Sei sulla pagina 1di 52

Mailing

AUGUST 2009
www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com

systems technology

OCTOBER 5-7, 2009


HYATT REGENCY O’HARE • CHICAGO
www.mailingsystemstechnology.com/conference

Strategic
Purchasing
p Market Trends for page 24
Direct Mail in 2009
page 30

p Will the USPS’s


New Approach
Work in this How to Stay Competitive in a Challenging Economy
Climate?
page 32

p Targeting Mail
Center Efficiency
Gains
page 26
SOFTWARE IMb SOFTWARE IM

They’re Tak
Not to Fear… We’ve Got You Covered

More Value... October 6-7, Mailing Con

Several free networking receptions and luncheons where you can Two free exhibit halls with solutions for mailing, shipping and
mingle with fellow mailing professionals. document processing.

ATTENTION: 3 The Intelligent Mail Barcode (IMb) is com-


ing, whether you like it or not. So we have
Mailing Systems Technology subscrib- developed an intensive four-hour workshop
ers: Get an additional 20% off with that will give you all the knowledge you need
to make solid business decisions.
your VIP invitation. Just go to the
www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com 3 The mail center used to be a place of hardware.
to get yours. You’ll be able to justify But now, software is king. Are you getting the
most out of it? This is the only workshop in the
this very affordable conference. Free mailing industry that will cover everything soft-
exhibit hall passes also available. ware — from production to management to
USPS compliance.
Check it out.
3 Finding it impossible to get approval for purchases
today? We end the workshops with a session
on ROI and making the customer-vender rela-
tionship work for you.

www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com/c
Mb SOFTWARE IMb SOFTWARE

king Over…
nference, Chicago

One or two-day mailing workshop passes available. You can also


use your pass to attend PARCEL or DOCUMENT Forum sessions.

conference or call toll free 866.378.4991


Mailing
systems technology

Volume 22 Issue 4 AUGUST 2009

24 Strategic Purchasing
Financing options help mail centers stay competitive in
a challenging economy

26 Targeting Mail Center Efficiency Gains


These low-cost practices can bring significant improvements

24 28


Making the Right Moves
A comprehensive approach to the challenge of undeliverable
as addressed mail

30 A Channel in Transformation
Vertical market trends in direct mail 2009

32 Bernstock Seeks Innovative Approach to USPS Marketing


Will it work in this climate?

28 Departments
8 Real Life Management
Columns
6 Editor’s Note
Game Over?
10 Software Byte
35 Reality Check
12 Employing Technology Does the USPS Understand
14 Everything IMB Our Business?

16 Ship It 30 Pushing the Envelope


Postal Industry Suppliers Spur

30
18 Best Practices Innovation

20 What You Think


22 From the Source
34 New Products

Top Companies
38 BÖWE BELL + HOWELL 45 Melissa Data

32
39 Collins Ink 46 Mid-South Technologies
40 DHL Global Mail 47 National Presort, Inc. (NPI)
41 Endicia 48 Neopost
42 Hasler 49 Parascript
43 Kern 50 Satori Software
44 Kirk Rudy

[ PLUS ]
Make sure you sign up for our monthly e-Newsletter so we
can keep you posted with news alerts and updates!
www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com

04 AUGUST 2009 a www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com


editor’s note
with Dan O’Rourke
Mailing
systems technology
PUBLISHER
Ron Brent

EDITOR
Dan O’Rourke, CMM
dan.o@rbpub.com

Game Over? MANAGING EDITOR


Amanda Cook Armendariz
amanda.c@rbpub.com
At a recent gathering of our neighborhood condo group, I asked a neighbor if they
subscribed to the New York Times, as I would like to read it when they were finished. CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Mary Ann Bennett, Kemal Carr
(I’m a little on the cheap side.) He responded that he didn’t get the actual Times but
Kevin Conti, Wes Friesen, Jim Gray
subscribed online — adding that the online version was free. My response — and the Steve Kearney, Nick Kepf, Christopher Lien
response from the majority gathered — was that they didn’t want their newspapers Jason Lund, Jonathan Margulies
online; they wanted to “kick back” and read an actual printed product. Kate Muth, Paul Ringuette
David Robinson, Wanda Senne
Jeff Stangle, Mark Taylor
As the discussion continued it expanded into print in general and specifically e-mar-
keting (referred to in this discussion as spam). Pretty much everyone agreed that they CIRCULATION
considered most all e-marketing as intrusive and a general pain. They would much Rachel Spahr
rachel@rbpub.com
rather get marketing pieces in print, either as newspaper ads or as direct marketing
pieces. They didn’t have a problem with businesses maintaining the relationship via “e,” ADVERTISING
but for the initial contact, they preferred print. One mentioned that they were surprised 608-442-5064
Ken Waddell
how things had changed — adding, “only spam (e-marketing) could make direct mail
ken.w@rbpub.com
popular.” All in all, a very enlightening and interesting discussion. The bottom line: Print
advertising is still a very attractive option, and probably the most attractive from a recipi- GRAPHIC DESIGN
Amy Pierquet
ent’s point of view.
Greg Middleton, Kelli Cooke

Unfortunately, the story didn’t end there. At this same gathering was an executive of
a major retail clothing firm with a nationwide in-store and online sales and distribution
function. He stated that they still used some direct mail marketing but they recently
had to abandon their mass distribution of catalogs due to postage costs. (We’re talking
many millions of pieces here.) The latest rounds of regulation changes and postage rate
increases for catalogs were just too much — they simply couldn’t justify the expense 2901 International Lane
Madison WI 53704-3128
vs. sales. His comments really hit home to me. Here was a real-life example of a major 608-241-8777 • Fax 608-241-8666
mailer saying “no more.” rbpub@rbpub.com
www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com

First Class Mail revenue is in real trouble. With transactional mail going away (bills and Volume 22, Issue 4
statements are products that do fit with “e” very well), the revenue “cash cow” of
Subscriptions are free to qualified recipients: $20 per year to
the U.S. Postal Service will no longer carry the load. It will fall to direct marketing and all others in the United States. Subscription rate for Canada
parcel products to do the job. Obviously, raising rates to collect more revenue will not or Mexico is $40 per year, and for elsewhere outside of
the United States is $45. Back issue rate is $5. Send sub-
work. Adding cataloger costs by adding more regulations will not work. It is up to the scriptions to: Mailing Systems Technology, PO Box 259098,
USPS — the entire USPS, labor as well as management — to find ways to cut costs. Madison WI 53725-9098; or call 608-241-8777; fax 608-241-
8666; e-mail rbpub@rbpub.com or subscribe online at www.
MailingSystemsTechnology.com.
I wish I could say, “Not to worry, everything’s going to be fine,” but I can’t. The key to For quality, customized reprints, please contact our exclu-
keeping print advertising viable is going to be cost containment. If the cost of direct sive reprint provider. FosteReprints • 866-879-9144 •
www.marketingreprints.com. All material in this maga-
marketing keeps rising, it will not matter what the recipient prefers, marketers will zine is copyrighted ©2009 by RB Publishing Inc. All rights
simply not be able to afford print marketing. Without innovative and significant cost reserved. Nothing may be reproduced in whole or in part
without written permission from the publisher. Any corre-
cuts, it’s “game over” for the USPS as we know it! spondence sent to Mailing Systems Technology, RB Publish-
ing Inc. or its staff becomes property of RB Publishing Inc.

As always, thanks for reading Mailing Systems Technology. The articles in this magazine represent the views of the
authors and not those of RB Publishing Inc. or Mailing
Systems Technology. RB Publishing Inc. and/or Mailing
Systems Technology expressly disclaim any liability for the
products or services sold or otherwise endorsed by adver-
tisers or authors included in this magazine.

Mailing Systems Technology (ISSN 1088-2677) [Volume 22,


Issue 4] is published seven times per year (January [includ-
ing the Annual Resource Guide], February, March-April,
May-June, July-August, September-October, November-
December) by RB Publishing Inc., 2901 International Lane,
Suite 200, Madison WI 53704-3128, 608-241-8777. Periodi-
cals postage paid at Madison WI and additional offices.

Postmaster: Send address changes to:


Mailing Systems Technology
PO Box 259098
Madison WI 53725-9098
06 AUGUST 2009 a www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com
Real Life Management With Wes Friesen

Best Practices of Great Managers


Editor’s Note: This is part one of a two-part series on the four best “C” stands for Character. Does character count? As an employee of
practices of general managers. We will cover two in this article a company that has been owned by Enron, I would say an emphatic
and two in the next. “yes!” Look for people that exhibit integrity and honesty.

Trying to improve our management capabilities is important to “E” stands for enthusiasm. Is apathy and cynicism contagious?
the success of our organizations. Many people in the human Yes! Is enthusiasm contagious? Yes! What makes for stronger and
resources field are telling us that the number-one challenge facing more productive teams? The answer is obvious. Here is the bot-
organizations in the years ahead is the ability to attract and retain tom line: If you hire ACEs for your team (and help existing employ-
talented employees. This is becoming more challenging due to the ees develop into ACEs) — your team will be successful!
aging demographics facing our nation.
Set Expectations: Define the Right Outcomes
So how do we become better managers? One tool we have is to The second key is to set expectations, which is to define the
learn and apply what research tells us. The Gallup organization has right outcomes. Great managers focus their people toward per-
been engaged in employee and management research for over 25 formance by defining the right outcomes. How do you define the
right outcomes? The 360-degree approach is one wise strategy.
Find out where your boss and the senior management want the
Studies Show: According to the research, organization to go, then determine how your team can help them
two important considerations of great managers are: get there. Coordinate with your peers, and find ways to partner.
Picking People: Select for Talent Solicit participation from your team members — their participation
leads to their buy-in and higher quality decisions. Once the right
Setting Expectations: Define the Right Outcomes
outcomes are defined, great managers then let each person find
his own route toward the outcomes, within specified parameters.
Great managers don’t micro-manage, but they do define steps to
years and has collected information from over one million employ-
ensure quality, safety and compliance with corporate policies and
ees and interviewed thousands of managers. Their studies have
applicable laws.
revealed to us what the world’s top performing managers do —
and it boils down to four major activities (best practices).
Great managers are aware of the concept of “stakeholder sym-
metry.” Stakeholder symmetry recognizes that an organization
Picking People: Select for Talent
has multiple stakeholders (e.g. investors, customers, employees,
The first key activity involves picking people well, focusing on
suppliers, community). The organization should try to add value
their talents. Talent has been defined as the “recurring pattern
to each stakeholder and maintain a reasonable balance between
of thought, feeling or behavior that can be productively applied.”
their competing interests.
Skills can be learned, knowledge can be gained, but talent is more
“hardwired” and tougher to teach.
None of us are perfect managers, but we can all get better! Good
luck as you continue on your path to being a better manager! a
One approach in looking for talented people for our teams is to
only hire “ACEs.” ACE is an acrostic where the “A” stands for Atti-
Wes Friesen, CMDSM, EMCM, MQC, ICP, CCM,CMA, CM, CFM,
tude. Look for people who have a positive attitude and who are
APP, PHR is the Manager of Revenue Collection & Community Of-
committed, teachable and care for people.
fices for Portland General Electric. Contact Wes.Friesen@pgn.com.

How Do They Do It?


How do organizations succeed at attracting and how productive they are is primarily determined by
retaining the talent they need to prosper? Studies the relationship with their immediate supervisor. The
tell us that talented employees want and need number-one reason why talented people leave is
great managers. How long employees stay and because they had a poor relationship with their boss.

08 AUGUST 2009 a www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com


Software Byte With Christopher Lien

The Best Defense Is a Good Offense

There is much at stake today in address quality. Postage dis-


counts, timely delivery and customer response are all directly tied
Real Life Application
to the upfront investment in address quality. Unfortunately, so For example, let us assume a mailing of 1,000,000
much emphasis has been placed on the penalties of poor address pieces is presented at a PBV-enabled site. The acceptance
quality that the overall benefits of keeping an address complete, clerk takes a sample size of 1,000 pieces and processes
correct and current are getting lost. it through MERLIN. The names and addresses are “lifted” from
the pieces using the optical character recognition technology
The USPS raised the bar November 23, 2008, when they expanded within MERLIN and are transmitted to the USPS National Cus-
the Move Update requirement to First-Class and Standard Mail tomer Support Center (NCSC) in Memphis, TN where they are
and increased the frequency by which an approved method is matched against the 48-month NCOALink database. The NCSC
applied to at least 95 days prior to the mailing. This was done as finds that there are 100 records that have a change-of-address
a direct move to reduce Undeliverable As Addressed (UAA) mail on file. Furthermore, the NCSC determines that the mailer
both in cost and volume. According to the USPS, non-current corrected 69 of them within the past 95 days. This results
addresses generate over 75% of the UAA volume and nearly 80% in a Move Update accuracy calculation of 69%,
of the UAA costs involved in forwarding, returning and disposing which would result in failure of Move Update compliance, as it is
of UAA mail. below the 70% tolerance level currently proposed by the USPS.

