privilege, the Apply for BSA FAST Service page displays and the user may: • Select the Locate Corporation button, this associates the user to an existing corporation in FAST • -Or- • Select the Create Corporation button, this allows the user’s company to serve as the headquarters/corporate office in FAST

22. Registering for FAST / Scheduler Hierarchy BCG Existing Users • Existing non BSA users may: • View their profile • Request access to business services • View request approval status • Directly access services • Existing BSA users may: • View their profile • Request access to business services • View request approval status • Directly access services • Check the inbox for status requests • Manage user access

23. Business Customer Gateway/eAdmin Support Business Customer Gateway/eAdmin Resources: • Available on the FAST website • Users can navigate to Resources > Reference Documents: • Customer Job Aids: • Business Customer Gateway Introduction – Dock Handout • Business Customer Gateway– New Users • Business Customer Gateway– Existing Users • Remedy tickets should be assigned to HQ_CUSTGATE_EADMIN_SUPP

24. Profiles Profiles Module in FAST • Accessible once the user has created a FAST profile through the BCG • Displays customer scheduler and corporate information • Provides the ability search for customer information by Corporate Name/ID and Scheduler Name/ID (Internal Users) • The Corporate and Scheduler Information is displayed based on the users customer permissions (CRID)

25. Profiles FAST Profiles • Allows the user to update any necessary information • Grants the user access the Scheduler Profile Scheduler Profile • Manage Publications • Manage Preferred Mail Owners and Mail Preparers

26. Agenda FAST Business Overview FAST Components Appointments / Recurring Appointments Facilities Reports Mailer Rating FAST and Full-Service

27. FAST Components • Appointment Management: • Provides the capacity to manage drop ship appointments • Recurring Appointment Management: • Provides the capacity to manage drop ship recurring appointments • Facility Management: • Provides the capacity to manage facility level information • Profile Management: • Displays drop shipment customer information from Customer Registration

28. FAST Components • Reports: • Provides visibility to various reports for USPS and customers • Resources: • Contains reference documents and additional resources for users to access (e.g., FAST Web Based Training, Job Aids) • FAST Origin Entry: • Provides the capability to manage the Origin Entry modules (similar to the functionality for FAST drop ship)

29. FAST Components • Test Environment for Mailers (TEM): • Provides a testing environment for mailers who will be participating in Full-Service • TEM provides mailers with a way to test appointment scheduling via Mail.XML • Customer / Supplier Agreements (CSAs): • Provides External CSA users the capability to view CSAs • Provides Internal CSA users the capability to view/manage and create CSAs • Administration Console (Internal Admin Users Only): • Provides Internal Admin users the capability to post messages on the FAST message board and manage the Scheduler Hierarchy • Drop Entry Point System (Internal DEPS Users Only): • Provides Internal DEPS users the ability to view/create/manage Facility redirections

30. Agenda FAST Business Overview Appointments / Recurring Appointments Facilities Reports Mailer Rating FAST and Full-Service

31. Ways of Creating Appointments with FAST

32. FAST Online Access to the FAST Website is granted through the Business Customer Gateway Once the user logs into the BCG, they may select the “Schedule a Mailing Appointment (FAST)” hyperlink to navigate to the FAST webpage

33. Appointments – Key Capabilities The FAST appointment scheduling system can be used to: • Create/Manage one time Appointments • Create/Manage Stand-Alone Content • Allow collaboration by multiple process owners to provide advanced notification for one appointment via the Joint Scheduling functionality • Provide SV/TIMES/VTAPS/YMS with appointment scheduling data that can be utilized at induction • Consolidates all closeout information and rates the appointments (Drop Ship Only)

34. Appointment Scheduling – Key Capabilities FAST Appointments: • A One-Time Appointment is an appointment that occurs on a one-time basis or when necessary • In FAST, an Appointment = Logistics + Content • Logistics: Facility Information, Appointment Date/Time • Content: Mail Class, Mail Shape • In FAST, Appointments may be scheduled by a single entity or jointly • Single Entity: One business provides the logistics and content details • Joint Scheduling: different business entities provide logistics and content information for the appointment

