Bar codes boost Jamaica's mail tracking

The term 'high-tech' is usually associated with some element of computer use, so it's not surprising that the new bar-coded labels being introduced by the Jamaican postal administration for tracking registered mail utilise a digital format for data to be captured by a computerised scanner.

"Incorporating technology, that's the only way forward," says Postmaster General/CEO, Michael Gentles. He outlined that this development was born out of ongoing negotiations between the Universal Postal Union (UPU) and all member countries for the creation of a single data-recording format to be used internationally for tracking specific mail items.

Gentles said, "We will be implementing this bar-coded label format for registered letters as an element in advancing the pace of postal service modernisation. This computerised method presents significant advantages for reducing processing time and errors from manual data input, and will boost efficiency in this aspect of our service."

USAGE

The bar code begins with the letters 'RR' followed by nine digits and end with the letters 'JM'. Tracking for parcels being sent overseas has been benefiting from this bar-coded label arrangement since 2002. At this time, in concert with many other postal administrations globally, Jamaica has now added the bar-code tracking system to registered mail. This major modernisation project for registered items will, however, initially begin with the bar-coded labels being utilised only for registered mail being sent overseas.

Gentles explained, "This is a cost-savings strategy and is applied to prevent waste of funds, as we have decided to continue to use the existing non-bar-coded labels for local registered mail until such stocks are exhausted. The use of the bar-coded labels will be fully integrated for both local as well as overseas registered mail once existing stocks of the previous registered mail label are depleted."

He noted that it is more financially prudent to continue to use those traditional labels given the large number still in stock. The postal executive noted, "Throughout this organisation, we pay keen attention to the aspect of cost savings, and the cost-savings committee is very active in seeking to control costs and reduce expenditure."

BAR-CODED LABEL USES

With the advent of the use of a bar-coded label for registered mail, customers will need to use an envelope no smaller than the required size (nine inches/23 cm wide and four inches/10.2 cm high), along with the proposed layout of all required information. The bar-coded label is being implemented by Jamaica in compliance with a global standard set by the Universal Postal Union. – contributed

The self-adhesive labels are printed with three-parts, each being detachable. The first strip of the label is placed on the registered letter. The second strip is placed on the customer's receipt and the third strip is placed in the post office's permanent records.

ENVELOPE SIZE

Gentles noted that there is an additional aspect: "We are also advising the public that this may impact on the type of envelope used, as there MUST be enough space below the sender's address for the bar-coded label. This translates to the need for envelopes to be sized at least four inches (100cm) from top to bottom." Envelopes must be wide enough to accommodate all information facets: the destination address, sender's address (return address), bar-coded label, indication that the item is intended for airmail, as well as postage stamps. A diagram with a sample of the required envelope size, along with the proposed layout of all required information is shown.