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Mail tracking system provides web-based data generated from scan of mailing upon introduction into USPS system. Entire lifecycle of mailing can be tracked by state, zip code, and individual piece, with subsequent scans of nationally-routed mail transmitted to mail-tracking server for viewing. Service incorporates existing automated barcode with tracking code, and is available for Automated First Class and Standard Class mailings.

Embracing this new, low cost technology, Mailex offers this tracking service to every mailer by incorporating the existing automated barcode with the tracking code.

Large and small mailers can now take advantage of this technology. Prior to this break-though, USPS had offered a confirmation service for a minimum annual investment of USD25,000, placing mail tracking out of reach for most businesses. Low-cost tracking is now available for all Automated First Class and Standard Class mailings.

You might ask, “How on Earth could the impending increase in postage be a good thing?” Think of it as a challenge that will precipitate positive industry changes – primarily, better efficiencies and profitability.

We have all heard shocking statistics regarding mail-related inefficiencies. The U.S. Postal Service handles about 10 billion undeliverable-as-addressed mail pieces per year, resulting in approximately USD1.6 billion in loss for the USPS and more than USD6 billion in waste for mailers.

Progressive companies have already begun to implement ways to improve their mail stream management practices, to make mail communications less costly and more effective than before and help reduce the impact of postage increases in the process. Some best practices to consider are:

Cleanse address data. The USPS will become more stringent on discounts offered to mailers that do not maintain the accuracy of their address lists in compliance with USPS regulations.

Presort for savings. Presorting mail before it enters the USPS network can reap double-digit percentage postage discounts.

Push the [smaller] envelope. The anticipated rates would give mailers a strong financial incentive to switch from flat (9×12-inch) envelopes to smaller (6×9-inch) envelopes, reflecting the new USPS rates for processing the smaller envelopes.

Investing in folding and inserting systems will make sense for more organizations under the proposed new rules. As parcels also would be affected by shape-based pricing, mailers need to re-evaluate current packaging practices.

Merge marketing and operational communications. Integrating your marketing efforts with your operational communications will help to improve your overall marketing effectiveness and increase operational efficiencies which, in turn, will help to offset the postage rate hike.

Look at the bright side. The proposed price changes are a good opportunity to improve the entire mail stream process within an organization. Adopting best practices can dramatically impact your costs, response rates and ROI.

The buzz at the quarterly Mailers’ Technical Advisory Committee meeting last week at postal headquarters was a surprising announcement by Postmaster General John E. Potter: The agency will expand its Move Update rules to include advertising mail and change the frequency of the program.

Under current rules for Move Update, which is designed to reduce undeliverable-as-addressed mail, First-Class mailers can receive automation or presort rates when they update addresses every 180 days using the Address Change Service, NCOALink or another USPS-approved service. Now the program will be expanded.

Mr. Potter said there would be serious consequences for people who don’t use the Move Update system, although he did not elaborate.

A key reason for the change, according to Mr. Potter, was to make sure that the people who want to receive mail are receiving it — and that those who don’t aren’t receiving it — given the current rash of do-not-mail bills that have cropped up in nine states this year.