"Transformation helped deliver solid results across the board," said Postmaster General John E. Potter. He noted that the Postal Service achieved seven straight years of productivity growth, and in 2006 had its fourth consecutive year of positive net income, along with high levels of service and customer satisfaction. "But even greater results lie ahead," said Potter. "We are poised for new breakthroughs in service improvement and cost reduction that will recast the future of mail."
The report reflects the Postal Service's commitment to make mail a more powerful and versatile business tool for customers. Highlights include:
· Launch of new barcode and tracking technologies that will ultimately give customers a continuous view of the flow of mail, from production to delivery.
· Innovative services like Click-N-Ship and Free Package Pickup that combine the convenience of online access with the Postal Service's daily delivery link to every home and business.
· Expanded automated mail sorting capability that promises more consistency at a lower cost.
· Streamlined commercial mailing processes that cut documentation, simplify payment procedures and create a host of diagnostic tools to improve service quality and value.
The report identifies improvements in address and mailing list quality as a critical priority for 2007. Each year billions of pieces of mail cannot be delivered because addresses are incomplete, wrong, or out of date.
The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, signed into law by President Bush last month, will not alter the Postal Service's mission or major strategies, the progress report notes. Rather, the new law will enable the organization to continue its transformation efforts and cost-cutting measures.
The 2006 Annual Progress Report is available online at http://www.usps.com/strategicplanning/2006apr/welcome.htm