10 AUGUST 2009 a www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com


Failure to comply with Move Update can result in significant pen- Regardless of the adjudication method, penalty amount or how it’s
alties, loss of postage discounts and impact timely delivery of the assessed, keeping addresses complete, correct and current is still
mail. The proposed approach by the USPS is to use MERLIN in a smart investment. Unfortunately, that is the message that is often
conjunction with the Performance Based Verification (PBV) tech- lost in the whole Move Update compliance approach. The simple
nology at the time of mail acceptance. This approach extrapolates fact is that a current address is going to likely have a better chance
address quality of the entire mailing based on the sample used of timely, predictable and ultimate delivery, which, in turn, improves
during verification. This is being delayed until January 4, 2010 in customer response rates, direct marketing and value of the mail.
order for the USPS to determine appropriate tolerance levels, pen-
alties and adjudication for Move Update compliance. Going back to our scenario, had the mailer been 90% Move Update
compliant, then an estimated 21,000 more pieces (.21 X .10 (COA
At the April MTAC (Mailers Technical Advisory Committee) meet- rate) X 1M pieces) would ultimately arrive at their intended audi-
ing, the USPS presented two approaches for assessing Move ence. If our average response rate for this direct mailpiece is two
Update penalties should the sample set fall below a specific tol- percent, then that equates to 420 new customers. Depending
erance. One approach extrapolated the change-of-address (COA) on the typical purchase amount from these new customers, the
rate within the sample to the entire mailing and used that as the incremental value of correcting these addresses could pay for the
basis for a penalty calculation. The other approach gave partial entire investment of Move Update compliance for the mailing. a
credit to the mailer by factoring in the number of address correc-
tions done prior to the mailing.
Real
Value Move Update compliance
The first proposed scenario for calculating a penalty would be to isn’t just about preserving the postage discounts or avoid-
assess the COA rate against the entire mailing. This would equate ing penalties at acceptance; it’s about improving the value
to 100,000 pieces (10% COA X 1M pieces) having some penalty of the mail. A mailpiece that has a complete, correct and
assessed. The second proposed approach, which provides partial current address can translate into a greater return on invest-
credit to the mailer, factors in the address corrections applied prior ment and effectively increase the overall response rate due
to the mailing. This would equate to the failure rate of 31% mul- to a timely, predictable and ultimate delivery.
tiplied by the COA rate of 10% and then extrapolating the result
across the entire mailing of one million pieces (.69 X .10 X 1M Christopher Lien is the President of BCC Software, Inc., a BÖWE
pieces). This would result in 31,000 pieces having some penalty BELL + HOWELL Company. He can be reached at chrisl@bccsoft-
assessed. ware.com.

www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com a AUGUST 2009 11


Employing Technology With Kemal Carr

The Content Factor

It’s no surprise that today we are awash in content and information like never before. Email, SMS, Internet, blogs, EDI, legacy
administrative systems, marketing content, direct mail, images, graphics and video. How do we store and manage all of this con-
tent, and how does it impact our daily operations? Not much? Think again; if the future of TransPromo holds any promise, it will be
one of rich media content delivered via our organizations’ operational processes.

Can You Identify The Problem? An Obvious Answer?


The convergence of full color, graphic-rich direct mail with Here the challenge lies in the ownership, or lack thereof,
traditional transactional customer communications has gen- of the content. Finding the stewards of the core transac-
erated a lot of buzz in the market. The latest full color inkjet tional data is relatively simple sometimes. The location
presses provide a platform to exploit this opportunity that of the data and how it’s handled is well-known, as it’s
wasn’t available five years ago. These platforms have some been a well-defined process developed over a number
unique requirement in order to fully exploit their capability of years. The bad news is that all of the other content
and maximize their return on the substantial investment. In may not be present in a single location on a consoli-
most cases, it’s fallacy to buy into the concept of simply dated platform with an easily accessible user interface.
swapping out monochrome laser technology for these inkjet
devices. If you’re planning on a “forklift upgrade,” prepare to You’re storing content in many systems, one used by
be disappointed. Quickly. marketing, a different one used by the lines of business,
and you’re trying to pull in customer input data from the
The good news is that the software side of the equation has call centers, using some text analytics to determine key
kept pace with and, in some cases, outstripped the hard- trends. Sounds daunting, and it is, which is why there
ware advances in this environment. Full color images, rich is only a handful of referenceable accounts doing this
text, graphics and charts are no longer a challenge and can well. Finding resources and partners that have experi-
be rendered and printed in full color at production speeds. ence in this type of situation is challenging, given the
newness of these processes.
But where does all of that content reside? Who is the legal
guardian of it? Is it in a suitable format for this process? All Everyone wants to make good decisions, and to do so
good questions, and, unfortunately, there are many varied requires good information. Without complete and accu-
answers. Some of the content might be on a web content rate information, the decision process fails and we com-
server, some information might be on the mainframe host, promise the potential outcomes. As TransPromo interest
while other content might be imported from outside the has increased, we at Madison Advisors have seen both
organization, such as market indexes or fund prices in the the good and bad, as well as what improves the chances
financial services world. for success and what to avoid.

Unfortunately, some pundits continue to confuse the


market by incorrectly labeling variable data direct mail as Only an independent and objective third party with the tech-
TransPromo, which has slowed adoption and fueled the mys- nology, industry and market knowledge, as well as practical
expertise gained from overseeing myriad solution selection
tification. The reality is that this process rides on the back of
processes, can provide the thought clarity and accurate infor-
some transactional document, not a marketing piece, and
mation necessary to make the best decision. a
for good reason. Transactional mail gets opened, and more
importantly, as much as 95% of it gets read. Without this Kemal Carr is the President of Madison Advisors, an advisory
key component, you’re fooling yourself while sending out firm that specializes in print and electronic communications. Visit
something most of us would call direct mail. www.madison-advisors.com.

12 AUGUST 2009 a www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com


Everything IMB With Kevin Conti
& David Robinson

An Update on the IMBC

The Postal Service launched the full-service Intelligent Mail bar- machines, but this process is certainly costlier and less reliable
code as expected on May 18. However, not all things went as than the IMBC process of validating those specific pieces that are
planned. For example, full-service ACS was not available (still isn’t kicked out of the automation path.
as this article is being written). There are other technical issues
outstanding as well, and PostalOne! has had its challenges keep- Yet another benefit of the IMBC to the USPS is the cost savings of
ing up with the demand from those early adopters that have processing mail. The savings start at the beginning, where today,
invested in being ready for full-service IMBC. the USPS employs folks to manually enter postage statements
into the system, which is very costly. With the IMBC, and espe-
So why doesn’t the Postal Service step back and come up with a cially with full-service, the e-documentation requirements elimi-
slower adoption curve so that all parties can better manage this nate the need for this manual typing.

Reminder: The overall IMBC program is massive in scale, and most of us anticipated that there
would be issues at the initial launch. Once the IMBC date was established by the Postal Service,
we’ve all been under pressure to comply. Even the Postal Service, as well as its contractors hired to
code PostalOne!, are working insane hours to meet the requirements.

program? I’m glad you asked! Actually, I’ll speculate, which is all To begin with and as noted above, the Postal Service views the
we can do, since they haven’t stated so directly. IMBC as a critical tool in meeting the Service Performance mea-
surement requirements of the PAEA as well as a critical tool in
Let’s begin with what the IMBC means to the Postal Service. reducing costs. Not much of a chance that the USPS will extend
First, you have the Service Performance Measurements that, the POSTNET life.
under the new postal law (PAEA) established in late 2006, require
the USPS to report on their service performance. The IMBC is the In addition, given that the USPS will have the IMBC and today has
tool that allows the USPS total visibility of the mail in the mail- the newly upgraded MERLIN system for validating Move Update
stream. There are arguments that they can use a hybrid system compliance, we certainly encourage mailers to ensure that they
of “planted mail” and the IMBC, but the best data can really only are being very diligent in meeting the requirements of the Move
come from use of the IMBC. Update compliance as well as good address hygiene in general.

Another benefit the IMBC has for the USPS is that it will act like The USPS has gotten very serious about this, and some mailers
its own report card on address quality for letters and flats. Today, are being visited by the postal inspectors verifying that Move
poorly addressed mail becomes part of the USPS’ Undeliver- Update compliance is taking place as claimed. It will be far better
able As Addressed (UAA) costs, which are paid for out of a gen- for all if mailers develop best practices in their address hygiene. In
eral operating cost of the USPS and not specifically by mailers the event of a visit by the postal inspectors, mailers should be able
(although we all pay for this in postage rates). However, with the to produce documentation outlining their workflow processes on
IMBC, the USPS will be able to determine the source of each compliance, and this could go a long way in preventing fees/penal-
piece of UAA mail. You may remember from previous articles that ties. To be clear, there are no guarantees, but a solid process, at
the Mailer ID that is contained in every IMBC will tell the USPS least, would be valuable if only to feel confident that mailers are
where that UAA mail came from. earning the best discounts and ensuring mail deliverability. a

If a mailer claimed postage discounts but the mail had to be manu- David Robinson has been active in the mailing industry for over
ally treated, the USPS will likely want to talk with that mailer, and eight years and is currently the Director of Address Quality for
one would guess that it’s a conversation that nobody wants to have. Pitney Bowes. Kevin Conti is Director of Mailing Solutions at Pit-
ney Bowes Software. He works in a consultative role with Group
It’s certainly true that there’s a means of the USPS checking for 1 Software customers to deploy software solutions that reduce
address quality (i.e., Move Update compliance) by using MERLIN mailing costs and improve customer communications.

14 AUGUST 2009 a www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com


www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com a JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2009 25
Ship It With Mark Taylor

Put Items on a Diet!


When you are a beginner, you make mistakes. Sometimes, even don’t have to worry about fuel surcharges, residential delivery
an old pro makes one. In mail operations, a little mistake can be charges or delivery area surcharges; however, don‘t assume it is
costly. Thirty years ago, I advised mail center managers to educate always the best deal.
their users about how much money could be saved if they simply • I put 13 pounds into the USPS Medium Flat Rate Box; the
printed on both sides of a sheet of paper. Postage was $.15, and charge was $10.35. I compared this against UPS Ground and
you could save 46%, or $.13, by cutting one ounce. Today, many found that UPS was $12.78 for a Zone 8 commercial ship-
people don’t realize that one ounce could cost an additional $16! ment and $14.89 for a residential shipment, for a savings of
The best advice for cutting shipping and mailing costs is this: chal- 20-30%.
lenge your assumptions. This issue’s column will do that. • Yet UPS was cheaper for Zones 2-6 for a commercial ship-
ment and through Zone 4 for a residential destination.
Now that summer is here, many of us are thinking about diets to
look good. If we put our envelopes and packages on a diet, we can Most of these are lessons that I have learned the hard way. What
look good by the amount of money we will save. Make sure you are some of the lessons you have learned? I would like to hear
weigh your packages and especially overnight envelopes; see if you your ideas and advice on saving on shipping. a
can reduce the weight. One ounce can make a huge difference.
Mark Taylor, MBA, DLP, is the nation’s leading authority on parcel
shipping with 32 years of experience consulting for thousands of
What Difference Does It Make? organizations. He is a writer, speaker, business consultant and
entrepreneur. Taylor has been featured as the industry expert in
• The difference between a FedEx eight- the New York Times and has been interviewed on ABC News. He
spent 13 years at Pitney Bowes working with mail center manag-
ounce Priority Overnight envelope and a ers on increasing productivity. The American Society of Transpor-
nine-ounce envelope is $16.44 — 60% tation and Logistics has named Taylor a Distinguished Logistics
Professional (DLP) in recognition of the contributions he has
more. ($44.39 compared to $27.98) made to the field of logistics during his 30-year career. His blog is
www.shippingcoach.com and he can be reached via email at
• One ounce can be as much as 75% more!
mark.taylor@myshippingcoach.com.
The difference between one pound and
1.1 pounds is $4.95, compared to $8.70
(USPS Zone 8)
Shipper Beware:
Compare Different Services,
Even with the Same Carrier.
Be Careful which Packaging You Choose
• An eight-ounce USPS First Class Mail Parcel costs only $2.41
to ship, compared to the Priority Mail rate of $4.95 — a 50%
I ran out of the hard cardboard FedEx envelopes and
savings. put a proposal into one of their Tyvek envelopes.
• A one-pound box from New York to California using the USPS The cost was $44.39 compared to $27.98, or 60%
Media Mail rate is $2.38, compared to $4.95 using Priority
Mail — a savings of 52%. for the same thing going to the same place!
• A 20-pound box shipped UPS 3-Day Select costs $27.20,
compared to UPS Ground for $11.93. Both parcels are guar-
The USPS Express Mail Flat Rate Envelope looks
anteed to get there the same day and time. The savings
is 56%. very similar to the regular Express Mail Envelope.
The difference to ship to a Zone 2 was $17.50 for
Compare Flat-Rate Envelopes and Boxes. The USPS has a
the flat rate, compared to $13.05 for the regular
Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelope and four sizes of flat rate boxes.
Like the name implies, the cost is a fixed rate, regardless of its envelope, or 30% more!
weight or destination. Flat rate can be a good deal because you

