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.
Effective January 26, 2014, only mailings
meeting the requirements of the FullService 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
5
Background of Intelligent Mail®
• In 2009 the Postal Service began offering the
mailing industry two Intelligent Mail options
for automation discounts:
Basic Intelligent Mail
Full-Service Intelligent Mail
Intelligent Mail Barcode (IMb)
6
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
7
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)
SCF SAN FRANCISCO CA
STD FLTS SCF BC/NBC
940
XYZ CORPORATION
INTERNATIONAL FALLS, MN
Intelligent Mail Container barcode (IMcb)
(Mailer Area)
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.
8
Common Full-Service Terminology
ABC Company
PAYMENT
METHOD
CUSTOMER
IDENTIFICATION
MAILER
IDENTIFICATION
CRID
MID
Permit
Permit
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.
MID
Permit - permission to
CRID - unique ID number
MID - A six- or nine-digit
use a certain postage
payment method for bulk
and commercial mailings.
For commercial mailings,
an annual fee applies.
used by USPS to identify
a customer’s physical
business location
(address).
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
• 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
BARCODE
ID
ZIP CODE
CONTENT ID
SERVICE
TYPE ID
MAILER ID
PROCESSIN
G CODE
SERIAL
NUMBER
MAILER ID
ROUTING
CODE
SERIAL
NUMBER
Mailpiece
LABEL TYPE
Handling Unit
11
Full-Service Requirements
There are two major components to Full-Service: the
Intelligent Mail barcode and Electronic Documentation
Intelligent Mail Barcode
• Barcode Uniqueness
• Valid Service Type Identifier
• Valid MID
Electronic Documentation
• Valid MIDs & CRIDs
• By/For Information
12
Intelligent Mailpiece Barcode
TRACKING CODE
ROUTING CODE
Barcode Uniqueness
BARCODE
ID
SERVICE
TYPE ID
MAILER ID
SERIAL
NUMBER
ROUTING
CODE
EXAMPLE: 50
FOR MIXED
AADC
EXAMPLE: 300
FOR FIRSTCLASS MAIL®
EXAMPLE:
123456
EXAMPLE:
200800001
MAILER
ASSIGNED
EXAMPLE: 6449
EARL CT,
MEMPHIS, TN
38141834649
USPS ASSIGNED
13
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
BARCODE
ID
SERVICE
TYPE ID
MAILER ID
SERIAL
NUMBER
ROUTING
CODE
14
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
17
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
18
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.
19
Unique Intelligent Mail Container Barcodes (IMcb)
SCF SAN FRANCISCO CA
STD FLTS SCF BC/NBC
940
XYZ CORPORATION
INTERNATIONAL FALLS, MN
(Mailer Area)
APPLICATION
IDENTIFIER
TYPE
INDICATOR
MAILER ID
EXAMPLE:
EXAMPLE:
99
M
USPS ASSIGNED,
Ex: 2034Z
EXAMPLE:
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.
20
Container Placard
• Container Placards are usually required for FullService 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
Small
volume
mailing
Letters
•
•
Less than 48 1foot trays
Less than 24 2foot trays
Flats
•
Less than 16
tubs
No
Container
Placard
Required
Mailer
separates mail
into different
containers by
destination
Mailer does not
separate mail into
different
containers by
destination
Mailer has
a CSA
First-Class Mail
Separations
5-digit
Origin SCF
SCF
AADC
ADC
Origin MDX Surface
Mixed ADC Air
Container
with Unique
Placard
No
Container
Placard
Required
Container
with Unique
Placard
22
Entering Mail at the processing facility - First-Class Mail Letters
& Flats
Small volume
mailing
The mailing is
larger than the
minimum
Mailer has
a CSA
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
23
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
24
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
Available eDoc Technologies
Mail.dat®
Mail.XML ™
Postal Wizard
• Mail.dat is an
electronic file that
represents the
mailing
• Mail.dat uses a
fixed file format to
send mailing
information
• Mailer uses own
software or vendor
software to create
electronic file
• Mail.XML is an
electronic file that
represents the
mailing
• Allows two-way
conversational
communication
letting the
customer select
data fields
submitted
• Mailer uses own
software or vendor
software to create
electronic file
• Mailer types
information into
online forms in
Postal Wizard, a
USPS tool
• Postal Wizard
creates the
electronic postage
statement
• Separate software
is needed to
generate barcodes
Intelligent Mail Small
Business Tool (IMsb)
• Designed
specifically for
small-volume
mailers
• Allows mailers to:
• Upload address
list to the IMsb
Tool
• Print address
with an Intelligent
Mail barcode on
labels, envelopes
or insert page
• Print tray labels
• Prepare mailings
for entry into the
mailstream
• Submit postage
statement(s)
electronically
26
Exclusions
 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
27
Exclusions
 Container / Handling Unit Level Exclusions
Exclusion
Caused By
Description
PBV Verification
Failure
 Operational Event
 Verification Results received from PBV exceed the allowable threshold
(see Appendix C)
 New PBV verification failure added for Release 6
Non-Unique Container
Barcode
 eDoc
 Duplicate Intelligent Mail Container Barcode (IMcb) provided in eDoc
within that mailing and across 45 days of mailings in the system
Unknown Entry
Facility
 eDoc
 No entry facility identified by the Locale Key, Postal Code or FDB ID
provided by the mailer in eDoc
Entry Facility does
not match that on
FAST Appointment
 eDoc and Operational
Event
Non-Matching Induction Facility
 Facility in eDoc does not match the facility specified
in the associated destination entry appointment
 Based on SV Unload Scan Appointment or Mailer associated
Appointment
FAST Appointment
Irregularity
 Operational Event
FAST Appointment Irregularities
 Contents Different than on 8125 Indicator
 Damaged Mail Indicator
 Based on SV Unload Scan Appointment or Mailer associated
Appointment
Non-BMEU Orphan
Handling Units
 eDoc
 Orphan Handling Units with induction methods of Drop Ship, DU,
DMU verified mailer transported and DMU verified USPS transported.