35. Joint Scheduling Capabilities FAST provides joint scheduling capabilities which enables the sharing of information on mail preparation and transportation across all partners to help drive efficiencies throughout the appointment process. • Can be done in Web Services and within the FAST online application for one-time and recurring appointments • Provides a repository of planned vs. actual mail induction information • Creates visibility into mail preparation for the benefit of all parties • Allows for advanced notification of content and transportation changes Recipient Postal Service MAIL FLOW Logistics Provider Consolidator Visibility: • Planned Induction Times • Actual Induction Times • Planned Content Information • Actual Content Information FAST Printer Publisher

36. Joint Scheduling in FAST FAST allows more than one business entity the ability to provide logistics and content information for an appointment FAST roles for joint scheduling entities: Mail Owner: the party with items to be mailed who is ultimately in charge of the mailing Mail Preparer: the party in charge of preparing the mailings/shipments for the Mail Owner, example: addressing the material to be mailed and preparing it on pallets In some cases this may also be a consolidator, combining shipments from multiple mail owners for delivery to the USPS Scheduler: the logistics provider, who plans trailer load and date/time of arrival at a specific USPS facility

37. Joint Scheduling Data Security and Visibility The Scheduler may view and manage all aspects of an appointment (logistics and content information) The Mail Owner or Mail Preparer may only view or update their own content information In a co-mailing scenario: Only the mail preparer may view and update the content information Separate mail owners may view content information but are not permitted to see the other mail owners’ content Mail Owners/Mail Preparers can view appointment closeout times for appointments

38. Joint Scheduling Roles & the Appointment Creation Process Logistics information (facility, date, time) Managed by Scheduler Content information Managed by Mail Owner – Or – Mail Owner may delegate to Mail Preparer or Scheduler Note: One entity may play multiple roles for appointment management

39. The Delivery Process Pallet 7 – Mail Owner A Pallets 8, 9 – Mail Owner B Pallets 1 - 6 – Mail Owner C Scheduler can manage all logistics Mail Owner A can manage content only for Pallet 7 Mail Scheduler’s Truck Containing pallets of mail for multiple mail owners

40. Joint Scheduling Scenario #1 • Scenario 1: Consolidator (Prepares and Transports Mail); Recurring Frequency • Appointment Scheduling: • Company Aprepares andtransports mail to the New York SCF every Friday at 2PM • Company B has mail that needs to go to New York SCF every Friday • Company B works with Company A to have their mail prepared and transported by Company A every Friday • In this scenario: • Company A creates a recurring appointment and adds Company B’s content information to the recurring appointment (identifying Company B as the Mail Owner) • Company B electronically sends Company A the content of the mailing • Company A prints, prepares and transports the mail every Friday at 2PMto the New York SCF • Roles: • Scheduler: Company A • Mail Owner: Company B • Mail Preparer: Company A • Note: • Since Company A identified Company B as the Mail Owner of the content, Company B will have visibility into the logistics, closeout and content information (for only their specified content).

41. Joint Scheduling Scenario #2 • Scenario 2: Logistics provider (Transports mail); Recurring Frequency • Appointment Scheduling: • Company Atransports mail to New York SCF every Friday at 2PM • Company B and Company Cboth have mail that needs to go to New York SCF every Friday • Company B and Company Cwork with Company A to have their mail transported by Company A every Friday • In this scenario: • Company A creates a recurring appointment shell and communicates the recurring appointment sequence ID (i.e. 12345) to Company B and Company C • Company B and Company Cboth add their content information to the recurring appointment shell • Company B and Company Cprepare the mail weekly and stage it for pickup by Company A • Company A picks up the mail and drops it off at New York SCF every Friday at 2PM • Roles: • Scheduler: Company A • Mail Owners: Company B and Company C • Mail Preparers: Company B and Company C • Note: • If there is a major fluctuation in content for a particular day, the mail owner/mail preparer (Company B and Company C) should update their content information for that particular appointment instance.

