It s Time for Intelligent Mail All About the

It’s Time for Intelligent Mail® All About the Barcodes Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2008 1

Agenda • Introduction to the 3 Barcodes • Constructing the Barcodes • Managing Your Mail – Uniqueness – Mailer IDs • Technical Resources 2

Basic and Full-Service Options • What is the Basic Option? – Available today for letters, cards and flats • What is the Full-Service Option? – Gives mailers key insight into their mail • Why should mailers opt for Full-Service Option? – Can take advantage of added mailstream visibility – Allows improved management of mailing costs and quality • What is required for the Full-Service Option? – Proper use of the Intelligent Mail® suite of barcodes – Submission of electronic documentation 3

Suite of Intelligent Mail® Barcodes • Intelligent Mail® Barcode • Intelligent Mail® Tray Barcode • Intelligent Mail® Container Barcode Intelligent Mail® Tray Barcode Intelligent Mail® Container Barcode 4

POSTNET™ – Overview • Since the 80’s, mailers have applied the POSTNET barcode to mailpieces 5 -digit ZIP Code Delivery Point ZIP+4 Code 5

POSTNET™ – Overview • By reading the POSTNET on mailpieces, processing equipment is able to direct mail automatically through the postal network to its destination 6

POSTNET™ – Overview • The POSTNET is great. However, it only contains information about the mailpiece’s final destination. No other information about the mailpiece can be included. 7

Intelligent Mail® Barcode – Overview • As the Postal Service introduced services such as CONFIRM® for tracking and Address Change Service for change of address notification, more information needed to be printed on the mailpiece Address Change Participant Code Keyline for Address Change Service #BWNGKVN #9999 9920 0104 276 PLANET Code® for CONFIRM® Service POSTNET™ Code for Sortation 8

Intelligent Mail® Barcode – Overview • With all this extra information, the mailpiece was cluttered and in need of a serious make over Address Change Participant Code Keyline for Address Change Service #BWNGKVN #9999 9920 0104 276 PLANET® Code for CONFIRM® Service POSTNET™ Code for Sortation 9

Intelligent Mail® Barcode – Overview So, the Postal Service undertook the task of creating a new barcode… A better barcode than the POSTNET™… A barcode that could hold more information… Different information… It would need to be smarter… Intelligent… 10

Intelligent Mail® Barcode – Overview • And so, in 2006, the Postal Service introduced the Intelligent Mail® barcode to mailers 11

What’s in the Intelligent Mail® Barcode? • So, what information is contained in this new barcode that makes it so smart? Barcode ID Service Type Ex: “ 50” for Mixed Ex: “ 700” for First AADC Class Mailer ID Serial Number Ex: “ 123456” Ex: “ 200800001” USPS assigned Mailer assigned Remember: The POSTNET contains only Delivery Point information Routing Code Ex: 6449 Amberview Ct. , Memphis, TN 38141834649 12

Intelligent Mail® Barcode – Overview • Because delivery point information and additional information needed for CONFIRM® and Address Change Service now fits neatly into a single barcode, the mailpiece is once again free from clutter! Address Change Participant Code Keyline for Address Change Service #BWNGKVN #9999 9920 0104 276 PLANET Code® for CONFIRM® Service POSTNET™ Code for Sortation 13

Intelligent Mail® Barcode – Specifications For Letters and Flats F A T D • Height-modulated barcode • Full bar, Ascender, Tracker, and Descender Key Barcode Tolerances • Overall length between 2. 667 and 3. 225 inches • Overall height between 0. 125 and 0. 165 inch • Vertical clear zone at least 0. 028 inch Other physical characteristics are same as POSTNET Attribute Number of bars Horizontal Pitch 11 -digit POSTNET 13 -digit PLANET Intelligent Mail Barcode 62 72 65 22 ± 2 bars per inch 14

Intelligent Mail® Tray and Container Barcodes and Labels • Use of the Intelligent Mail® Tray and Container barcodes and labels will be required for the Full -Service Option in May 2009 • By using the Intelligent Mail® Tray barcode and Intelligent Mail® Container barcode, the USPS can maintain visibility of mailpieces and mail aggregates throughout the network through nesting relationships 15

How Nesting Works Unique Container Barcode Unique Mailpiece Barcode Unique Tray Barcode 16