16 AUGUST 2009 a www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com


MST Ads.indd 17 8/13/09 10:11 AM
Best Practices With Mary Ann Bennett

Using Ancillary Service Endorsements & Move Update Compliance

Let me start out by saying: CAUTION CAUTION CAUTION. Apply- Ancillary Service Endorsement
ing an Ancillary Service Endorsement like RETURN SERVICE Mailers may use an ancillary service endorsement to
REQUESTED or ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED to the face of 1. request a hard-copy notification of the addressee’s new
your mailpiece may seem like an easy way to make your mailing address; and
Move Update-compliant. But it may also be the easy way for you 2. tell the Postal Service how to handle UAA mail.
to experience increased postage costs and expose your company
to what the USPS calls “Revenue Deficiency Assessments” and Mailers wishing to meet the Move Update standard while using
the rest of the industry refers to as postage penalties. an ancillary service endorsement must send at least one letter or
mailpiece to the address:
Murky Areas of Move Update 1. with an approved ancillary service endorsement at either
There are many in the mailing industry who believe all areas involv- a single-piece First-Class Mail price or via another class of
ing the entire issue of Move Update are murky at best. But, in my mail not subject to the Move Update standard and
opinion, the use of Ancillary Endorsements is most problematic 2. within 95 days prior to the use of the address in a discounted
because of its apparent simplicity. Mailers commonly believe that First-Class Mail or Standard Mail mailing.
if they print the endorsement on the mailpiece and pay the associ-
ated fees, if any are incurred, that they have met the Move Update Mailers must keep address-correction records for up to one year
standard. in case the Postal Service asks them for documentation showing
that they met the Move Update standard.
The use of endorsements is an approved method; however, it
is likely the most expensive, cumbersome and, potentially, risky • To complete the Move Update process, mailers who used
choice you can make. It is: the ancillary service endorsement must make the address
• expensive because of the postage fees associated with their changes before mailing to the address again.
application
• cumbersome because of the multiple steps involved in the Ancillary service endorsement requirements differ for First-Class
process and Mail and Standard Mail, as follows:
• risky because the improper use of Ancillary Endorsements
could still leave you Non-Compliant. First-Class Mail
• Return Service Requested
Frequently Misunderstood • Temp-Return Service Requested (First-Class Mail only)
Simply printing one of the Ancillary Service Endorsements on your • Change Service Requested
mailpiece and paying the fees does not meet the Move Update • Address Service Requested
standard. There are many more steps you must complete before
you can be sure your mail is meeting the standard and your com- Standard Mail
pany is safe from the possible financial penalties of non-compliance. • Return Service Requested.
• Change Service Requested.
• Address Service Requested
Straight from the Source: *See Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service,
Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) 507.1.5 for more information.
According to USPS Publication 363, http://
Effective November 2008, the Postal Service required all
addresses on mailings that receive discounts for First-Class Mail®
ribbs.usps.gov/move_update/documents/ or Standard Mail® service, whether presorted or automation (or
carrier route, for Standard Mail), to undergo address correction
within 95 days of the mailing.
tech_guides/PUB363.pdf

18 AUGUST 2009 a www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com

MST • BestPracticesRevised.indd 18 8/12/09 10:44 PM


A mailer wishing to enter mail at a discounted price must cer- the services has become very attractive in the past 12 months.
tify, on the postage statement submitted, that the address on It is:
each mailpiece have been updated within the previous 95 days. • a fast and efficient electronic process;
• can be readily implemented by your company or service pro-
vider and
Remember: The Postal Service offers • its proper use will easily render your company Move Update
compliant. a
mailers four primary and two alterna-
tive Move Update methods. Mary Ann Bennett is the President and CEO of The Bennett
Group, Inc., and founder of the Mailing Training Institute. The
Bennett Group, Inc. is the nation’s only privately held firm that
Primary Move Update Methods: specializes in the development, production and presentation of
1. Ancillary Service Endorsement educational products and services for the direct mail industry.
2. OneCode ACS®/ACSTM
3. NCOALink® Products developed at the facility include educational courses,
4. FASTforward® textbooks, publications, kits and templates, online forums and
web-based seminars. The Bennett Group also presents edu-
Alternative Move Update Methods: cational courses and sessions at national and regional confer-
1. Legal Restraint ences, conventions, meetings of the direct mailing industry
2. 99 Percent Accurate and Clemson University at Clemson, SC.
Note: Alternative Move Update methods apply to
First-Class Mail only.

Try and think of using Ancillary Service Endorsements to meet Real-Life Solution:
Move Update standards like drawing a circle with a marker.

Start drawing your circle:


• Apply a “current” address with an Endorsement printed on A much simpler and, arguably,
the mailpiece
• Pay fees associated with any returned mail coming back to less expensive approach to Move
you with updated information on it
• Locate the record in your database with old address infor- Update compliance is using
mation
• Update the record with new address information NCOALink processing. NCOALink is
Close your circle by:
• Document your process and keep address-correction infor-
readily available to all companies
mation on file for 12 months
• Note: Do not include old addresses in any discounted mail- large and small. The pricing for the
ings until they have been updated and made “current”
services has become very attrac-
A much simpler and, arguably, less expensive approach to Move
Update compliance is using NCOALink processing. NCOALink is tive in the past 12 months.
readily available to all companies large and small. The pricing for

www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com a AUGUST 2009 19

MST • BestPracticesRevised.indd 19 8/12/09 10:42 PM


What You Think With Jacquelyn McPeak, CMDSM

Digitizing Your Mail


Thank you to the almost 300 respondents who provided results Satisfied Reasons
to the two-minute survey distributed in June concerning digitized “Totally fits our mail processing needs at this time.”
mail applications. “Our solution was selected by claims executives, and it is out-
sourced and works very well.”
“Presents a cost savings to our company and our clients.”
The majority of the respondents to the survey (67%)
either work in or is responsible for the mail facility in a busi-
Unsatisfied Reasons
ness, while 33% provide mail services such as presort, “Substandard scanner, limited software application.”
lettershop and data for other organizations. This represents “It is difficult to interface with our database and has operational
almost the same ratio of managers in mail facility busi- software limitations.”
ness and managers of mail services as the previous survey “Too expensive and takes too long to get mail.”
respondents.
Sixty-five percent of the respondents currently using a digitized
The survey results reflect that only 15% of the respon- incoming mail solution use an in-house scanning solution, whereas
dents are currently using a digitized incoming mail solution 16% use a scanning service bureau.
in their operation as opposed to 85% who are not. The top
three applications are: More than half of the managers using the digitized mail solution
have experienced increased efficiency and 46% have experienced
reduction of costs. Thirty-six percent experienced improved secu-
44% Transactional business mail rity, and 18% indicated other efficiencies, which included a new
32% All incoming revenue stream, pandemic preparedness, cost and flexibility.

correspondence “white” mail Those thinking about using a digitized incoming mail solution
would consider the following: reduction of costs, increased effi-
24% Interoffice mail ciency and improved security.

Eighty-one percent of the managers not using a digitized incoming


Other applications identified are package receipt and e-mail notifi- mail solution do not plan to use one in the near future, compared to
cation to receiver, incoming claims mail, data files, overnight and 19% that plan to use digitized incoming mail solution in the future.
ground shipments.
Looking forward to your participation in the next two-minute
Of those managers who are currently using a digitized incoming survey! a
mail solution, 68% of the managers are satisfied with the solution
they selected compared to 32% who are not. Jacquelyn McPeak is one of a distinguished number of mail profes-
The reasons for being satisfied or unsatisfied were varied and sionals that has obtained certification as a Mail and Distribution Sys-
some examples follow: tems Manager. Contact her at mailmgt@aol.com or 410-833-3224.

Respondents indicated 61%


that for the majority, the current economy has not 39% NO
impacted their decision to use a digitized incoming YES
mail solution.

20 AUGUST 2009 a www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com


www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com a JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2009 25
From the Source By Steve Kearney

Send-off into Summer!

What a way to officially kick off the lazy, hazy, mail-filled days of the the rebates, the Postal Service is required to provide the Commis-
season! We learned last month that even the Postal Regulatory sion with relevant revenue and cost data.
Commission agrees that our planned “Summer Sale” program is
a terrific idea, unanimously endorsing our decision to provide a There has been a lot of discussion and interest in the mailing
30% rebate to eligible mailers on Standard Mail letters and flats industry for this proposal, and we appreciate your support. Almost
volumes above a mailer-specific threshold. 200 mailers signed up within the first few weeks we announced
the program, all agreeing to their threshold number, while continu-
As you know, the program is open to larger mailers able to meet ing to wait for PRC review and action. Mailers have until August 1
a volume of at least one million Standard Mail letters and flats to register to take advantage of the savings.
between October 1, 2007 and March 31, 2008. These thresh-
olds are designed to limit administrative costs while incenting Although mail service providers are not eligible for the Sale, cus-
increased volume sufficient to cover those costs and make use of tomers who use Mail Service Providers may qualify with adequate
excess capacity in the mail system. documentation of mailed volumes.

Mailers will receive their discounts in the form of rebates follow- We will closely monitor the program and analyze the results, not
ing the conclusion of the sale period. Within 15 days after crediting only in volume increase but interest and participation from our

mapping the
new document life cycle.
VIEW IT ANYWHERE: digital magazine, e-newsletter, website
INFORMATION ORGANIZED into easy-to-follow sections
NEWS AND PRODUCT RELEASES: never fall behind
LEARN ABOUT EVERYTHING microsites
A GROWING MULTIMEDIA: this is only a sampling; more is soon to come!

Subscribe online now:


www.DOCUMENTmedia.com/subscribe

mapping the document life cycle

22 AUGUST 2009 a www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com


You’re Complying! Indeed, MERLIN barcode readability data from April 29, 2008
through May 27 of this year shows that 96.9% of letters and flats
mailings had a 90% or higher readability rate, based on almost
760,000 letter and 30,000 flat POSTNET mailings and 71,000 letter and 1,300 flat IMb mailings. As
Periodical and Standard mailers begin to enter IMb mailings, we anticipate a significant increase that
will allow for a more statistically sound evaluation. The data also shows that the readability rates of
the POSTNET barcode and the Intelligent Mail barcode are generally within a few percentage points
of each other for both letters and flats: 97.9% of POSTNET letters and 96% of IMb letters both had
read rates of at least 90%. Figures were slightly lower for flats — around 94% for POSTNET flats and
90% of IMb flats had read rates of 90% or higher.

partners in the mailing industry. I strongly encourage you to take I do want to be clear, though, that any standards announced prior to
advantage of this program and use the savings to consider target- the National Postal Forum on May 18 will be fully implemented. Our
ing new customers or reaching out to thank existing customers purpose in making this announcement is to take away any uncer-
for their business in tough economic times. tainty or concern about new mailing standards requirements that
we might otherwise propose during the coming months. The only
These are extraordinarily difficult times for all of us, and we at the other exceptions would be any requirements under the law or the
Postal Service are committed to doing everything we can to help relocation of facilities that would require new labeling lists. We will
your business grow with the help of mail. That is one of the most work closely with our stakeholders and partners to be as clear as
important reasons we’ve also placed a moratorium on developing possible when we know this is about to happen.
or considering any new mailing standards requirements through
the end of November. For us, it’s a matter of making sure we do not propose any new
mailing requirements that place a burden or cost on mailers through
We know mailers have a lot on their plates right now, and we also at least November 29, when Intelligent Mail pricing takes effect.a
need to focus on implementing Intelligent Mail services. Eliminat-
ing the need to learn and understand new regulations makes life Steve Kearney is Senior Vice President, Customer Relations, for
a little easier for all of us. the U.S. Postal Service.

www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com a AUGUST 2009 23


feature

Financing options help


mail centers stay
competitive in
a challenging economy

Strategic Purchasing
By Jason Lund and Paul Ringuette

A
ccording to the U.S. Department of Commerce, program, companies can set a fixed, monthly cost for acquiring
American businesses, nonprofits and government new variable data printing equipment. In addition, while paying
agencies invest more than $1 trillion in capital goods monthly installments for the equipment, companies can be using
and software each year. More than 55% of this that equipment to make a profit. Many mailing companies receive
investment is financed through loans, leases and income from a mix of regularly scheduled jobs, steady reoccurring
other financial instruments, according to a study undertaken for revenue and less-frequent projects. The ability to space out pay-
the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA). ments for new equipment can help mailing companies better align
costs with profits, which can fluctuate dramatically.
In today’s challenging economic climate, commercial printers and
mail houses are facing tight capital equipment budgets and cash Partnering with the Equipment Manufacturer
constraints. As a result, these companies are seeking financing Financing variable data printers through the manufacturer or a
options like leasing programs to secure new variable data printing manufacturer’s preferred equipment leasing partner can offer
technologies for addressing and personalization applications. benefits such as a quick, simple approval process, compared with
bank loans that may be restricted in an economic downturn. Banks
Financing Maximizes Cash Flow are not lending very aggressively in today’s volatile economy, so
Competitive rates and flexible payment options can enable com- manufacturers may offer alternative sources of capital if bank
panies to utilize operating budgets for incremental monthly pay- loans are not available for new equipment purchases.
ments on new equipment when capital equipment funding is not
available. Equipment manufacturers may offer financing programs Equipment leasing companies that partner with manufacturers
that allow companies to obtain 100% financing for the purchase may also offer competitive rates and wider credit windows, which
amount of new equipment, helping them keep bank credit lines are critical in a challenging economic environment. These compa-
open for other business expenses and even realize potential tax nies may have capital available to even fund start-up businesses,
advantages. which may have a more difficult time securing funding than com-
panies with established credit. Plus, equipment leasing firms
Leasing programs enable mailing companies to preserve cash specialize in financing capital equipment purchases, so they may
or capital, especially for unforeseen expenses. Through a leasing have experts available who can offer insight into the appropriate