42. Joint Scheduling Scenario #3 • Scenario 3: Logistics provider (Prepares and Transport mail); Ad-hoc Mailing • Appointment Scheduling: • Company A has an ad-hoc mailing for next Friday • Company A will print and prepare the mail • Company B will transport the mail • In This Scenario: • Scheduling Model – One-Time Appointment Model • Company A creates a stand-alone content and associates it to Company B (Company B receives an email notifying them of the stand-alone content creation). • Company B creates a one-time appointment (logistics information only) for next Friday and associates the stand alone content created by Company A. • Company A prints and prepares the mail and stages it for pickup by Company B. • Company B transports the mail. • Roles: • Scheduler: Company B • Mail Owner: Company A • Mail Preparer: Company A

43. Appointment Scheduling – Key Data Elements The FAST appointment scheduling process collects the following information: • Scheduled Appointment Date/Time • Facility Information (source: FDB, AMS, FAST Facility Constraints) • Customer Information (source: CustReg) • Scheduler of the Appointment • Mail Preparer/Mail Owner • Content Information (Stand-Alone or directly linked to an appointment) • Mail Class (Standard, Periodicals, etc) • Mail Shape/Processing Category (Letters, Flats, etc) • Presort Information (e.g. Mixed ADC) * • Container Information (IMCB) * * Web Services Appointments Only

44. Online Appointment Shells – Key Capabilities FAST Appointment Shells: • An Appointment Shell without its associated content is not recognized as an appointment at a Facility • The mail will be inducted under an Unscheduled Trip and will be unloaded when operationally feasible • Automatic Cancellation Policy: • Appointment Shells reserve facility slots and volume and are automatically cancelled if no content is associated to the appointment • Standard/Package Services One-Time Drop Ship Shells: must have at least one associated content 24hrs prior to the scheduled appointment date/time • Pure Periodicals One-Time Drop Ship Shells: must have at least one associated content one hour prior to the scheduled appointment date/time

45. Online Appointment Shells – Key Capabilities (cont.) FAST Appointment Shells - Rating Impacts: • Cancellation by FAST will result in an appointment rating impact for Standard or Package Services Appointment Shells • Cancellation of these Appointment Shells will result in an appointment exemption rating of 50 points • Pure periodicals Appointment Shells are exempt from rating

46. Creating a One-Time Appointment through the FAST online application To create a One-Time Appointment online, FAST users must: Select a USPS facility Select the mail class (First-Class, Standard, Package Services or Periodicals) Select the available appointment date and time Provide content information (mail shape, # of pieces, etc.) Appointment can be created up to 14 days in the future Appointment must be created at least 1 hour prior to the appointment date/time

47. Updating a One-Time Appointment through the FAST online application The user can search for an existing appointment by: Appointment ID Scheduler ID Facility or CRID Through the online FAST applications, user can: Edit the logistics information Edit/Add content Cancel the appointment Appointment can be updated or cancelled up to 1 hour prior to the appointment date/time

48. Appointment Scheduling – High Level Information The FAST appointment scheduling process collects the following information: • Scheduled Appointment Date/Time • Facility Information (source: FDB, AMS, FAST Facility Constraints) • Facility Information (source: FDB, AMS, FAST Facility Constraints) • Customer Information (source: CustReg) • Scheduler of the Appointment • Mail Preparer/Mail Owner

49. Appointment Scheduling – Key Business Rules Entry Points and Appointment Type Validation • Entry Point Validations (source: ELLS, FAST DEPS) • Ensures the mail is dropped at the correct location • Based on default drop entry point information from ELLS and redirection information from the FAST DEPS module • Example: Facility A redirects Standard Letters to Facility B • Appointment Type to Pallet/Bedload Combinations • Validates the appointment type matches the content of the appointment • Example: A Speedline Appointment cannot have bedloaded content

50. Appointments – Key Business Rules II Mail Shape and In-Home Dates • Mail Shape (Processing Category) to Handling Unit Validations • Ensures the correct Handling Unit is chosen for a Mail Shape • Example: Letters cannot be put in Parcels • In Home Start Dates • A warning message is generated when an In-Home start date for Standard Mail cannot be met • Rules on delivery will differ based on NDC vs. P&DC/Annex