Tag: Track and Trace

USPS says it will be ready for Intelligent Mail Barcode next May

Posted by | Aug 6, 2008 | |

Speaking to the Mailers’ Technical Advisory Committee, Tom Day, Senior Vice President, Intelligent Mail and Address Quality, said the Postal Service will be ready for mail bearing Intelligent Mail barcodes next May as planned.

“We believe the benefits of an information-rich mail stream will be evident for our mailers and the entire mailing industry, and investments to make that a reality will prove to be very much worthwhile,” continued Day. “However, given the volatility of the economy, decreasing mail volumes, and our own financial situation, it would be premature for us to commit to a pricing structure for the Intelligent Mail barcode at this time.”

Intelligent Mail is a comprehensive, integrated program designed to revolutionize all aspects of how the Postal Service accepts, processes and transports mail by using the Intelligent Mail barcode. The Intelligent Mail barcode notifies mailers when a mailing is inducted into the mail stream and allows them to track individual mail pieces as they travel through the postal network.

The Postmaster General’s Mailers’ Technical Advisory Committee is a venue for the Postal Service to share technical information with mailers and to receive advice and recommendations from mailers on matters concerning mail-related products and services in order to enhance customer value and expand the use of these products and services for mutual benefit.

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Interest in RFID rising, says channel

Posted by | Aug 4, 2008 | |

According to a new worldwide survey of data resellers, radio frequency identification (RFID) technology contracts on are on the rise. Increased reliability, reduced cost and complexity are all considered factors in the maturing market for what has, until recently been considered an emerging technology, according to the report by the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA).

“RFID offers adopters of the technology a number of benefits, from improvements in manufacturing, inventory and distribution processes, to reduced costs for product theft, spoilage or obsolescence,” explains Matthew Poyiadgi, VP EMEA for CompTIA.

The survey of 155 channel companies found that 46 per cent of their customers have implemented one or more RFID solutions, either as pilot projects or production deployments. This is an increase from a 2007 survey, when IT companies reported 34 per cent of their customers had initiated RFID projects.

The most popular RFID deployments now used by customers are asset tracking, cited by 32 per cent of IT companies surveyed; personal identification (28 per cent); supply chain (25 per cent); retail marketing (15 per cent); and closed-loop manufacturing (nine per cent), according to the CompTIA survey.

Customers come from a cross section of industries, including services, government, finance, healthcare, retail, communications, and manufacturing.

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Royal Mail selects Intermec CN3 Mobile Computer to improve service to customers

Posted by | Jul 30, 2008 | |

Intermec has announced that Royal Mail has awarded Intermec a contract to provide over 25,000 of its rugged, handheld CN3 mobile computers.

The Intermec CN3 mobile computers have been chosen as part of Royal Mail’s investment in new technology to modernise the business, improve efficiency and customer service while cutting operational costs.

The Intermec CN3 mobile computer will enable Royal Mail to improve on its current paper-based system for collecting signatures for the majority of its tracked products, including Special Delivery and Recorded Signed for services. A signature will be collected on the handheld device which is then sent via GPRS wireless technology to enable sending customers to confirm delivery, and view the signature, within 15 minutes. The CN3 mobile computers will be rolled out to postmen and women who deliver guaranteed delivery items by van from late summer.

As the leader of the class of small, advanced, rugged mobile computers, the CN3, with up to four integrated radios including GPS, enables more expedient processes for the mobile worker through 1D and 2D bar code scanning. The CN3 handheld also runs Windows Mobile which supports direct push wireless email giving the Royal Mail users real-time connectivity with the corporate network.

Pat Byrne, Intermec President and CEO added, “As one of the major trend-setters in European and global postal services, Royal Mail is strengthening its leadership position with the selection of the CN3. As the global supply chain continues to evolve, in-transit visibility will have a significant impact on improving customer service and revenue generation.”

Intermec will provide further commentary regarding the announcement on its upcoming earnings conference call on 31st July.

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Royal Mail workers get mobile computers (UK)

Posted by | Jul 30, 2008 | |

After extensive trials, Royal Mail has finally chosen a supplier for the hand-held computers it wants to introduce to its delivery network. Postal workers across the country will soon become very familiar with the new CN3 units as Royal Mail takes one further step forward on its modernisation plan.

The contract has gone to Intermec which will be providing some 25,000 units. Royal Mail said the CN3 hand-helds were easy to use and had fared well during trials. The units can scan barcodes and log digital signatures, similar to those already being used by other parcel carriers alerting the sender of items like special delivery within 15 minutes. The CN3 is also fitted with GPS.

The Intermec CN3 mobile computer will enable Royal Mail to improve on its current paper-based system for collecting signatures for the majority of its tracked products, including Special Delivery and Recorded Signed for services. A signature will be collected on the handheld device which is then sent via GPRS wireless technology to enable sending customers to confirm delivery, and view the signature, within 15 minutes. The CN3 mobile computers will be rolled out to postmen and women who deliver guaranteed delivery items by van starting late this summer.

The CN3, with up to four integrated radios including GPS, enables more expedient processes for the mobile worker through 1D and 2D bar code scanning. The CN3 handheld also runs Windows Mobile(R) which supports direct push wireless email giving the Royal Mail users real-time connectivity with the corporate network.

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Poste Italiane helps pave the way for the delivery of electronic postmarks

Posted by | Jul 30, 2008 | |

Poste Italiane’s Director General, Massimo Sarmi introduced an application to enable Posts the world over to deliver electronic postal certification marks.

The plug-in developed by Poste Italiane with the help of Microsoft applies an electronic postal certification mark that provides evidential proof of an electronic event, in a certain form, at a certain time, and involving one or more parties. This certification mark can be seen as the electronic equivalent of a registered letter. It brings all the benefits of the traditional paper-based postmark to electronic documents. Features such as date and time stamping, digital identity capture, content verification and encryption prove that the content of an electronic message has not been altered. The electronic postal certification mark acts as evidence of who signed what and when.

The Advanced Electronic Services user group, part of the UPU’s Telematics Cooperative (an association of UPU member countries that work together to develop technical applications for the benefit of the postal world), and countries currently using electronic postmarks also contributed their expertise to the project. These include Belgium, Canada, France, Italy, Portugal and the United States.

With this application, the UPU will work to provide member countries wishing to offer electronic postal certification marks the necessary infrastructure to do so.

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