24 AUGUST 2009 a www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com


solution to meet company objectives of obtaining new equipment Government Incentives
while maximizing financial benefits, or they may be strategically The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is a tax
aligned with the equipment manufacturer. Mailing companies can incentive that may lower the cost of acquiring equipment this
seek out leasing providers that will work with them to address year. Qualifying purchases could result in thousands of dollars
specific challenges related to financing equipment and have a vari- in potential 2009 tax savings for businesses. These benefits can
ety of flexible solutions available to help mailers secure the new make it more beneficial for mailing companies to purchase capital
equipment they need for successfully operating their businesses. equipment in 2009 because they could significantly reduce overall
cost of ownership.
When leasing companies and equipment manufacturers work
together, the mail house can benefit because the process of Leasing providers typically monitor updates in government
researching and evaluating new equipment is streamlined with incentives or tax benefits that can help mailing companies max-
the financing process. This can help ensure the process is handled imize equipment purchases. As they see new incentives that
expeditiously and that financing applications are quickly evaluated can positively impact mailers, they may send out announce-
and approved so the equipment can be procured in a timely man- ments or information, helping mail houses keep up to date on
ner. Streamlining the process helps mail houses get their new the latest benefits available to consider with their accounting
equipment up and running quickly to begin generating a return on department.
their investment.
Financing variable data printers can be both a solution to weather
Options when the Lease Ends economic challenges and a strategic decision to make the best
At the end of a lease term, businesses typically have three options use of the available budget to continuously procure the most up-
with regard to the leased equipment: to-date or productive equipment. Considering financing options
• Return the equipment to the manufacturer or leasing partner and available incentives ensures the decision to invest in new
with no further obligation equipment will offer the greatest benefit to the company’s overall
• Purchase the equipment for its fair market value or a operating initiatives. a
predetermined price fixed at the beginning of the lease term
• Continue leasing for additional months Jason Lund is a graphics product manager for Videojet Technolo-
gies Inc. in Wood Dale, Illinois. He is responsible for managing
These options generally are set up at the beginning of the lease to marketing initiatives for variable data printers, vision systems, line
reflect the mailing company’s future plans for the equipment. The controllers and paper-handling equipment. He received a bach-

Applying for financing


The process of applying for financing can seem intimidating, but when broken down, it
is a relatively simple process — especially if the financing provider and equipment manu-
facturer are working together:

1. The mail house or commercial printer expresses interest in financing options and fills out a credit application.
2. The financing company performs a credit check.
3. Once the credit check is approved, the financing company provides the financing package and payment
schedule to the mail house or printer.
4. The mail house or printer agrees to the financing package.
5. The financing company issues a purchase order to the variable data printer manufacturer.
6. The equipment manufacturer contacts the mail house or printer to schedule installation.

options enable companies to decide whether to continue using elor’s degree in business administration from Drake University in
the equipment or to upgrade to new equipment when the lease Des Moines, Iowa, and a master’s degree from the Darden School
ends, helping printers and mailers remain flexible with the printing of Business Administration, University of Virginia, in Charlottes-
equipment they have available to meet customers’ demands. Over ville, Virginia.
time, there are improvements to equipment technology, engineer-
ing and features. Leasing can enable mailing companies to con- Paul Ringuette is vice president of sales for Direct Capital Corpora-
tinuously upgrade equipment as lease terms end, enabling them tion, Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He is responsible for vision
to offer their customers the latest capabilities possible. Regularly and management of national strategic customer initiatives for a
upgrading technology can also be an advantage in an increasingly wide variety of finance programs. He has a degree in business
competitive marketplace. management from Salem State College in Salem, Massachusetts.

www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com a AUGUST 2009 25


Targeting Mail Center
Efficiency Gains

These low-cost practices can


bring significant improvements

By Nick Kepf

IN
today’s difficult economic times, it is more See the Big Picture
important than ever to implement actions that What you measure and how you attribute value to that measure-
can improve productivity and efficiency. This is ment must be balanced. An emphasis on efficiency should not
especially true if there is little cost involved in come at the expense of quality. An emphasis on internal finances
implementation and there is a significant return should not come at the expense of on-time performance to the
on investment. If these actions can be done at little or no cost, customer.
then there should be no hesitation to put them into effect.
Creating a balanced scorecard is an effective tool to monitor the
Here are some no- to low-cost practices that can drive signifi- needs of all organizational stakeholders. A sample balanced score-
cant improvements in your mailing operation. If you outsource card might look like the following chart, which depicts which met-
your operations, check to see if your provider has put these into rics are important to each stakeholder:
effect. If not, there may be room for operational improvements
and lower costs. Customer Financial
Commit to Measuring External quality Unit cost/cost per piece
Measurement is an essential element of process improvement. On-time performance Machine utilization
You must measure your baseline to understand where improve-
ment is needed and to know if improvement efforts have worked Internal Associate
once attempted. Production management software or machine Labor productivity
reports can be used to measure system efficiency, operational
Turnover
Internal quality
efficiency and attainment to schedule. Quality errors should also Employee competency
be tracked and monitored for trends. Operational efficiency

Define what you want to measure. If your organization is to be This scorecard can be displayed in a common area of your opera-
driven by metrics, the metrics used must reflect the leadership’s tions so that it becomes a continuous reminder of how and why
vision and priorities — and ideally this, in turn, should reflect the your metrics should be balanced so as not to sacrifice one area
best outcome for your customer. Too often, organizations can get of value for another area. This provides a quick visual queue for
derailed by internally focused concentration. everyone to understand what the goals are for the organization.

26 AUGUST 2009 a www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com


Standardize Processes Manufacturing usually has implemented visual management tech-
Processes that are repeatable and sustainable are the most effi- niques, which show information or work status in a way that is
cient. The enemy of repeatability is variation. Through standard- quickly and easily understood and help to keep order in the work-
ization, you can reduce or eliminate variation and drive more place while increasing professionalism. They also create a climate
consistent performance. of operational discipline in the work area.

Where to Standardize? Here are some quick ways to begin a visual management program:
For example, check the speed settings on your inserters. Chances • Mark staging areas at each machine.
are that the same or like jobs are run at different speeds by differ- • Establish an operational status board.
ent operators. Without standard speed settings, it is difficult to • Use lights or flags to denote machine status or attainment to
predict performance because the output from different machines goal at the machines.
running the same work will vary due to differences in machine • Use visual signals to replenish inventory kept on the produc-
cycle speeds selected or preferred by operators. tion floor.

Also, shift turnover procedures often lack standardization. Are all These practices will lead to efficiency gains now and can set a
of the necessary critical tasks being completed by each operator cultural tone to drive more improvements in the future. They can
every time? And if so, is the amount of idle time per machine at be implemented with little or no cost but need the drive and focus
each turnover consistent and within a set standard? of the leadership to be sustained and to be effective. Experience
shows the results attained are well worth the effort. a
Really See It
Lean Manufacturing is an approach to processing that systemati- Nick Kepf is the Director of Customer Productivity Solutions at
cally eliminates or minimizes waste. A facility incorporating Lean BÖWE BELL + HOWELL.

Covering all the pieces of the

PUZZLE
Mailing
systems technology

Subscribe today and you’ll get:


u 7 Magazine Issues
u The Annual Buyers Guide
u The Annual Who’s Who
u Monthly e-Newsletters
u Top News Alerts
u Full Access to our Digital Magazine
u Full Access to the ONLY Website
Dedicated to the Mailing Industry

Call (800)536.1992 or visit www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com

www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com a AUGUST 2009 27


Making the
Right Moves
A comprehensive approach
to the challenge of Undeliverable
As Addressed mail

By Jeff Stangle

IN
part one of this two-part series, we’ll uncover the
problem of Undeliverable As Addressed Mail, what the
United States Postal Service is doing about it and how
mailers can significantly reduce the costs associated with it.

To someone unfamiliar with the subject of Undeliverable As


Addressed (UAA) mail, it might be considered a very “last century”
problem. Let’s face it; in today’s pervasively digital environment, the
idea that we don’t know someone’s correct address seems posi-
tively pre-millennial. One would think that at the very least, UAA
mail is a problem that’s pretty much disappearing, right?

Wrong! In fact, both the size and scope of the UAA mail problem
is increasing, and its related costs are also heading upward.

A Growing Problem
On average, each piece of return mail costs the mailer $3.00 in
operational expenses, including printing, postage, inbound han-
dling, analysis and re-mailing costs. It doesn’t include the cost of
missed marketing opportunities, uncollected receivables and lost
USPS discounts. Also, unless the mailer pays extra for a special
endorsement, undeliverable Standard Mail is destroyed by the
USPS. Finally, every mailpiece we print and mail has an environ-
mental impact, from the forests that supply the paper to the fossil
fuel used to deliver it. This creates even more costly waste from
UAA mail.

Since the USPS doesn’t typically return Standard Mail that is unde-
liverable, companies have no visibility into how much of this mail
is destroyed. The reality is that 6.4% of all USPS Standard Mail is
destroyed because it is undeliverable. Marketers frequently use
USPS Standard Mail to try out new lists. Since mail using bad

28 AUGUST 2009 a www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com


addresses is not returned, however, they have no idea who on those Seventy-five percent of UAA mail is the result of a move by
lists they couldn’t reach or how much of a given list is productive. the intended recipient. For this reason, the USPS has tight-
ened Move Update regulations. Compliance will require going
This brings up a key point: Most mailers severely underestimate beyond running a file through address software. Instead, mail-
their UAA mail problem and its impact on their bottom line. They ers need to update their databases with move information.
measure it by the return mail they receive, but that only includes This year, the USPS will start testing for moves at Mail Accep-
USPS First-Class Mail. Sixty-three percent of all UAA mail is USPS tance units using MERLIN. It’s only a matter of time before
Standard Mail, which means tracking First-Class Mail returns only addresses that haven’t been updated will be caught by MER-
uncovers a bit more than a third of the problem! Remember, the LIN, putting the entire mailing at risk of failing the test. When
USPS only awards work-sharing discounts for correct and current mailers engage IT people to run address software like CASS
addresses. Therefore, to maintain discounts, addresses need to software and the NCOALink product, they’re meeting the mini-
be corrected for all mail, not just the portion returned. mum requirements to earn postage workshare discounts, but
they’re not really fixing bad addresses.
Tighter Postal Regulations
The USPS is now putting even more pressure on mailers to solve Probing the Process
their UAA mail problems. On November 23, 2008, the USPS To dramatically reduce UAA mail, a comprehensive approach is
expanded the Move Update requirement to include USPS Stan- needed to establish best practices for finding address errors, cor-
dard Mail in addition to First-Class Mail, which is already required. recting them and keeping the database of addresses consistently

Since the USPS doesn’t typically return Standard Mail that


is undeliverable, companies have no visibility into how much of this
mail is destroyed. The reality is 6.4% of all USPS Standard Mail
is destroyed because it is undeliverable.

