»

USPS Intelligent Mail Bar Code Implementation “Moving too Fast”

Posted Jan 13, 2011

Postal News from Release No. 11- 004

“We heard concerns that we were moving too fast on discontinuing

POSTNET coding, and we will continue to offer the automation prices

for mail with POSTNET barcodes beyond May 2011,” Donahoe said.

Donahoe emphasized the value of the Intelligent Mail barcode (IMb)

to mailers and reiterating the Postal Service commitment to implementing

the IMb. To date, more than 41 billion pieces of mail have been processed

using the IMb.

Recognizing ongoing industry concerns with challenges associated with

implementing the IMb, Donahoe announced that mailers can continue to

use POSTNET barcodes to qualify for automation discounts. The POSTNET

code was to sunset this May to enable broad adoption and use of the IMb.

There will be no Full Service Address Change Service (ACS) charges.

Download Complete Article

________________________________________________________________________________________

Posted Dec 1, 2010

Download Essential Guide to Intelligent Mail

Wednesday, December 01, 2001

Dear New England Mailing Systems Customer

We would like to inform our customers who utilize our addressing products that beginning May 2011, to be eligible for automation discounts on your letter-size and flat-size mailpieces, you will need to start using the Intelligent mail Barcode (IMB).  Please click on the link above  so you can download and print the “Essential Guide to the Intelligent Mail” written by Satori Software as well as to the USPS websites which host a wealth of information at  www.usps.com  and www.ribbs.usps.gov

Intelligent Mail is not just about barcodes. The USPS has developed this new system to enable end-to-end visibility and reporting on mail as it travels through the mail stream. USPS also expects this technology to enable additional services in the future.  To achieve this visibility, the Intelligent Mail system calls for the use of Mailer IDs, piece, container and pallet barcodes, electronic reporting and more. But not all components are required for all mailings. There are two service levels, Basic and Full-Service. Both the requirements and the benefits are different for each.

We recommend that you start soon to implement the Intelligent Mail Barcode by first reading the article on our website- this will give you a basic understanding on what the barcode is and how to quickly implement it.  If required, NEMS can offer you on-site assistance at our hourly labor rates.

While you are on our website please browse our latest addressing products including our Satori Bulk Mailer Software Add-On Options.  You may want to consider the Satori Option called Mail.Dat/ Mail.XML for electronically submitting your mailing paperwork directly to the USPS- which is a requirement for the full-service intelligent mail barcode.  On the Website you will find some of our latest high-speed addressing printers and production mailing systems,  our tabbing systems capable of meeting the new USPS tabbing requirements, and our exciting Xante Digital Color Press Machines for full color digital printing  of envelopes and media up to 26pt (502gsm).

The IMB has been a long-time in coming.  We appreciate your business and look forward to serving your mailing equipment needs.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call us at 860-289-4416.

Sincerely,

Michael Roy

Account Representative

Rob Tallberg

Service Manager

______________________________________________________________________________________

The Intelligent Mail barcode is the USPS implementation of the 4-state customer barcode in use by several other countries for automating their postal mailstream. The IM barcode will improve mail service by expanding mail tracking capabilities and improving the delivery of add-on services that benefit direct mailers.
What is the Intelligent Mail barcode?

The code is made up of four distinct bars (states)—the Full bar, the Ascender, the Tracker, and the Descender. The USPS implementation allows for the Intelligent Mail barcode to encode 31 characters of mail piece data into 65 bars in one of 4 states. This is only 3 bars wider that the standard POSTNET™ barcode which means that you most likely will not have to change the window envelopes you currently use. The 4-State barcode technology allows for more information to be handled in roughly the same space. This will allow the USPS to replace both the PLANET® and POSTNET Barcodes with this one barcode. There are 31 digits available for encoding. The data sequence is defined in the following format:

What your piece may look like with the Intelligent Mail barcode

The Post Office™ is in the process of a phased implementation of the Intelligent Mail barcode and you may mix and match the POSTNET, PLANET, and OneCode™ barcodes on the mailpiece or just use the new barcode. The current thinking is that the Intelligent Mail barcode will be fully operational in the fall 2009 and will be required for automation discounts sometime in 2011. Here is an example of how the new barcode can simplify the look of your mail piece and clear up some real estate for you to enhance your message being sent:

Nems will help you implement Intelligent Mail barcode today.

Basic Service:

  • Implementing the new IM barcode in place of your current POSTNET barcode.


Full Service:

  • Building IM barcode fields
  • Converting ACS™ keylines to IM barcodes
  • Providing a Mailer ID for OneCode Confirm®
  • Incorporating IM barcode fields into inkjet files
  • Printing IM barcodes on laser letters or labels
  • Printing tray and container labels with IM barcodes

Tags: , ,