Window Book--Unless you've been hiding under a rock, you are already aware that Postal Service is planning to "sunset" the POSTNET barcode in January 2013 in favor of the Intelligent Mail® barcode in order to receive automation discounts. This will go one step further in 2014, when they plan to require the use of Intelligent Mail Full Service® to be eligible for automation discounts. The United States Postal Service® (USPS®) announced a series of webinars designed to assist mailers in making the transition to Intelligent Mail (IM).
Scheduled USPS webinars
Building the Intelligent Mail barcode - Initial Steps for Mailers:
June 20, 2012, August 9, 2012 and September 6, 2012
To help you get ready for the January 2013 retirement of the POSTNET barcode, this webinar will provide an understanding of how you can continue to take advantage of automation pricing. The webinar will cover the steps for migration to the Intelligent Mail barcode. You will learn the building blocks for creating the Intelligent Mail barcode; this includes obtaining a Mailer ID, knowledge on the different Service Type Codes and how to use for your mailing needs.
The World of MIDs, CRIDS, and the Business Customer Gateway:
June 28, 2012, August 16, 2012 and September 13, 2012
Focus will be on Customer Registration IDs (CRIDs), Mailer IDs (MIDs), and how you can obtain MIDs and CRIDs. You will learn about the multiple ways Mail Owners and Mailing Agents can acquire an MID, when and how it is used in the Intelligent Mail barcode, electronic mailing information and receipt of Full-Service data.
Reaping the Benefits of Intelligent Mail:
July 12, 2012, August 23, 2012 and September 20, 2012
Learn how to reap the benefits of Intelligent Mail and Full-Service feedback. This webinar will cover Service Type IDs (STIDs) and how they can help you keep your address list up to date, the various Full-Service feedback reports available and where you can find them.
This schedule is posted on the RIBBS web site, with a note that the registration information will be provided in the near future.
IM Transition Steps
The first step is getting the Intelligent Mail barcode on your mailpieces. The USPS provides assistance in this regard with online barcode guides and Mailpiece Design Analysts who can assist with mailpiece design. Although uniqueness of barcodes is not required for Intelligent Mail Basic Service, we encourage mailers to make plans to incorporate unique mailpiece ID's right from the start, since that is a requirement of Full Service. In addition to the barcodes on the mailpieces, you will need to insure the correct Intelligent Mail barcodes are included on the mail container labels, such as sack tags, tray tags, and pallet flags.
The next step in the process is to connect with the USPS to establish your account with PostalOne!, which is the web-based method for submission of electronic documentation (eDoc) to the USPS. You can sign up for your account on the Business Customer Gateway, where you will apply for a Mailer Identification number (MID) and a Customer Registration Identification (CRID). The MID uniquely identifies you as a mailer, while the CRID uniquely identifies your physical location.
The third step is to start practicing the submission of electronic documents. The USPS has a specific area of PostalOne! that is reserved for mailers who need to practice submitting eDoc or test out new file formats or new mailing scenarios. This area is called the Test Environment for Mailers (TEM). To better understand TEM, we recommend that you read the TEM Guide for Mailers, available on the USPS RIBBS web site. We recommend that mailers go through the full certification process in TEM, as this will expose you to all of the possible scenarios that you might encounter for the type of mailings that you produce. This will also make you eligible for Full Service. Even if you dont take advantage of any discounts, you will be ready for the changes in 2014.
The last step: once you have completed the certification process, you are now ready to submit eDoc in your live production environment, and to begin accessing the feedback reports from the USPS.
Resources
Window Book also offers some great resources for mailers as you head down this path. Check out our web site to access white papers, upcoming & previously recorded webinars (we are flattered that the USPS is offering webinars similar to ours!), or to request a customized demonstration of our software solutions.
Don't miss out on our educational mailing webinars! Log on to our webinar registration site to sign up.
Scheduled USPS webinars
Building the Intelligent Mail barcode - Initial Steps for Mailers:
June 20, 2012, August 9, 2012 and September 6, 2012
To help you get ready for the January 2013 retirement of the POSTNET barcode, this webinar will provide an understanding of how you can continue to take advantage of automation pricing. The webinar will cover the steps for migration to the Intelligent Mail barcode. You will learn the building blocks for creating the Intelligent Mail barcode; this includes obtaining a Mailer ID, knowledge on the different Service Type Codes and how to use for your mailing needs.
The World of MIDs, CRIDS, and the Business Customer Gateway:
June 28, 2012, August 16, 2012 and September 13, 2012
Focus will be on Customer Registration IDs (CRIDs), Mailer IDs (MIDs), and how you can obtain MIDs and CRIDs. You will learn about the multiple ways Mail Owners and Mailing Agents can acquire an MID, when and how it is used in the Intelligent Mail barcode, electronic mailing information and receipt of Full-Service data.
Reaping the Benefits of Intelligent Mail:
July 12, 2012, August 23, 2012 and September 20, 2012
Learn how to reap the benefits of Intelligent Mail and Full-Service feedback. This webinar will cover Service Type IDs (STIDs) and how they can help you keep your address list up to date, the various Full-Service feedback reports available and where you can find them.
This schedule is posted on the RIBBS web site, with a note that the registration information will be provided in the near future.
IM Transition Steps
The first step is getting the Intelligent Mail barcode on your mailpieces. The USPS provides assistance in this regard with online barcode guides and Mailpiece Design Analysts who can assist with mailpiece design. Although uniqueness of barcodes is not required for Intelligent Mail Basic Service, we encourage mailers to make plans to incorporate unique mailpiece ID's right from the start, since that is a requirement of Full Service. In addition to the barcodes on the mailpieces, you will need to insure the correct Intelligent Mail barcodes are included on the mail container labels, such as sack tags, tray tags, and pallet flags.
The next step in the process is to connect with the USPS to establish your account with PostalOne!, which is the web-based method for submission of electronic documentation (eDoc) to the USPS. You can sign up for your account on the Business Customer Gateway, where you will apply for a Mailer Identification number (MID) and a Customer Registration Identification (CRID). The MID uniquely identifies you as a mailer, while the CRID uniquely identifies your physical location.
The third step is to start practicing the submission of electronic documents. The USPS has a specific area of PostalOne! that is reserved for mailers who need to practice submitting eDoc or test out new file formats or new mailing scenarios. This area is called the Test Environment for Mailers (TEM). To better understand TEM, we recommend that you read the TEM Guide for Mailers, available on the USPS RIBBS web site. We recommend that mailers go through the full certification process in TEM, as this will expose you to all of the possible scenarios that you might encounter for the type of mailings that you produce. This will also make you eligible for Full Service. Even if you dont take advantage of any discounts, you will be ready for the changes in 2014.
The last step: once you have completed the certification process, you are now ready to submit eDoc in your live production environment, and to begin accessing the feedback reports from the USPS.
Resources
Window Book also offers some great resources for mailers as you head down this path. Check out our web site to access white papers, upcoming & previously recorded webinars (we are flattered that the USPS is offering webinars similar to ours!), or to request a customized demonstration of our software solutions.
Don't miss out on our educational mailing webinars! Log on to our webinar registration site to sign up.