For both classes of mail, Move Update processing is now required up-to-date. To implement these best practices, mailers need to
more frequently — every 95 days instead of every 185 days as look beyond addressing products and examine the processes for
previously mandated. The USPS started enforcing these regula- address capture and maintenance they have in place.
tions in May of this year, and compliance is necessary to receive
postage discounts… so what should a mailer do? Addressing is a complicated process. Consider the many ways an
address becomes bad: data entry errors, customer and prospect
Going Beyond Addressing Tools moves, new data restrictions... Many mailers today are finding that
There are plenty of high-quality products and services that can they need an addressing expert to examine the process. Speak
help verify, cleanse and update addresses. Many mailers already with the USPS or a qualified postal consultant whose broad expe-
use addressing tools to clean addresses and meet postal regula- rience can be leveraged to determine the specific areas where
tions. Often, though, addressing tools are not used properly. Most a mailer’s operation needs help. Postal consulting experts have
mailers purchase address cleansing products to obtain postage access to many of the USPS-certified tools that can fix addresses,
discounts without understanding the difference between obtain- and their range of experience helps them optimize each tool to get
ing discounts on postage and correcting addresses. This explains the best fit.
why some mailers have three percent of their mail returned, while
others have less than 0.25% returned using the same address In part two of this series, we’ll learn about the three-step pro-
cleansing products. cess for solving the UAA mail problem and look at two real-world
examples of companies who got it right. a
Cleansing and maintaining addresses requires an addressing
process. A quality managed address services vendor who has Jeff Stangle, CMDSM, MQC, Six Sigma Black Belt, is Direc-
extensive experience in understanding this process and in-depth tor of Solutions Development, Mailstream Consulting, Pitney
knowledge of postal regulations can help. Bowes Management Services.

www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com a AUGUST 2009 29


e l t i o n
a n n r m a
C h s f o
A Tran
in

c a l m arket
Verti t
n d s i n direc
tre
009
mail 2 ulies
arg
a than M
By Jon

“Before, everyone knew how to read the market conditions. Now there’s no visibility
— it’s like we’re fighting through a fog. I don’t know if there is an end to this, or if
there are rocks out there that we still have yet to hit… That lack of visibility is our
biggest challenge.” — Zain Raj, Chief Executive Officer, Euro RSCG Discovery
The year 2008, in short, presented an extraordinary set of chal- Direct mail has seen its influence as a high-volume, mass-oriented
lenges to the practitioners and suppliers of direct mail marketing. response driver all but vanish. Skyrocketing costs have critically
wounded industries (including the catalog, credit card and not-for-
Unprecedented economic, political and even social forces con- profit sectors) that long depended on the mail as a source of new
verged to rewrite — at times radically — long-established rules revenue. And a supply chain whose fortunes were tied to mail’s con-
governing how customers are cultivated and profits are earned. tinuing primacy in the marketing mix has been greatly undermined,
Likewise, certain business models dependent on the mail for a with an assembly of newly shuttered production facilities standing
flow of prospects were dispatched as obsolete, often the victims as testament to the impact of that rapid upheaval.
of financial concerns far removed from the everyday issues of pack-
age design, postage rates and even return on investment. But while direct mail’s transformation has been grim for some, it
has also brought with it pockets of real (and, apparently, reason-
To mailer and supplier alike, the influences of the last 18 months able) growth opportunity. The demise of mass mailing, for example,
have brought about nothing short of complete transformation to a has opened the door for new approaches leveraging data for bet-
medium that had grown crisply and consistently for over a decade. ter targeting and additional dimensions of personalization. And the

30 AUGUST 2009 a www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com


maturity of digital channels — and growing availability of tools to multichannel integration capabilities throughout virtually all
coordinate campaign execution across media — has allowed for sectors of the production industry.
better integration of mail with email, search and online advertising, • Though some marketers shifted mail spending to digital media
leading to improved customer experiences and higher returns. as a lower-cost alternative to their traditional campaigns, most
have found that online channels demonstrate greater value as
Increasingly, both mailers and service providers are coming to rec- a complement to direct mail applications, reinforcing the value
ognize that opportunities like these — which leverage the unique of integrated programs.
benefits of a tactile, personal channel like the mail — have real value • Environmentally friendly marketing practices emerged as a
as part of sophisticated marketing programs. But absent a few nar- “need-to-have” priority early in 2008, but the imperative to
row applications, it appears that the days of direct mail as a high-vol- publicize these efforts (though not necessarily to implement
ume, stand-alone acquisition vehicle are numbered. How and when them) diminished in the latter half of the year as the recession
that change comes to be — and who will lead the charge — are pulled marketer and consumer attention to other priorities.
questions that remain unanswered. To an industry in the midst of
transformation, they remain the great challenges and opportunities The Outlook for 2009
for 2009 and beyond. The continuing economic recession (and uncertainty over its direc-
tion) is heavily influencing the outlook for direct mail through the
Direct Mail by the Numbers remainder of 2009:
For the first time in over 60 years of detailed record-keeping, • While direct mail volumes traditionally bounce back after a
US marketers cut back their investment in direct mail in 2008, period of economic stagnation, the magnitude and timing of
spending a total of $56.7 billion on preparation, production and the current recession are expected to affect the direct mail
postage connected to their mail efforts — a drop of three percent channel in a long-term, systemic way — effectively ending the
from 2007 spending. prevalence of untargeted, high-volume campaigns.
• The accelerating shift from “mass” to “targeted” direct mail
More than any other factor, economic upheaval in the mail-centric programs has been enabled by an increasingly powerful array of
financial services vertical fueled the deterioration in spending. The marketing automation technologies, many of which are making
collapse of several prominent brands in the mortgage and lend- their way into the toolsets of marketers both large and small.
ing, retail banking and credit card segments — as well as dramatic
changes in credit policy forced by the burgeoning recession — took 2004-2009E Estimated Direct Mail Spending
literally billions of pieces out of the mailstream, compounding the (in $ Billions) & Year-over-Year Spending Growth
already punishing effects of the economic downturn and a May (Percentage Change from Previous Year)
2008 postage rate hike that saw rates increase by an average of
2.9% across mail classes.

In light of the continuing recession and another looming postage


rate increase — as well as a series of systemic influences linked
to consumer channel preference — the spending decline seen in
2008 is not likely to be the last. Though economic indicators for the
remainder of the year remain hazy, it appears likely that direct mail
spending will fall another eight to nine percent in 2009 as the reces-
sion takes its toll across verticals and more mailers shift spending
into lower-cost marketing vehicles in line with consumer interest
and budgetary demands.

Leading Macro Trends from 2008


Looking back at last year, six developments emerged that impacted Source: Winterberry Group analysis of data from the Direct
both marketers and service providers: Marketing Association and various other sources
• Total spending on direct mail in the United States declined
approximately three percent, with the economic recession
forcing marketers in several verticals to dramatically curtail
their investment in costly high-volume acquisition programs. • Independent of the effects of the recession, rising postage
• Direct mail volumes declined dramatically — even more precip- rates, declining volumes, an increasingly complex array of
itously than the falloff in spending, in fact — as mailers sought postal regulations and other threats to delivery efficiency may
to integrate more precise targeting methodologies, production compromise the viability of the Postal Service as the principal
efficiencies and other value-focused initiatives in an attempt mail delivery channel. a
to cut costs and preserve the economic return of their mail
programs. Jonathan Margulies is a director at Winterberry Group and may
• The rapid decline in volume demand brought about an effective be reached at jonathan@winterberrygroup.com. To download
crisis in the direct mail production sector, forcing some provid- the full version of this white paper, visit www.winterberrygroup.
ers to consolidate or close unused capacity — and leading oth- com/research. This article was adapted from A Channel in
ers to seek alternate business models altogether. Transformation: Vertical Market Trends in Direct Mail 2009, a new
• The decline in demand for production volume accelerated both white paper published by Winterberry Group, a New York-based
price degradation and demand for better data, analytics and strategic consulting firm that serves the advertising, marketing
services and technology and digital media industries.

www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com a AUGUST 2009 31


Bernstock decided to start at the foundation: Reshape the organization,
changing the culture and the attitude along the way.

Seeks Innovative “Start with structure and strategy. I look at it as a supply chain,”

Approach to USPS
he says. “If we are going to generate revenue, we must have a
demand chain to complement the supply chain.”

Marketing The Postal Service’s supply chain has various aspects, including
a geographic portion, a systems part and the functional parts
of the Postal Service, including retail, processing and delivery,
Bernstock explains. He has set up the departments under his
responsibility in the private-sector model, creating business
Will it work in this climate? units in Ground Shipping, Expedited, Marketing, Transaction and
Remittance, Special Services and International.
By Kate Muth
“The big change is that someone takes ownership of these,”

W
he says.
hat prompts a person to leave a success-
ful career in the private sector to head up Each unit has profit-and-loss responsibility, which feeds the own-
product development and marketing for the ership notion because people working in those units have a direct
U.S. Postal Service — the same USPS that stake in the success of their operations, he says. From this start-
is staring down a potential decline in mail ing point, he has begun to manage the channels, which include
volume of 22 billion pieces and a net loss of $6.5 billion this a reworking of the usps.com website and reorganization of the
year? sales force and the call centers. The idea is that all three channels
— usps.com, sales force and call centers — speak to each other.
For Robert “Bob” Bernstock, the Postal Service’s president of
mailing and shipping services, the answer seems to be that he Bernstock has set goals for the department that include launch-
enjoys a challenge. While there are plenty of challenges in the ing at least five new initiatives in the marketplace each year,
private sector these days, there really is no challenge quite like with a revenue target of $1 billion growth from new initiatives.
the USPS. With its odd mandate — operate like a business and He and his group have come up with a list of 16 significant
be self-supporting, yet provide a public service known as the revenue-generation initiatives, eight of which would require no
universal service obligation — it is unlike any business in a com- change in the current law, and the other eight would need some
petitive market. The current business model is broken, and it is minor modifications to the Postal Accountability and Enhance-
doubtful that postal volumes will ever return to their past glory. ment Act, he shares. The current framework of the USPS makes
But, should postal brass seek opportunities in areas beyond the it different from the private sector, providing limitations in some
USPS’ core business, they run up against the constraints of the ways but opportunities as well, Bernstock says.
current postal law.
Another way the Postal Service can be like the private sector,
What’s an aggressive and innovative marketer to do? Bern- Bernstock continues, is to tap its valuable partnership network,
stock, who has held leadership positions with Campbell Soup which includes mail service providers and other suppliers that
Co., Scott’s Miracle-Gro and Vlasic Foods, among others, has are out-selling mailing services every day. This partnership gives

32 AUGUST 2009 a www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com


NO APOLOGIES FOR A THICK DMM
the Postal Service a longer reach into the marketplace, as pro- One key to success, of course, is surrounding oneself
viders are often on the “face” of mail to the end user. with successful people. Bob Bernstock couldn’t neces-
sarily pluck top talent from the private sector to fill his
“We couldn’t be as strong without the mail service provider staff, but he managed to lure many of the Postal Service’s
model,” he says. “There’s a huge opportunity here, and that’s rising stars. Among his direct reports are Susan Plonkey,
why we are dedicating resources to support this mail service Vice President of Sales; Jim Cochrane, Vice President of
provider network.” As part of this effort, the USPS is reworking Ground Shipping; Gary Reblin, Vice President of Expe-
its sales network, Bernstock says. Further, he envisions joint dited Shipping; and Sharon Daniel, Chief of Staff and
sales and marketing calls, where a postal sales team and a ser- Manager of Product Develop-
vice provider are calling on a common customer. ment.

Many in the service provider industry are encouraged by this Bernstock’s Chief of Staff Sha-
vision, although they warn that Bernstock needs to understand ron Daniel is well-known to the
that the Postal Service cannot regulate and operate in the same mailing industry, having served
space. Still, given the sometimes indifferent approach the as manager of mailing stan-
Postal Service has had to its partners in the past, the industry dards for two and a half years
welcomes a cooperative approach. before moving to her new posi-
tion. As the former chief rules-
“We are encouraged about the direction the Postal Service is writer for the Postal Service,
headed,” says John Campo, vice president of US postal relations Daniel knows the Domestic
for Pitney Bowes. “Pitney Bowes seeks to engage the Postal Ser- Mail Manual well, and she has
vice in partnership opportunities. By leveraging our rapid innova- heard complaints about its size
tion, we can work together to boost the entire mailing industry.” and scope. She says the USPS will never get the DMM
on an index card, and she makes no apologies for that.
While Bernstock is a seasoned veteran of business, the Postal
Service is a different beast in many ways. Outsiders who come “Consumers like things simple. Commercial mail-
to the Postal Service are often eyed with suspicion, both inter- ers like things complex so they can optimize,” Daniel
nally and externally. Longtime postal employees sometimes shares. “A thick DMM is not necessarily a bad thing.
cling to traditional ways of doing things or aren’t always sold Commercial mailers want options, and this means dif-
on a reorganization strategy. And in some cases, it’s with good ferent regulations.”
reason. Never far from postal minds are the early moves of an
outsider postmaster general, Marvin Runyon, whose immedi- The Postal Service, however, wants to know where
ate personnel “housecleaning” ended up costing the Postal rules or regulations get in customers’ way. This is where
Service dearly on the service side. change should occur, she says.