28
Exclusions
 Container / Handling Unit Level Exclusions
Exclusion
Caused By
Description
Default Tray
Barcode
 eDoc
 Default Intelligent Mail Tray Barcode (IMtb) provided in eDoc
i.e. all 9s
Non-Unique
Tray Barcode
 eDoc
 Duplicate Intelligent Mail Tray Barcode (IMtb) provided in eDoc
Container
Irregularity
 eDoc and
Operational Event
 SV Scan feed indicates container has irregularities
 Broken pallet indicator is set to ‘Y’
Container inducted
on wrong FAST
appointment
 eDoc and
Operational Event
 Appointment on the container scan does not match the
appointment associated to the container manifest
Container inducted
at Invalid Entry
Facility for Discount
 eDoc and
Operational Event
 Container inducted at an invalid entry facility for that discount
type (based on FAST Mail Direction File v2)
 Actual Entry Date and Time does not fall between the Effective
Dates specified in the FAST Mail Direction File v2
 Based on SV Unload Scan, IMDAS Container Scan or eDoc
Appointment Facility
Scheduled Ship
Date compared with
Finalization Date
 eDoc and
Operational Event
 eDoc Scheduled Ship Date two or more days prior to Postage
Statement Finalization Date provided from PostalOne! for DMU
verified USPS transported induction method.
Non-Matching
Appointments on
Container Scans
 Operational Event
 SV Unload Scans that are associated to the same physical
container that have different Appointments
 Likely duplicate IMcb printed on physical mail
29
Exclusions
 Container / Handling Unit Level Exclusions
Exclusion
Caused By
Description
Unload Start Date
and Time before
Arrival Date and
Time
 Operational Event
 FAST Appointment has an Unload Start Date and Time before
the Arrival Date and Time
Long Haul
Container
 eDoc and
Operational Event
 DMU verified USPS transported container’s entry point ZIP
Code, as determined by a SV Unload Scan, IMDAS Scan, or
eDoc, is in a different Postal district than the ZIP Code of the
container’s verification facility (DMU)
30
Exclusions
 Piece Level Exclusions
Exclusion
Caused By
Description
Non-Unique Piece
Barcode
 eDoc
 Duplicate Intelligent Mail Barcode (IMb) in eDoc provided in
eDoc
No Stop-the-Clock
 Operational Event
 Stop-the-Clock scan wasn’t received
Note: If the piece has a non-stop scan, it will still be measured by
iMAPS using a different delivery factor
Delivery Point
Verification Error
 Operational Event
 Primary/Secondary DPV on scanned piece records
 Invalid DPV on scanned piece records
 0000 Delivery Point SPM scan error
 9999 secondary 11-digit Delivery Point scan error
 9999 primary 9-digit Delivery Point SPM scan error
 5 and 9-digit primary Delivery Point SPM scan error
 Piece scan received with the same Mailer ID, Serial Number, and
Mail Class but different delivery points for Mail.dat, Mail.XML piece
ranges.
Address Change
Services
 Operational Event
 COA (Change of Address) or NIXIE (Undeliverable as
Addressed) scan received that matches piece manifest
Non-consumer
Destination ZIP
 Operational Event
3 Digit ZIP Codes Excluded:
 IRS Processing Center
 Large Business or Government Agency
 APO/FPO Military, Federal Agency
Non-matching
Delivery Points
 Operational Event
 Routing Code does not match the MPE Sort ZIP within piece
scans
31
Exclusions
 Piece Level Exclusions
Exclusion
Caused By
Description
Stop-the-Clock
before AET
 eDoc and
Operational Event
 Stop-the-Clock Date and Time of a mailpiece is before the Actual
Entry Date and Time of its container
Postal Automated
RedirectionSystem
(PARS)
 Operational Event
 Any mailpiece that is scanned on a PARS machine as indicated by
operation code
High Delivery Day
 Operational
Events compared
to National
Service
Standards
 The amount of time from when mail is inducted at a USPS facility until
delivery is greater than:
 30 days for First Class Mail
 45 days for Standard, Periodicals, Bound Printed Matter, and
Mixed Class Standard Periodicals Mail
Service Standard
Cannot be
Determined
 eDoc and
operational
events compared
to National
Service
Standards
 The service standard cannot be determined based on the
following criteria for a particular Mail Class:
Origin Entered Mail
3-digit Origin ZIP Code
3-digit Destination ZIP Code
Date Range of when Service Standard is valid
Destination Entered Mail
Entry Point for Entry Discount Facility Type
3-digit Destination ZIP Code
Date Range of when Service Standard is valid
Invalid Mail Direction
 eDoc and
operational event
 Mail is inducted at an invalid entry facility for the mailer provided
discount type, as determined by the FAST Mail Direction File v2
32
Full-Service Mailing Solutions
Commercial Mailing Software Vendors
• 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.
For additional details, reference the RIBBS Certifications > eDoc & Full-Service page:
https://ribbs.usps.gov/index.cfm?page=electronicdoc
33
Full-Service Mailing Solutions
Commercial Mailing Software Vendors (Cont’d)
• For a list of software vendors that offer dynamic Full-Service
solutions and have tested them with USPS, reference the
following documents on RIBBS:
– The summary list is 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 list is 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 FullService 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_guide
s/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!
eInduction Overview: Purpose
eInduction Overview: Process
BME - PVDS Overview
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
BME - eInduction 101
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
Reply Mail
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