USPS Postmaster General eyes Web as competition

The passage of the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006 and the downturn of the economy have resulted in a year of transition for the US Postal Service, said Postmaster General Jack Potter in his keynote address today at the National Postal Forum in Anaheim, CA. As a result of the new law, the USPS has implemented new pricing regulations and is also working on new service standards, Potters said.

“We’re in competition with the Internet,” Potter said more than once during his speech. In order to better compete, more value needs to be added to the mail, he said. At the same time, it’s “imperative” to keep prices down, Potter said.

One way to add that value is by using the Intelligent Mail barcode (IMB), which encodes routing and tracking information on mail, Potter said. Within the last year, the USPS has been seeking and responding to public feedback regarding the implementation of the IMB, he said. Overall, mailers understand the benefit of the barcode, which will save them money and decrease the amount of undeliverable as addressed mail, he added.

The upcoming deployment of Flats Sequencing System (FSS) machines will provide a faster and more efficient way to sort flat mail, which includes magazines and catalogs, Potters said. The new machines will save mailers money and help eliminate the “labor intensive” practice of manually sorting flat mail. The first FSS machine is already up and running in Dulles, Virginia, he said.

In light of pending do-not-mail legislation in states across the US, Potter also stressed the importance of addressing customers’ environmental concerns about the mail. There needs to be more discussion of the benefits of having something delivered versus driving around from store to store, he said. At the same time, mailers need to be smarter about what and how frequently they mail to their customers, he added. “Going green makes sense,” he said.

Relevant Directory Listings

Listing image

SwipBox

Focus on the user experience SwipBox is focused on creating the world’s best user experience for delivering and picking up parcels using parcel lockers. Through a combination of intuitive network management software and hassle-free, app-operated parcel lockers, SwipBox delivers maximum convenience to logistics providers, retailers […]

Find out more

Other Directory Listings

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

P&P Poll

What's the future of the postal USO?

Thank you for voting
You have already voted on this poll!
Please select an option!



Post & Parcel Magazine


Post & Parcel Magazine is our print publication, released 3 times a year. Packed with original content and thought-provoking features, Post & Parcel Magazine is a must-read for those who want the inside track on the industry.

 

Pin It on Pinterest

Post & Parcel
FedEx new facility “a crucial part of our strategy for the Netherlands”
Emirates Courier Express launched to “challenge the status quo”
Evri announces robot dog delivery trial
Deutsche Post issues Germany’s first recycled stamp
SingPost: key executives step down
FedEx new facility “a crucial part of our strategy for the Netherlands”
Emirates Courier Express launched to “challenge the status quo”
Evri announces robot dog delivery trial
Deutsche Post issues Germany’s first recycled stamp
SingPost: key executives step down
1
2
3
4
5
Listing image
Listing image
Listing image
Listing image
Hermes U.K. to bring parcels to life
Tesco appoints new CTO
DHL publishes report on digitalization in the supply chain
The real “Uber for freight”
Share This