Commercial customers also can be skeptical of outsiders, “The DMM is a living document. We can change it when
given the large learning curve on postal issues and the oddi- rules no longer make sense, and we can change the
ties around the Postal Service’s unique mandate. Further, many rules to reflect new technology as well,” she shares.
stakeholders have seen the bureaucratic tendencies of a large
government organization wear down even the most energetic
and dynamic officer. the Postal Service make greater inroads in understanding their
businesses. This would help the USPS shape strategy and pur-
Bernstock’s decidedly private-sector approach — complete sue the most valuable ideas in a timely manner, industry lead-
with the management buzzwords of the day — at first can be ers say.
a bit off-putting, some customers and employees say. But mail-
ers and suppliers that have worked closely with Bernstock are As Franckowiak notes, “By understanding the mailer’s business
impressed with his vision. And more than a few postal employ- and potential needs better, the USPS would maximize oppor-
ees have said he brings a fresh approach and a well-needed kick tunities to move more quickly with initiatives while diminish-
in the pants to the organization. ing many of the misunderstandings around proposed changes,
whether technical or procedural.”
“I like the fresh perspective Bob brings to the Postal Service,”
says Joy Franckowiak, director of postal affairs and distribution On the idea of moving quickly, Bernstock would no doubt agree.
for ValPak. “While the Postal Accountability and Enhancement He wants an aggressive approach, and he makes no apologies
Act allows the Postal Service to be more innovative and cre- for that. “If we do nothing, we will be like the US auto industry,”
ative, it seems as though Bob has brought it to the forefront of Bernstock says. “We are moving with great urgency to prevent
the organization.” that from happening and to seize growth opportunities where
we can.” a
Still, results will speak loudest, and those appear to be some
ways off. The Postal Service has bled volume over the past Kate Muth is President of Muth Communications, a writing, edit-
year, and efforts to revive the patient are not easy in a tough ing and consulting firm. She has written on postal topics for the
economy. As for future ideas, the industry would like to see past 14 years. You can reach her at katemuth@comcast.net.

www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com a AUGUST 2009 33


New Products
Managed Address Services which offers mail center managers an unsurpassed level of pro-
Pitney Bowes Management Services, Inc. (PBMS) announces its ductivity for processing and monitoring the widest variety of mail-
new Mailstream Consulting Service offering, which helps mailers ing applications, especially during rush jobs. The DS-1200 has
improve address quality, maximize delivery and reduce Undeliv- been designed to operate at the highest practical speed and ef-
erable As Addressed (UAA) mail — providing the opportunity for ficiency — up to 12,000 envelopes per hour — streamlining the
significant cost savings and revenue growth to increase the value entire mailing process, from input to throughput to output, even
of mail. Pitney Bowes Managed Address Services can improve during peak or rush times. The high-capacity sheet feeder and ver-
address delivery by correcting between 50-80% of a company’s tical envelope reception stacker enables you to maintain the high-
deficient addresses and keep addresses current so that mail is est level of operational productivity.
delivered to the right person at the right place.
The modular design of the DS-1200 supports the widest range of
Some benefits of Managed Address Services include companies mailing applications. Its ability to handle a document packet thick-
being able to: improve communications with their customers; re- ness of up to 6mm allows you to process a wide variety of mail
duce wasted costs and lost opportunities associated with UAA items, adapting to promotional and direct marketing campaigns or
mail; reduce wasted paper, envelopes and CO2 emissions; increase handling invoices, monthly statements and much more… virtually
barcoded mail and postage discounts; help ensure compliance with all your company’s current and future mailing needs. Applications
changing United States Postal Service (USPS) regulations; and con- requiring top, middle or bottom addresses are fully supported,
trol a complicated, cross-functional process. www.pb.com eliminating operational costs incurred in printing and stocking vari-
ous types of envelopes. The DS-1200 lets you send multiple docu-
DS-1200 Modular, High-Volume Inserting System ments, use glossy or coated paper stock, process business reply
Neopost introduces its DS-1200 high-volume inserting system, envelopes and mail thick booklets. www.neopostinc.com a

34 AUGUST 2009 a www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com

MST • Aug 34 • Products.indd 34 8/12/09 10:57 PM


Reality Check With Wanda Senne

Does the USPS Understand Our Business?

“Walk a mile in my shoes / Just out of the gate to realize a 90% readability rate or incur additional
walk a mile in my shoes / Before costs — big costs.

you abuse, criticize and accuse / Neither industry nor the USPS could describe our business as a

Then walk a mile in my shoes” “walk in the park” or a “cake walk” — especially not this past
year. According to Global Insight’s February 10th U.S. Economy
Report, they are starting to see some positive movement. It all
These lyrics are by Joe Smith; the performance by Elvis Presley
depends on how optimistic you are. “We see the various stimu-
was released June 23, 1970. These lyrics apply even today when
lus efforts flattening out GDP in the third quarter and promoting
I hear people say, “The United States Postal Service just doesn’t
modest growth in the fourth, with consumer spending picking up”
understand our business.” I heard that sentiment many times dur-
and a “combination of fiscal stimulus and the Fed’s and Treasury’s
ing the months of April, May and June at industry meetings and
efforts should revive the financial sector enough to at least stabi-
the National Postal Forum. I have felt the same way when trying
lize the economy in the second half of 2009 and promote some
to explain the impact just one “small” regulation or policy change
recovery during 2010.”
makes in costs to my clients, my company and our industry —
costs that have a huge impact in today’s business world.
We are all making very difficult decisions. Can those decisions
have less of a negative impact on both the USPS and the industry
I wonder if my May “Reality Check” had some impact resulting
if we each walk in the other’s shoes? Consider…
in the moratorium announced at the NPF calling for: no mailing
standard regulation changes the rest of this year (clarified that any
standard that USPS has already announced and has an upcoming “If I could be you, If you could
effective date before the end of November will take effect ). Back
to what I wrote in May — even the moratorium (that received be me / For just one hour, we
resounding applause) was confusing! could / Find a way. To get into
However, now that we have a status quo for requirements (at each other’s mind.” a
least as we head to print!), is the USPS listening, hearing and try-
ing to learn our business? The moratorium was a start. But some Wanda Senne is the National Director of Postal Development for
areas of the USPS are obviously not listening. I read a DMM Advi- World Marketing. She primarily focuses on establishing and main-
sory just this morning calling for a specific tolerance for barcode taining ongoing communications between the USPS and World
readability for the Intelligent Mail barcode imaged on mailpieces. Marketing and provides postal training programs for World Mar-
Similar to ramp-up experience with POSTNET barcode, many mail- keting and its clients. Contact Wanda by calling 770-431-2591 or
ers do not have history with the IM barcode. Yet they will be asked email wsenne@worldmarkinc.com.

A Mutual understanding?
Does the industry understand the USPS? Many of us think so. We attend
meetings, participate in workgroups discussing technical impacts and visit USPS
facilities. When was the last time a USPS employee actually spent time at
your business trying to understand what it is that you do and how you do it? I don’t
mean just walking through your operations areas. I mean actually sit down with you
and find out what it is you have to do to get a piece of mail to them. The shoes we
wear are not fuzzy pink slippers. They are combat boots!

www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com a AUGUST 2009 35


Pushing the Envelope With Kate Muth

Postal Industry Suppliers Spur Innovation

I spent a couple of days at the National Postal Forum in mid-May as and development (see Cost Segment 17 of the Cost and Revenue
correspondent for this esteemed publication, and I was reminded Analysis). Compare that with Pitney Bowes, which spent just
of the buoyancy of this industry. I say “buoyancy” because it sug- more than $200 million on R&D in 2008 to “support technologies
gests both resilience and enthusiasm. Attendance was small at that enhance the customer experience,” the company told me.
this Forum, but despite the tough economy and the woeful postal
finances, most people I talked to expressed a determination to So, suppliers to the Postal Service act as its R&D force, which
help the Postal Service work its way back to profitability. spurs innovation and boosts the overall mailing industry. It’s an
industry, by the way, that employs close to nine million people.
Nowhere is this enthusiasm more evident than on the floor of I fully appreciate that the Postal Service’s worksharing program
the exhibit hall. About 130 exhibitors touted their wares at the has helped to spawn an industry of suppliers/providers/vendors.
Forum, including vendors of all shapes and sizes serving the full This is a good thing, too. The USPS’ worksharing program is the
spectrum of postal needs. I saw big automation equipment com- light years ahead of postal administrations in other countries.
panies with familiar names, but I also saw smaller companies or The worksharing program is a real form of market liberalization.
niche providers named after the company founder or the town But the mailing industry is hurt to some degree by the USPS’
the business got started in. No doubt the exhibitors would have lack of investment in research and development. For one thing,
preferred a much bigger crowd at NPF, but not one with whom I the Postal Service tends to seek solutions to operating hurdles
spoke complained. Instead, they put a positive spin on the smaller through regulatory means rather than technology ones. I’m think-
attendance, telling me it gave them time to talk to “decision-mak- ing specifically of the rule changes to digest-sized letter pieces
ers” rather than spending lots of time and energy on tire-kickers. (also known as slim jims) that are forcing mailers to make sig-
nificant changes to their operations and businesses. The USPS
I find a walk through the exhibit floor of the NPF to be uplifting, discovered that these types of mailpieces do not run well on the
and it’s not just because vendors can find the silver lining in any lettermail equipment, so it has changed the mail preparation rules.
cloud. It’s because the activity on that exhibit hall serves as a shin- A number of mailers have asked why the USPS didn’t more vigor-
ing example of the old entrepreneurial spirit that built this country. ously pursue technology solutions, especially since postal officials
Ask a Windowbook or a Walz Certified Mail Solutions or an ecoEn- encouraged slim jims after the huge increase in Standard Flats
velopes why they got in this business, and they’ll tell you that they prices two years ago.
found a better way to do something. Or spend some time at the
booths of industry giants such as Pitney Bowes, BÖWE BELL + Another problem is that the Postal Service doesn’t always seem
HOWELL, Siemens or Northrop Grumman, and you’ll hear discus- to appreciate the value of this partnership with its industry suppli-
sions about improving a customer’s process or making it more ers. One senses an underlying tension at times, where the Postal
efficient or less costly. Service sees suppliers and vendors as competitors, not partners.
Or, worse, the Postal Service sees them as a good place to fob
The companies that serve this industry are always looking for a off its own costs, despite the fact that cost shifts trickle down to
way to do something better, smarter, faster, cheaper. In many the customer anyway and ultimately result in less mail volume. a
ways, they serve as the research and development (R&D) arm
of the Postal Service. And that is a good thing. For a $70 billion Kate Muth is President of Muth Communications, a writing, edit-
organization, the Postal Service spends a tiny amount of money ing and consulting firm. She has written on postal topics for the
on R&D. In FY 2008, the USPS spent just $18 million on research past 14 years. You can reach her at katemuth@comcast.net.

The Solution:


The answer is for everyone to work together
because the ultimate goal is the same: a healthy, thriving
postal system. Finding ways to do something better, smarter or faster benefits “shared” customers (the
mailer). Let’s keep in mind, however, that it is often the supplier community spending the money to test or
launch a bold new idea. They need to experience rewards or there will be no reason to pursue innovation.

36 AUGUST 2009 a www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com


MST Ads.indd 37 8/14/09 7:57 AM
..
BÖWE BELL + HOWELL
BÖWE BELL + HOWELL (BBH) designs and delivers flexible, high-performance mail production solutions and services that
help our customers reduce costs, increase productivity and prepare for change. Our expertise in high-speed inserting systems,
TOP companies 2009

postal and sorting systems, scanners and software, backed by an award-winning service organization, has earned BÖWE BELL
+ HOWELL a reputation for innovation, reliability and quality.

Corporate
BBH corporate headquarters is located in Wheeling, Illinois, with field operations headquartered in Durham, North Carolina.
Manufacturing facilities are located in Durham; Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; and Wheeling, Illinois. Business Continuity and Prod-
uct Reconditioning Services are also housed in Bethlehem.

BBH Solutions
..
Inserting & Finishing
BÖWE BELL + HOWELL offers a complete line of inserting systems in all performance classes to guarantee the production of
printed documents safely, quickly and efficiently.

The modular design of our system components provides the flexibility to enable any size mailer to process multiple applications,
add functionality when needed and optimize their return on investment. BBH inserting systems range from simple to sophisti-
cated based on the degree of automation and intelligence required.

Sorting
BÖWE BELL + HOWELL letter and flats sorting platforms, including the new Criterion APEX, are widely used in the US and
in Europe to meet the application needs of presorters, private posts and government posts. Our sorting platforms are used to
process more than 30 million mailpieces every day.

Production Software
The BÖWE One software suite enables production mail companies to lower costs, increase the traceability and relevance of
customer communications, improve productivity and monitor and analyze the quality and integrity of production operations.

Vision Technologies
JETVision is a powerful solution that is among the world’s leading vision systems. JETVision is designed to lower costs, improve
productivity, satisfy postal requirements, collect data and monitor the quality and integrity of production operations. JETVision
is available in several different hardware configurations with a wide range of software offerings. The hardware configurations
are designed for easy integration with a production system, process or work area, and the software offerings are packaged to
address unique quality, integrity and productivity requirements.

BBH Services
BBH Services has set itself apart with unmatched knowledge, reach, reliability and infrastructure. Our comprehensive suite of
maintenance, training and support options accelerates ROI by integrating lead-edge technologies, robust performance analytics
and proven methodologies. We believe a highly integrated, strategic service partnership with continuous operational improve-
ment is the best foundation for achieving business success. By becoming an extension of your business dedicated to delivering
the highest levels of performance and value, we enable you to focus your resources on what matters most — moving your
business forward.

Our Operating Philosophy


Your success is our priority, and this commitment is based on our proud history of customer service. Our strength stems from
our people, values and everyday goal of moving your business forward.

