1 It’s Time for Intelligent Mail ® All About the Barcodes Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2008.

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It’s Time for Intelligent Mail®

All About the Barcodes

Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2008

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Agenda

• Introduction to the 3 Barcodes

• Constructing the Barcodes

• Managing Your Mail

– Uniqueness

– Mailer IDs

• Technical Resources

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Basic and Full-Service Options

• What is the Basic Option?

– Available today for letters, cards and flats

• What is the Full-Service Option?

– Gives mailers key insight into their mail

• Why should mailers opt for Full-Service Option?

– Can take advantage of added mailstream visibility

– Allows improved management of mailing costs and quality

• What is required for the Full-Service Option?

– Proper use of the Intelligent Mail® suite of barcodes

– Submission of electronic documentation

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• Intelligent Mail® Barcode

• Intelligent Mail® Tray Barcode

• Intelligent Mail® Container Barcode

Intelligent Mail® Barcode Intelligent Mail®

Tray Barcode Intelligent Mail®

Container Barcode

Suite of Intelligent Mail® Barcodes

SCF SAN FRANCISCO CA940

STD FLTS SCF BC/NBCXYZ CORPORATIONINTERNATIONAL FALLS, MN

(Mailer Area)

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• Since the 80’s, mailers have applied the POSTNET barcode to mailpieces

5-digit ZIP Code5-digit ZIP Code

ZIP+4 CodeZIP+4 Code

Delivery PointDelivery Point

POSTNET™ – Overview

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• By reading the POSTNET on mailpieces, processing equipment is able to direct mail automatically through the postal network to its destination

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• The POSTNET is great. However, it only contains information about the mailpiece’s final destination. No other information about the mailpiece can be included.

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#BWNGKVN #9999 9920 0104 276

POSTNETPOSTNET™™ Code Code for Sortationfor Sortation


PLANET CodePLANET Code®® for for CONFIRMCONFIRM®® Service Service


Address Change Address Change Participant CodeParticipant Code

Address Change Address Change Participant CodeParticipant Code Keyline for Address Keyline for Address

Change ServiceChange Service

Keyline for Address Keyline for Address Change ServiceChange Service

• As the Postal Service introduced services such as CONFIRM® for tracking and Address Change Service for change of address notification, more information needed to be printed on the mailpiece

Intelligent Mail® Barcode – Overview

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#BWNGKVN #9999 9920 0104 276



PLANETPLANET®® Code for Code for CONFIRMCONFIRM®® Service Service

PLANETPLANET®® Code for Code for CONFIRMCONFIRM®® Service Service





• With all this extra information, the mailpiece was cluttered and in need of a serious make over


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So, the Postal Service undertook the task of creating a new barcode…

It would need to be smarter…

Different information…

A barcode that could hold more information…

A better barcode than the POSTNET™…

Intelligent…


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• And so, in 2006, the Postal Service introduced the Intelligent Mail® barcode to mailers


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What’s in the Intelligent Mail® Barcode?

• So, what information is contained in this new barcode that makes it so smart?

Barcode IDBarcode ID

Ex: “50” for Mixed AADC

Service TypeService Type

Ex: “700” for First Class Mail

Mailer IDMailer ID

Ex: “123456” USPS assigned

Routing CodeRouting Code

Ex: 6449 Amberview Ct., Memphis, TN

38141834649

Serial NumberSerial Number

Ex: “200800001” Mailer assigned

Remember: The POSTNET contains only Delivery Point information

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• Because delivery point information and additional information needed for CONFIRM® and Address Change Service now fits neatly into a single barcode, the mailpiece is once again free from clutter!

#BWNGKVN #9999 9920 0104 276










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For Letters and Flats

• Height-modulated barcode

• Full bar, Ascender, Tracker, and Descender

Key Barcode Tolerances

• Overall length between 2.667 and 3.225 inches

• Overall height between 0.125 and 0.165 inch

• Vertical clear zone at least 0.028 inch

Other physical characteristics are same as POSTNETAttribute 11-digit POSTNET 13-digit PLANET Intelligent Mail

Barcode

Number of bars 62 72 65

Horizontal Pitch 22 ± 2 bars per inch 22 ± 2 bars per inch 22 ± 2 bars per inch

F A T D

Intelligent Mail® Barcode – Specifications

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Intelligent Mail® Tray and Container Barcodes and Labels

• Use of the Intelligent Mail® Tray and Container barcodes and labels will be required for the Full-Service Option in May 2009

• By using the Intelligent Mail® Tray barcode and Intelligent Mail® Container barcode, the USPS can maintain visibility of mailpieces and mail aggregates throughout the network through nesting relationships