Intelligent Mail® Tray Label – Overview • The Intelligent Mail® Tray label has been used internally by USPS for years • By attaching an Intelligent Mail® Tray barcode to each tray, sack or tub in a mailing, mail can be automatically directed through facilities by processing equipment 17

Tray Barcode - Overview • What’s in the Intelligent Mail® Tray barcode that makes it so smart? ZIP Code Content Identification Number (CIN) Processing Code Ex: Memphis, TN Ex: “ 1” for “ 38141” 3 -digits describing Automation the tray Compatible Serial Label Type Number Ex: “ 123456” Ex: “ 20080001” Ex: “ 1” for 6 USPS Mailer -digit MID Assigned Mailer ID The former tray barcode only contained delivery point information 18

Intelligent Mail® Container Label – Overview • The Intelligent Mail Container barcode and label has been tested over the past few years and is ready for deployment • By attaching the Container label to containers and pallets that move mail, mail induction can be automated 19

Intelligent Mail® Container barcode – Overview • What’s in the Container barcode that makes it so smart? Application Identifier Type Indicator “ 99” “M” Mailer ID Serial Number USPS Assigned, Ex: Mailer Assigned, Ex: “ 123456” “ 200800000001” The former container label did not contain a barcode 20

Agenda • Introduction to the 3 Barcodes • Constructing the Barcodes • Managing Your Mail – Uniqueness – Mailer IDs • Technical Resources 21

What you need… • It’s easy to generate the suite of Intelligent Mail® barcodes. Here’s what you’ll need: – USPS or vendor-developed Intelligent Mail® barcode encoder – USPS or vendor-developed font for the Intelligent Mail® Barcode – USPS assigned Mailer ID (MID) – Content Identification Number (CIN) List – Software to generate Code 128 subset C for the Intelligent Mail® Tray barcode and software GS 1 -128 for the Intelligent Mail® Container barcode 22

Intelligent Mail® barcode • There are three steps required to generate the Intelligent Mail barcode on mailpieces: 1. Form the 31 -digit payload 2. Encode the 31 -digits 3. Print the barcode on mailpieces 23

1 Form the 31 -digit Payload • Data for the 31 -digits in the barcode needs to be gathered and assembled • Ex: “ 5070012345620080000138141834649” Barcode ID “ 50” for Mixed AADC Service Type ID “ 700” for First Class Mailer ID Serial Number Mailer Assigned USPS assigned “ 123456” Ex: “ 200800001” Routing Code 6449 Amberview Ct Memphis, TN 38141834649 24

2 Encode the Barcode • Next, encoding software is used to transform the 31 -digits into the barcode payload “ 5070012345620080000138141834649” Apply Encoding Algorithm DADTATFFAFFTTTAFTAFDADFDDDDDTAFFDAFDDFFTADFTFTTFDAAFTFTADTTT To download encoders and user guides visit: http: //RIBBS. USPS. GOV/ONECODESOLUTION 25

3 PRINT • Then, simply apply the Intelligent Mail® font to the encoded string, and PRINT DADTATFFAFFTTTAFTAFDADFDDDDDTAFFDAFDDFFTADFTFTTFDAAFTFTADTTT USPS or Vendor Developed Font Print Intelligent Mail® barcode 26

Intelligent Mail® Tray Label • Currently, there are two options available for generating Intelligent Mail® Tray Labels: 1. Generate the labels “in-house” or 2. Submit online label orders to the Label Production Center in Topeka, KS Soon there will be third method of printing Tray labels via Shipping Assistant!!! 27

Generating Intelligent Mail® Tray Labels • Obtain and use the Intelligent Mail Tray label specification from http: //ribbs. usps. gov • Remember to apply for your Mailer ID (MID) and have the Content Information Number (CIN) List available before you begin! http: //ribbs. usps. gov 28

Ordering Intelligent Mail® Tray Labels • Ordering labels from the Label Production Center in Topeka, KS is handled through the Customer Label Distribution System (CLDS) • CLDS is a web based application that provides mailers with the capability to create, edit and submit Intelligent Mail® Tray Label orders online http: //clds. usps. gov 29