..
BÖWE BELL + HOWELL
3791 S. Alston Avenue
Durham, NC 27713
Phone: 800-220-3030
Web: www.bowebellhowell.com
Email: marketing@bowebellhowell.com

38 AUGUST 2009 a www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com


TOP companies 2009
Collins Ink corporation
Collins Ink is in its 19th year of formulating, manufacturing and selling inkjet inks. Collins Ink is cooperating with Kodak Versa-
mark, Inc., by having Kodak as the exclusive distributor of all of the inks that Collins manufactures for use in Kodak Versamark
continuous inkjet printers. In addition, Collins manufactures more than 80% of the KV brand inks. These inks are used in bind-
ery line, lottery ticket and transactional printing applications, where speed and performance are paramount. Collins operates
out of an 83,000 square foot, state-of-the-art, technical development and manufacturing site in Cincinnati, Ohio.

An authorized HP distribution partner for over three years, Collins Ink is one of a few ink companies being furnished new
45A cartridges, into which Collins’ brand inks are filled. In addition to supplying a variety of black inks to suit most application
parameters, Collins has developed many specialty inks for the direct mail market. Collins Ink provides spot color matching
capability in both Kodak Versamark and HP type inks. New bulk systems (Bulk Supply Stations) are available for providing HP
inks for large users at lower costs.

Collins has also established significant business supplying water-based, oil-based and solvent-based inks to printers utilizing
Xaar and Spectra drop on demand printheads. In addition, solvent-based inkjet inks are supplied to customers utilizing Domino
and Videojet CIJ technology.

In April 2009, Collins acquired Hexion Specialty Chemical’s UV Curable Inkjet and Optical disc coating business. Collins plans
to become the leader in UV inkjet technology and will improve, expand and aggressively promote the platforms in the graphic
arts and industrial market.

Collins has combined its research and development skills with very efficient manufacturing. This has allowed Collins to gain
market penetration through providing high-quality inks with value pricing and outstanding service.

Collins ink corp.


1201 Edison Dr.
Cincinnati OH 45216
Phone: 513-948-9000
Web: www.collinsink.com

www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com a AUGUST 2009 39


Lee Spratt is CEO of DHL
Global Mail – Americas,
TOP companies 2009

which provides unmatched


solutions for high-volume
mailers and parcel
shippers. Prior to attaining
this position in 2008, he
held a succession of top
leadership roles at the
company after arriving
in 2004. That year, he
was Vice President of
Sales & Marketing at
QuikPak, when the catalog
fulfillment provider was
integrated with Deutsche
Post Global Mail and
SmartMail to form DHL
DHL Global mail Global Mail. Mr. Spratt
DHL Global Mail delivers worldwide shipping and mailing solutions that offer a full range of
previously held upper
management positions
service options, substantial postage savings and superior delivery speed. This unmatched
at CheckFree Corp. and
combination allows us to provide businesses and other high-volume mailers with the best
AT&T/Lucent Technologies.
value in the industry.
Under his leadership,
DHL Global Mail is
With US headquarters in Weston, Florida, DHL Global Mail is part of Deutsche Post DHL,
dedicated to simplifying
the world’s leading logistics company. DHL Global Mail’s heritage as a mail expediter
the lives of customers
dates back to 1990, and today we are one of the largest Workshare partners of the U.S.
and making them, the
Postal Service. Over the years we have perfected a streamlined process that accelerates
company’s employees
domestic and international mail delivery while securing significant postal discounts. With and its investors more
this expedited model and one of the world’s largest delivery networks, we provide indus- successful. Toward that
try-leading transit times throughout the US and to more than 220 other countries and end, Mr. Spratt places a
territories. At the same time, our efficiency enables us to offer key advantages — such as high priority on maintaining
free access to our best-in-class Customer Web Portal — while maintaining competitive strong partnerships with
rates. And DHL Global Mail is continually working to further enhance our service offerings. the USPS and other postal
authorities worldwide.
We recently added international shipments to our Web Portal, where customers can view He also is focused on
tracking information and manage their mail programs. DHL Global Mail has also increased continuous service
our use of five-digit ZIP Code sorting for parcels to an industry-leading 83% of customer enhancement through Six
shipments nationwide. For international shipping with full visibility, we added the U.K. and Sigma methodology and
Japan this year to the long list of destinations available for our Globalmail Parcel Track & reducing DHL Global Mail’s
Trace service. environmental impact with
its GoGreen initiatives.
In addition to meeting our customers’ shipping and mailing needs, DHL Global Mail also
helps companies work toward their environmental goals. Our Budget ground service
offers a domestic mail and parcel option that impacts the ecosystem much less than
air transport from express couriers. We are improving our carbon efficiency through our
pioneering GoGreen program, and we partner with other environmentally conscious orga-
nizations like the USPS.

DHL Global mail


2700 South Commerce Parkway, Suite 400
Weston, FL 33331
Phone: 866-546-5200
Web: www.dhlglobalmail.com
Lee Spratt
CEO

40 AUGUST 2009 a www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com


As General Manager

TOP companies 2009


for Endicia, Amine
Khechfe is responsible
for directing all
aspects of the Endicia
business unit as well as
managing its position
within the DYMO
Technology Global
Business Unit of Newell
Rubbermaid.  Graduating
with a Masters in
Endicia Science in engineering
from Stanford University,
With over 25 years of experience in the postal industry and more than $3 billion in post-
Amine has held a
age printed, Endicia is the leading Internet Postage service provider. Endicia lets you print
variety of management
pre-paid USPS postage and shipping labels with just a computer, printer and an Internet
connection. roles in engineering,
management consulting,
For small business mailers, Endicia’s DAZzle Express software simplifies bulk mailing and software development,
includes a built-in utility for easy, complete mailpiece design. Its wizard-type interface marketing and business
helps quickly produce mailings that meet all USPS regulations and qualify for discounts
development. Prior to
on First Class and Standard Class automation letters and postcards. For high-volume mail-
ers, Endicia’s Envelope Manager PAVE software provides a straightforward interface to co-founding Endicia
presort existing mailing lists and qualify for discounts on First Class and Standard Class in 1987, he worked
automation letters, flats or postcards. at AT&T Information
Systems and TRANE.
Endicia’s presort software products take the guesswork out of mailings by printing your
“Endicia allows you to
database in presort order with all required U.S. Postal Service forms, reports and tray
take advantage of all the
labels. Internet address validation provides access to the USPS database of delivery
addresses for CASS certification with no additional DVD subscription charge. Real-time benefits of shipping and
Move Update capability is available for these products. mailing with the U.S.
Postal Service.”
Endicia also offers an XML Address Validation tool that features fast, easy integration and
allows businesses to clean up mailing lists from any platform, service or website in real
time. No local DVD required. Information returned includes: Residential Delivery Indicator,
USPS Rural Indicator and Delivery Point Validation.

Endicia’s PC and Mac service plans allow users to print postage and shipping labels for
all domestic and International mail classes that can be purchased at the Post Office retail
counter. Endicia’s functionality includes discounted Delivery Confirmation™ service, and
Signature Confirmation service, discounted Parcel Insurance, Stealth Postage, Internet
address verification and pre-filled customs forms. The service also allows you to check
and track the status of packages with Endicia from your computer or via your account on
the web. Endicia is integrated into over 60 third-party applications, helping to streamline
the process even further.

In addition, Endicia’s PictureItPostage service allows businesses and individuals to print


customized postage with their logos, images or pictures.

Endicia Amine
247 High Street Khechfe
Palo Alto CA 94301 General
Phone: 650-321-2640 x140
Web: www.endicia.com/vmst Manager

www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com a AUGUST 2009 41


Dennis LeStrange has
TOP companies 2009

guided and overseen the


creation of Neopost USA
out of several separate
operating companies.
The new organization
continues to market its two
flagship brands — Neopost
and Hasler — through
dealer and direct sales
distribution channels.
Under Mr. LeStrange’s
leadership, the company
has achieved profitable
growth through continuous
product innovation and
process improvement, as
well as through engaged
Hasler employees who deliver a
superior level of customer
Neopost USA is the American operating company of Neopost Group, the world’s fastest- satisfaction. Dennis has
growing provider of mailing and shipping solutions. Leveraging unmatched industry exper- extensive experience in the
tise, we partner with our customers to help them achieve the absolute highest level of
office equipment and copier
mailing operation efficiency. Utilizing innovative products and services, Neopost’s mail
industry. He was Regional
management strategies and best practices provide the value and peace of mind our cus-
Operations Manager for
tomers deserve. Our objective is to bring simplicity and efficiency to the mailing process
in order to make their businesses run more effectively. A-Copy in Boston before
becoming its president and
Throughout its 80-year history, the Neopost Group has pioneered creative yet practical CEO. He was later appointed
mailing solutions, including a number of “firsts” in advanced mail processing equipment. Senior Vice President,
Today, Neopost USA offers a complete line of Neopost and Hasler-branded mailing, ship- Corporate Officer of IKON
ping and document handling products for offices and mail centers of all sizes. North America, and in 2008,
he was appointed Chief
In addition, Hasler offers a full range of document and mail management solutions Operating Officer of Neopost
designed to offer better control over your entire mailing operations through improved
USA. LeStrange has a BS
mailflow optimization. This includes increased efficiency, enhanced mailpiece security and
in Accounting and Business
integrity and reduced costs. These value-added mailing solutions have had a significant
Administration from Empire
and very positive impact on every step of the mailflow process, with many Hasler custom-
ers having dramatically reduced their mailing and shipping costs. State College SUNY.

The Neopost Group continues to strive for mail process innovation, with more than 300
people working on future generations of systems, software, infrastructures and networks
linked to mail management. This combination of new product development, value-added
services and a nationwide network of dealers and direct sales team confirms Neopost’s
commitment to providing real mailing solutions and the highest level of customer service
in the industry.

Hasler
478 Wheelers Farms Road
Milford CT 06461
Phone: 800-995-2035 dennis
Web: www.haslerinc.com lestrange
President
& CEO

42 AUGUST 2009 a www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com


Dr. Thomas Brock is
the President and

TOP companies 2009


Chief Executive Officer
for Kern, Inc. He is
a career leadership
professional with 17
years of experience
in the production mail
business. An alumnus
of the University of
Michigan, Thomas
Brock holds his Bachelor
degree with Big Ten
Kern honors. In addition, he
holds multiple advanced
Documents destined for the mailstream are a critical communication tool. For over 62
Master and Doctoral
years, Kern has been helping companies get their valuable and time-sensitive documents
into the mailstream for delivery to residential and business mailboxes on six continents.  degrees. While finishing
While Kern is best known for delivering the fastest and finest production inserting equip- his studies at the
ment in the world, we have expanded our reach into complete end-to-end solutions that University of Minnesota,
include: Document Mail Finishing systems for inserting and mail production; Document Central Michigan,
Finishing on Demand for the automated processing of printed material and documents
Michigan and Chicago,
through complete production solutions; Document Logistics Systems for the traying and
handling of finished mail, and Kern’s Automated Document Factory System, mailFactory, Brock became a change
which is a comprehensive suite of web-enabled software designed to optimize the man- agent with the insight,
agement of a complete production print and mail center.  vision and enthusiasm
necessary to inspire
Kern most recently launched the Kern 2600 Multimailer, which has been recognized for teams for impressive
its flexibility, ability to incorporate up to four input channels and integrated reading capa-
results. He is an avid
bilities for maximum integrity. Understanding the need for customizable solutions and
constant improvement, Kern invests heavily in research and development to achieve the sports enthusiast and
next level of overall production efficiency and automation. former professional
athlete, having been
Kern is fundamentally focused on customer success. We are dedicated to delivering a drafted by both the
quality, competitive and on-time solution. We are continuously striving to improve our
Seattle Mariners and
end-to-end, innovative solutions as well as services through design, customer feedback
and employee participation. In 2008, Kern, Inc was awarded the ISO 9001: 2000 certifi- the Atlanta Braves
cation for the implementation of a Quality Management System. At Kern, quality is an major league baseball
inherent part of everything we do, from production mail solutions to service and support. organizations in the 80s.
We see this as a direct tie to deep partnerships and, ultimately, the success of customers.

Today, Kern enjoys a global presence with a direct worldwide distribution through 15 sub-
sidiaries and over 60 distribution partners.  Every Kern system is backed by our customer
success guarantee to deliver 10 years of production grade output when maintained under
a Kern full-service maintenance agreement.  From premier high speed inserting systems
to complete Automated Document Factory Systems, Kern is a global leader in production
mail and document management solutions that is truly committed to helping customers
succeed.  

Kern
3940 Gantz Road, Suite A
Grove City OH 43123
Phone: 614-317-2600 Dr. Thomas
Web: www.kerncan.com
Email: info@kerninc.com Brock
President
& CEO

www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com a AUGUST 2009 43


TOP cOmPanies 2009

KiRK-RUDY
Since 1967, Kirk-Rudy has innovated solutions for addressing and paper handling for the direct mail, printing, newspaper
and card industries. Because we engineer and manufacture our systems from end to end in our state-of-the-art Georgia
facility, we can control costs while delivering outstanding quality and performance. That means outstanding value for our
customers worldwide.

Kirk-Rudy offers cost-effective solutions that are exceptionally well-built, flexible and easy to operate and maintain. Our
global network of dealers offers a full range of modular Kirk-Rudy components, allowing you to create a custom system
that meets your needs precisely.