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Unique Mailpiece Barcode Unique Mailpiece Barcode Unique Mailpiece Barcode Unique Mailpiece Barcode Unique Tray Barcode Unique Tray Barcode Unique Tray Barcode Unique Tray Barcode

Unique Container Barcode Unique Container Barcode Unique Container Barcode Unique Container Barcode

How Nesting Works


STD FLTS SCF BC/NBCXYZ CORPORATIONINTERNATIONAL FALLS, MN

(Mailer Area)

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Intelligent Mail® Tray Label – Overview

• The Intelligent Mail® Tray label has been used internally by USPS for years

• By attaching an Intelligent Mail® Tray barcode to each tray, sack or tub in a mailing, mail can be automatically directed through facilities by processing equipment

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Tray Barcode - Overview

• What’s in the Intelligent Mail® Tray barcode that makes it so smart?

ZIP CodeZIP Code

Ex: Memphis, TN “38141”

Content Content Identification Identification Number (CIN)Number (CIN)

3-digits describing the tray

Processing Processing CodeCode

Ex: “1” for Automation Compatible

Serial Serial Number Number

Ex:“20080001” Mailer

Assigned

Mailer IDMailer ID

Ex: “123456” USPS

Assigned

Label TypeLabel Type

Ex: “1” for 6-digit MID

The former tray barcode only contained delivery point information

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Intelligent Mail® Container Label – Overview

• The Intelligent Mail Container barcode and label has been tested over the past few years and is ready for deployment

• By attaching the Container label to containers and pallets that move mail, mail induction can be automated

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Intelligent Mail® Container barcode – Overview

• What’s in the Container barcode that makes it so smart?

Application Application IdentifierIdentifier

“99”

Type Type IndicatorIndicator

“M”

Mailer IDMailer ID

USPS Assigned, Ex: “123456”


Mailer Assigned, Ex: “200800000001”

The former container label did not contain a barcode

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Agenda




– Uniqueness

– Mailer IDs


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What you need…

– USPS or vendor-developed Intelligent Mail® barcode encoder

– USPS or vendor-developed font for the Intelligent Mail® Barcode

– USPS assigned Mailer ID (MID)

– Content Identification Number (CIN) List

– Software to generate Code 128 subset C for the Intelligent Mail® Tray barcode and software GS1-128 for the Intelligent Mail® Container barcode

• It’s easy to generate the suite of Intelligent Mail® barcodes. Here’s what you’ll need:

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Intelligent Mail® barcode

• There are three steps required to generate the Intelligent Mail barcode on mailpieces:

1. Form the 31-digit payload

2. Encode the 31-digits

3. Print the barcode on mailpieces

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Form the 31-digit Payload

• Data for the 31-digits in the barcode needs to be gathered and assembled

• Ex: “5070012345620080000138141834649”

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Barcode IDBarcode ID

“50” for Mixed AADC

Service Type IDService Type ID

“700” for First Class Mail

Mailer IDMailer ID

USPS assigned “123456”

Routing CodeRouting Code

6449 Amberview Ct

Memphis, TN 38141834649


Mailer Assigned

Ex: “200800001”

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Encode the Barcode

• Next, encoding software is used to transform the 31-digits into the barcode payload

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“5070012345620080000138141834649”

DADTATFFAFFTTTAFTAFDADFDDDDDTAFFDAAFFDAFDDFFTADFTFTTFDAAFTFTADTTT

Apply Encoding Algorithm

To download encoders and user guides visit: http://RIBBS.USPS.GOV/ONECODESOLUTION

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PRINT

• Then, simply apply the Intelligent Mail® font to the encoded string, and PRINT

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Print Intelligent Mail® barcode

USPS or Vendor Developed Font

DADTATFFAFFTTTAFTAFDADFDDDDDTAFFDAAFFDAFDDFFTADFTFTTFDAAFTFTADTTT

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Intelligent Mail® Tray Label

• Currently, there are two options available for generating Intelligent Mail® Tray Labels:

1. Generate the labels “in-house”

or

2. Submit online label orders to the Label Production Center in Topeka, KS

Soon there will be third method of printing Tray labels via Shipping Assistant!!!

