Thursday, November 12, 2009

THE USPS

As you know, mailers who wish to take advantage of the USPS® Intelligent Mail (IM) benefits are required to go through a testing process (Test Environment for Mailers-TEM) to receive authorization from the U.S. Postal Service®. But, once you are cleared by the Postal Service for Intelligent Mail you will be required to send all of your mailings using Intelligent Mail system?

While the USPS advices mailers to utilize Intelligent Mail as much as possible you are not required to use IM. Even after the mailer receives authorization from the USPS to use IM, situations may arise where a mailing does not qualify for IM or the mailer simply may choose not to utilize IM for a mailing even if it does qualify. This is only true for mailers who mail multiple classes of mail or process mailings to multiple entry point locations.

If you do process mailings using IM ultimate Service, you are required to submit postage statements and other mailing documents electronically using PostalOne! System (also referred to as Business Customer Gateway). Does this mean that the moment you are allowed for IM you must submit all documents for all mailings electronically? No, it does not. If you do not plan to use IM ultimate Service for your mailings, you are not obligated to utilize PostalOne! to submit your postal documents.

Again, the USPS encourages mailers to use PostalOne! as much as possible even if you are not yet given the authority for IM or have mailings that do not qualify for IM. However, you do have the objectives to submit your documents through hard copy on mailings for which you are not claiming IM ultimate Service discounts. For most mailers, it makes sense to make use of the same process for all mailings in order to streamline their mailing processes and to provide consistency - and PostalOne! is an excellent way to streamline your processes.

Although the USPS does not lately require mailers to use Intelligent Mail or PostalOne!, this may be subject to change in the future. For this cause, it is recommended that mailers transition to using PostalOne! as much as possible and to migrate as much mailing to IM as possible. IM provides a much easier and more accurate system for connecting the business mailer’s mailing information with the Postal Service for acceptance, induction, payment, and tracking. It will for sure improve the way information is passed between the Postal Service and its customers, and may be the USPS will need you to process mail in the immediate future. As time goes on everyone will be using IM, so it is wise to get on board now to stay competitive.uations may arise where a mailing does not qualify for IM or the mailer simply may choose not to utilize IM for a mailing even if it does qualify. This is majorly true for mailers who mail multiple classes of mail or process mailings to multiple entry point locations.

If you do process mailings using IM ultimate Service, you are required to submit postage statements and other mailing documents electronically using PostalOne! System (also referred to as Business Customer Gateway). Does this mean that the moment you are allowed for IM you must submit all documents for all mailings electronically? No, it does not. If you do not plan to use IM ultimate Service for your mailings, you are not obligated to utilize PostalOne! to submit your postal documents.

Again, the USPS encourages mailers to use PostalOne! as much as possible even if you are not yet given the authority for IM or have mailings that do not qualify for IM. However, you do have the objectives to submit your documents through hard copy on mailings for which you are not claiming IM ultimate Service discounts. For most mailers, it makes sense to make use of the same process for all mailings in order to streamline their mailing processes and to provide consistency - and PostalOne! is an excellent way to streamline your processes.

Although the USPS does not lately require mailers to use Intelligent Mail or PostalOne!, this may be subject to change in the future. For this cause, it is recommended that mailers transition to using PostalOne! As much as possible and to migrate as much mailing to IM as possible. IM provides a much easier and more accurate system for connecting the business mailer’s mailing information with the Postal Service for acceptance, induction, payment, and tracking. It will for sure improve the way information is passed between the Postal Service and its customers, and may be the USPS will need you to process mail in the immediate future. As time goes on everyone will be using IM, so it is wise to get on board now to stay competitive.

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