Intelligent Mail® Container Label • Affix the 8"x 11" label and the 4"x 7" adhesive label on the outside of the shrinkwrap or container The 8’’x 11’’ label is the minimum size! 8" 4" 11 x " 7" x 30

Generating Intelligent Mail® Container Label • To create and print labels, obtain and use the specifications available at http: //ribbs. usps. gov • Consider working with vendors http: //ribbs. usps. gov 31

Agenda • Introduction to the 3 Barcodes • Constructing the Barcodes • Managing Your Mail – Uniqueness – Mailer IDs • Technical Resources 32

Lessons from Early Adopters • Ability to induct Full-Service Mail does not happen overnight! • Consider whether to “build or buy” capabilities • Pay special attention to managing uniqueness and the Mailer ID 33

Agenda • Introduction to the 3 Barcodes • Constructing the Barcodes • Managing Your Mail – Uniqueness – Mailer IDs • Technical Resources 34

Uniqueness • For the Full-Service Option, mailers are required to maintain unique mailpiece, tray, and container barcodes for 45 days • Managing uniqueness can be complex • Key considerations: – How will uniqueness be driven? – Who will manage uniqueness? – Will uniqueness be managed centrally? 35

Managing Uniqueness • Consider letting a vendor manage your uniqueness • Use license plating to connect data behind the scenes – Use the barcode to relate to data in a database – Remember: You’ll need to link Address Correction information to mailpieces and mailings without using Keyline information 36

Agenda • Introduction to the 3 Barcodes • Constructing the Barcodes • Managing Your Mail – Uniqueness – Mailer IDs • Technical Resources 37

Your Mailer ID • Your Mailer ID (MID) will be included in each mailpiece, tray, and container barcode that you print • If you use multiple mail preparers, managing your Mailer ID while maintaining uniqueness will require constant attention 38

Managing Multiple Mailer IDs • Larger mailers may have multiple Mailer IDs to manage • Be sure to keep track of your Mailer IDs and who is using each ID • Strategies to consider: – Distribute your Mailer IDs based on geography. Assign each of your major hubs a different ID – Assign each mail preparer you work with one Mailer ID 39

Managing A Single Mailer ID • Most mailers will need to manage a single Mailer ID • Use only your own Mailer ID; it’s the key to your mail • Consider assigning each mail preparer you work with a different first digit in the serial numbers they apply to mailpieces, trays, and containers “ 50700123456 X 1234567838141834649” For Mail Preparer 1, X = 1 For Mail Preparer 2, X = 2 … 40

Agenda • Introduction to the 3 Barcodes • Constructing the Barcodes • Managing Your Mail – Uniqueness – Mailer IDs • Technical Resources 41

Validating Intelligent Mail® Barcodes • Manual Tools – Visual Inspection – Plastic Templates – Optical Comparator • Software – Online Encoder/Decoder – Scanners and Verifiers • Local postal resources 42

Technical Resources Plastic Template • Automation Barcode Gauge Template (Item #04 A) • Great tool available from local BSN or Mailpiece Design Analyst • Measures both the Intelligent Mail barcode and the POSTNET™ 43

Technical Resources Optical Comparator • Optical Comparator 6 X (Eye Gage) by Gage-Line Technology • Complements Item 04 A with ability to measure exact heights/widths and to assess barcode jitter (~centerline shift) 44

Technical Resources Basic online decoder tool is available at: http: //ribbs. usps. com/One. Code. Solution 45

Technical Resources Scanners and Verifiers • The Culver Group – HHP 4600 Area Imager • Videk – Vision. Sensor 2030 and Postnet. Verifier • BCC Software (A BÖWE BELL+HOWELL Company) – Mail Verifier Plus (MVP) • Motorola / Symbol – Scanners – DS 3408, DS 3478 and DS 6707 – Mobile computers – MC 50, MC 70, MC 3000, MC 9000 Information about these companies is available at ribbs. usps. gov/One. Code. Solution 46

Steps to Getting Started STEP 1: Talk with your Mailpiece Design Analyst, mail service providers & vendors STEP 2: Apply for Mailer ID (MID) STEP 3: Apply for a Postal. One!® account STEP 4: Visit RIBBS - download guides and software STEP 5: Determine uniqueness strategy STEP 6: Generate barcodes 47

When is the Right Time for you to Implement Intelligent Mail®? The Time is NOW… 48