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Generating Intelligent Mail® Tray Labels

• Obtain and use the Intelligent Mail Tray label specification from http://ribbs.usps.gov

• Remember to apply for your Mailer ID (MID) and have the Content Information Number (CIN) List available before you begin! http://ribbs.usps.gov

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Ordering Intelligent Mail® Tray Labels

• Ordering labels from the Label Production Center in Topeka, KS is handled through the Customer Label Distribution System (CLDS)

• CLDS is a web based application that provides mailers with the capability to create, edit and submit Intelligent Mail® Tray Label orders online

http://clds.usps.gov

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• Affix the 8"x11" label and the 4"x7" adhesive label on the outside of the shrinkwrap or container

Intelligent Mail® Container Label

8" x 11"

8" x 11"

4" x 7"

4" x 7"

The 8’’x11’’ label is the minimum size!

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• To create and print labels, obtain and use the specifications available at http://ribbs.usps.gov

• Consider working with vendors

Generating Intelligent Mail® Container Label

http://ribbs.usps.gov

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Agenda




– Uniqueness

– Mailer IDs


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Lessons from Early Adopters

• Ability to induct Full-Service Mail does not happen overnight!

• Consider whether to “build or buy” capabilities

• Pay special attention to managing uniqueness and the Mailer ID

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Agenda




– Uniqueness

– Mailer IDs


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Uniqueness

• Key considerations:

– How will uniqueness be driven?

– Who will manage uniqueness?

– Will uniqueness be managed centrally?

• For the Full-Service Option, mailers are required to maintain unique mailpiece, tray, and container barcodes for 45 days

• Managing uniqueness can be complex

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Managing Uniqueness

• Consider letting a vendor manage your uniqueness

• Use license plating to connect data behind the scenes

– Use the barcode to relate to data in a database

– Remember: You’ll need to link Address Correction information to mailpieces and mailings without using Keyline information

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Agenda




– Uniqueness

– Mailer IDs


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Your Mailer ID

• Your Mailer ID (MID) will be included in each mailpiece, tray, and container barcode that you print

• If you use multiple mail preparers, managing your Mailer ID while maintaining uniqueness will require constant attention


STD FLTS SCF BC/NBC

XYZ CORPORATION

INTERNATIONAL FALLS, MN

(Mailer Area)

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Managing Multiple Mailer IDs

• Larger mailers may have multiple Mailer IDs to manage

• Be sure to keep track of your Mailer IDs and who is using each ID

• Strategies to consider:

– Distribute your Mailer IDs based on geography. Assign each of your major hubs a different ID

– Assign each mail preparer you work with one Mailer ID

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Managing A Single Mailer ID

• Most mailers will need to manage a single Mailer ID

• Use only your own Mailer ID; it’s the key to your mail

• Consider assigning each mail preparer you work with a different first digit in the serial numbers they apply to mailpieces, trays, and containers

“50700123456X1234567838141834649”

For Mail Preparer 1, X = 1

For Mail Preparer 2, X = 2

…

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Agenda




– Uniqueness

– Mailer IDs


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Validating Intelligent Mail® Barcodes

• Manual Tools

– Visual Inspection

– Plastic Templates

– Optical Comparator

• Software

– Online Encoder/Decoder

– Scanners and Verifiers

• Local postal resources

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Technical Resources

Plastic Template

• Automation Barcode Gauge Template (Item #04A)

• Great tool available from local BSN or Mailpiece Design Analyst

• Measures both the Intelligent Mail barcode and the POSTNET™

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Technical Resources

Optical Comparator

• Optical Comparator 6X (Eye Gage) by Gage-Line Technology

• Complements Item 04A with ability to measure exact heights/widths and to assess barcode jitter (~centerline shift)

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Technical Resources

Basic online decoder tool is available at: http://ribbs.usps.com/OneCodeSolution

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Technical Resources

Scanners and Verifiers

• The Culver Group

– HHP4600 Area Imager

• Videk

– VisionSensor 2030 and PostnetVerifier

• BCC Software (A BÖWE BELL+HOWELL Company)

– Mail Verifier Plus (MVP)

• Motorola / Symbol

– Scanners – DS3408, DS3478 and DS6707

– Mobile computers – MC50, MC70, MC3000, MC9000

Information about these companies is available at ribbs.usps.gov/OneCodeSolution

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Steps to Getting Started

STEP 1: Talk with your Mailpiece Design Analyst, mail service providers & vendors

STEP 2: Apply for Mailer ID (MID)

STEP 3: Apply for a PostalOne!® account

STEP 4: Visit RIBBS - download guides and software

STEP 5: Determine uniqueness strategy

STEP 6: Generate barcodes

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The Time is NOW…

When is the Right Time for you to Implement Intelligent Mail®?

1 It’s Time for Intelligent Mail ® All About the Barcodes Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2008.

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Transcript of 1 It’s Time for Intelligent Mail ® All About the Barcodes Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2008.