The USPS has been discussing the need for product management leadership with the industry for some time. As a result of these discussions, the USPS has added three new positions to its Product Team and announced it at the Mailers’ Technical Advisory Committee (MTAC) August meeting.
As mentioned in our previous issue of GHS Informed, the USPS® is changing the method for measuring compliance for meeting the Move Update requirements to a Census based approach. The change is going into effect on January 21, 2018 to coincide with the next Price Change. Assessments will begin March of 2018, based on February data, for any pieces over the threshold of 0.5%.
The old MERLIN® machine is being retired and replaced by scans off of Mail Processing Equipment (MPE). The USPS will use scans from MPE to determine whether addresses for First-Class Mail® and USPS Marketing Mail® letters and flats have been updated within 95 days of the mailing date. Compliance will be measured across a calendar month at the Mail Service Provider level.
Every year, mailers have the ability to take advantage of various USPS promotions, which provide mailers with discounts and incentives to make use of new and innovative business technologies, such as color transpromo, direct mail starter and tactile, sensory and interactive mailpiece engagement. What’s being offered in 2018? Nothing.
2018 doesn’t bring the same opportunity for mailers to participate in promotions. So what does this have to do with a Board of Governors?
By November 30, 2017, the USPS wants mailers to be prepared for the migration from IMb Tracing® to Informed Visibility. To help with the migration efforts, the USPS has provided a PDF describing the migration from the legacy systems and where the migrated information can be found in Informed Visibility. Of course, we have already taken care of the migration setup for our customers.
The USPS recently announced that Informed Visibility is now available to all mailers. Some mailers are still trying to fully grasp everything that comes with IV. Luckily, the USPS PCC has put together a presentation "connecting mailers with greater visibility."
Wow's My Mail