With thousands of systems installed worldwide, Kirk Rudy offers InkJet Addressing Systems that utilize the latest in Piezo
technology from Spectra as well as Thermal InkJet technology from HP.

Kirk Rudy’s wide selection of water-based, solvent, oil-based and UV Inks enables you to print on almost any substrate.

Hardware and software is developed in-house by our own team of engineers — this allows for exceptional support and
product enhancement capabilities.

Our Graphical User Interface is intuitive and easy to learn, reducing training costs.

Need spare parts? Because we machine everything in-house, Kirk Rudy is able to maintain a spare parts inventory on every
product ever sold.

Let Kirk Rudy design a custom solution that’s right for you!

KiRK-RUDY
125 Lorraine Parkway
Woodstock GA 30188
Phone: 770-427-4203
Web: www.kirkrudy.com

44 AUGUST 2009 a www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com

MST Whos Who.indd 44 8/13/09 9:32 AM


melissa data Raymond Melissa, a computer
Melissa Data is a leading provider of contact data quality solutions to capture, clean, industry veteran with over 35

TOP companies 2009


enhance and disperse contact data for successful direct mail marketing and data manage- years of experience, is founder
ment operations. Our address management solutions can reduce undeliverable mail and and president of Melissa
shipping errors by up to 80%. Established in 1985, Melissa Data has helped over 5,000 DATA. Ray enjoys no greater
customers, including Disney, Mercury Insurance, Verizon, Nestle and Saab, improve the
challenge than exploring ideas
quality of their data for effective communications and improve their relationships with
for innovative products that
customers.
will help organizations save
Mailing Solutions money, increase profits and be
MAILERS+4 CASS/PAVE-certified postal automation software processes a mailing list successful.
for the lowest postage rates, expedient postal processing and the greatest delivery and
response rates. MAILERS+4 validates addresses for ZIP+4 accuracy using the DPV, LAC-
Established in 1985 in Orange
SLink and SuiteLink systems; eliminates duplicates; postal presorts; and prints POSTNET
and Intelligent Mail barcoded labels/container tags and all required documents. Add-on County, California, Ray began
components include eLOT, Residential/Business Delivery Indicator (RBDI), Canadian with a single product based on
Addresser and a direct link to NCOALink Move-Update services. the simple idea to provide a
database of postal ZIP Codes
The Business Mailers Automation Toolkit is a fully scriptable suite of customizable com-
on floppy disks for use on a PC.
ponents to automate CASS address validation and PAVE postal presorting into custom
Next came the development
mailing applications.
of MAILERS+4, the company’s
Database Management Software landmark USPS-certified
MatchUp enables efficient merge/purge capability by identifying duplicate records using mailing software to save
up to 16 matchcodes plus your unique codes; RightFielder transforms messy text data mailers money on postage and
into correctly fielded and organized information that can be used with database programs;
printing and help them comply
Personator splits full, multiple and inverse names into their components, appends gender
and generates proper salutations. with all requirements for
discounted mailings.
Mailing Lists
Get online counts, purchase and download your lists in minutes. Choose your leads for The company has developed an
saturation rate mailings and targeted B2B, B2C and B2E communications. Business, con-
international reseller network,
sumer and specialty lists are available with geographic and demographic selects, with
a nationally recognized catalog
guarantees for low price and deliverability.
and a dynamic website that
Data Hygiene, Enhancement Services averages over 70,000 unique
CASS ZIP+4, NCOALink; new UAA processing (multisource ACS and self-reported moves) visitors a day. Melissa DATA
DSF2, plus address, phone and email appends; business and consumer enhancements; was named by DM Review
Do Not Mail/Call; NAICS and SIC code appends; duplicate and deceased indicators; and
Magazine as a Top 100
more.
Company.
How We Are Unique
Melissa Data is in the unique position of being able to offer a full complement of cost-
efficient solutions from a single source for effective contact data management for direct-
mail, target marketing, database management and enterprise application excellence. We
offer unlimited technical support and industry-related education. Products are backed by
a 30-day, full-money back guarantee. Trial evaluations are available for most products by
calling 1-800-MELISSA or visiting www.MelissaData.com

Melissa Data
22382 Avenida Empresa
Rancho Santa Margarita CA 92688
Phone: 800-MELISSA Raymond
Web: www.MelissaData.com melissa
Email: info@melissadata.com
Founder &
President

www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com a AUGUST 2009 45


TOP companies 2009

MidSouth Technologies, an NPI company


About Our Company
MidSouth Technologies, an NPI company, is a recognized leader in providing innovative mail processing solutions. MidSouth
is a pioneer in developing technology to extend the life of mail processing equipment, with particular expertise in retrofitting
and servicing PTI and J-series transports.

With new and refurbished machines and parts, supporting your business through expansion and change is easy. Adding
innovative products designed specifically for existing transport machines extends the life and functionality of your assets.

With outstanding customer service and a portfolio of cost-effective solutions, MidSouth enables mail processors to:
• Reduce operational costs and capital requirements
• Increase productivity and profitability
• Improve asset utilization

Products and Services:


• Up and Over

UPGRADES:
• Argosy Post Platinum OCR Software • Stacker Extensions
• Inkjet Printers • Wear Strip
• Barcode Reader

How We Are Unique


The leaders of MidSouth literally assembled, tested and installed nearly every PTI system in the field. Because of MidSouth
Technologies’ broad product knowledge, you no longer have to tolerate poor service from a vendor simply because they
wrote the software for your sorter. MidSouth Technologies offers affordable operating system conversions and Intelligent
Mail Barcode upgrades for all PTI and BÖWE BELL + HOWELL “J” Series Transports. MidSouth has extensive mail industry
knowledge and a proven history of success with commercial mailers, presort shops, presort bureaus, banks, fulfillment
shops, colleges and large companies with incoming sorting needs. MidSouth serves over 150 customers in the United
States and Europe.

With MidSouth Technologies, you can customize, streamline and maintain your operations, giving you a competitive advan-
tage by adding innovative products designed specifically for existing machines.

MidSouth Technologies
1400 Virgil Anderson Drive
Drumright OK 74030
Phone: 918-352-8300
Web: www.midsouthtek.com
Email: sales@midsouthtek.com

46 AUGUST 2009 a www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com


TOP companies 2009
NPI
NPI… Efficiency through Innovation. It is this commitment that has made NPI a prominent figure in the mail automation
industry since 1977. We dominate in the field with leading-edge sorter technology, which is shown in the products we
offer our customers. Our “Customer First” policy has resulted in sorter installations throughout the world. Each year, NPI
continues to expand its visibility in the market with progressive, efficiently designed sorters. Headquartered in Dallas,
Texas, we manufacture high-quality, affordable sorters that are equipped with the most current technology. NPI’s diverse
customer base includes post offices to print shops, banks to insurance companies. We employ associates from all areas
of the automation industry to help our customers find the best production environment for their operation. Whatever the
application, letters, flats, incoming or outgoing, NPI is able to offer you a solution.

Products and Services


• Flats/Light Parcel Sorter: • Low-Speed Flat Sorter:
- Omnisort - Omega Mixed Sorter
• High-Speed Letter Sorter: • Metering Alternative
- Maxim - Weigh on the Fly
• High-Speed Flats Sorter: - Manifesting
- Vsort • In-line Labeler
• Low-Speed Letter Sorter: - Recovery
- Omega SP
All systems have the capability of OCR, BCR, Incoming and Handwritten options.

How We Are Unique


Sorting. That’s our passion. It’s what we do. NPI’s strict focus on sorting equipment makes us the preferred vendor for your
needs. Our commitment starts from when you purchase equipment all the way through our quality customer service staff.
NPI applies the most up-to-date technology with every sorter we sell. Every system we manufacture is designed with the
customer in mind. From the pickoff, OCR, BCR, electronics and Windows-based open architecture, our goal is to provide
the most effective sorter for customers large or small. NPI believes every customer is a priority. We still have that “Busi-
nesses on every level deserve the same attention to service.” We listen to our customers’ needs and provide custom-
tailored applications for their specific operations. When it’s time to look for sorting equipment, look no further than NPI.

NPI
3901 La Reunion Pkwy
Dallas TX 75212
Phone: 888-821-SORT
Web: www.npisorters.com
Email: sales@npisorters.com

www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com a AUGUST 2009 47


Dennis LeStrange has
guided and overseen the
TOP companies 2009

creation of Neopost USA


out of several separate
operating companies.
The new organization
continues to market its two
flagship brands — Neopost
and Hasler — through
dealer and direct sales
distribution channels.
Under Mr. LeStrange’s
leadership, the company
has achieved profitable
growth through continuous
product innovation and
process improvement, as
well as through engaged
employees who deliver a
Neopost superior level of customer
satisfaction. Dennis has
Neopost USA is the American operating company of Neopost Group, the world’s fastest- extensive experience in the
growing provider of mailing and shipping solutions. Leveraging unmatched industry exper- office equipment and copier
tise, we partner with our customers to help them achieve the absolute highest level of industry. He was Regional
mailing operation efficiency. Utilizing innovative products and services, Neopost’s mail
Operations Manager for
management strategies and best practices provide the value and peace of mind our cus-
A-Copy in Boston before
tomers deserve. Our objective is to bring simplicity and efficiency to the mailing process
in order to make their businesses run more effectively. becoming its president and
CEO. He was later appointed
Throughout its 80-year history, the Neopost Group has pioneered creative yet practical Senior Vice President,
mailing solutions, including a number of “firsts” in advanced mail processing equipment. Corporate Officer of IKON
Today, Neopost USA offers a complete line of Neopost and Hasler-branded mailing, ship- North America, and in 2008,
ping and document handling products for offices and mail centers of all sizes. he was appointed Chief
Operating Officer of Neopost
In addition, Neopost offers a full range of document and mail management solutions USA. LeStrange has a BS
designed to offer better control over your entire mailing operations through improved in Accounting and Business
mailflow optimization. This includes increased efficiency, enhanced mailpiece security and
Administration from Empire
integrity and reduced costs. These value-added mailing solutions have had a significant
State College SUNY.
and very positive impact on every step of the mailflow process, with many Neopost cus-
tomers having dramatically reduced their mailing and shipping costs.

The Neopost Group continues to strive for mail process innovation, with more than 300
people working on future generations of systems, software, infrastructures and networks
linked to mail management. This combination of new product development, value-added
services and a nationwide network of dealers and direct sales team confirms Neopost’s
commitment to providing real mailing solutions and the highest level of customer service
in the industry.

Neopost
478 Wheelers Farms Road
Milford CT 06461
Phone: 800-995-2035
dennis
Web: www.neopost.com lestrange
President
& CEO

48 AUGUST 2009 a www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com


Parascript With 25 years of corporate

TOP companies 2009


Parascript image analysis and pattern recognition technology helps the world’s largest strategy and sales
mail processing and package shippers deliver on time and to the right address. European management experience, Mr.
posts, the U.S. Postal Service and major corporations throughout the world use Para- Buck has led new product
script recognition products to locate and recognize both handwritten and machine-print development, created business
addresses in any type of mailstream, including: letters, flats, parcels, forwarded mail and venture opportunities and
bundles. Parascript software solutions process over 250 million documents daily and pro- managed national sales teams.
vide annual cost savings of over $1 billion to Global 2000 companies as well as govern- His expertise encompasses a
ment agencies.
variety of industries including:
government, financial, retail,
The Parascript product suite includes:
telecommunications and
AddressScript: A complete solution for automated address recognition available for
Canada, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Russia and the United States, cross- utilities. As vice president
validates data against postal databases, ensuring the highest accuracy and deliverabil- for business development
ity. AddressScript surpasses all other available OCR engines in read rates and accuracy, at Parascript, Mr. Buck is
reads both handwritten and machine-print text as well as recognizes addresses across the responsible for augmenting
entire mail stream, including letters, flats and parcels. business growth and leading
new partner development
AddressParcel: AddressParcel recognizes destination addresses on parcels of all shapes, efforts. Prior to joining
sizes and quality, allowing postal and shipping agencies to read greater volumes of parcels Parascript, Mr. Buck served as
with the highest read rates and accuracy in the industry.
senior vice president of sales
and corporate relationships
AddressSelect: A high-performance address validation engine reduces incorrect address
for a joint venture company
entries and enables commercial shipping, mail firms and pre-sort vendors to assign
11-digit barcodes to mailpieces so postage discounts and compliance with USPS guide- in Canada established by
lines are realized. US-based Fiserv. In this
position, he was responsible
InMailRouter: Automates “reading” and sorting of incoming mail including letters, post- for international strategic
cards and flats, enabling companies of any size to significantly improve the bottom-line alliances and the integration of
results by reducing labor costs while increasing sorting and delivery efficiencies. business process outsourcing
solutions.
AddressKey: A customizable and user-friendly Video Coding System (VCS) minimizes user
keystrokes, increases keying speed and helps operators deliver more accurate results.
Mr. Buck earned his degree in
AddressKey optimizes the manual validation of unrecognizable addresses and seamlessly
Business Administration from
integrates with majority of OCR/VCS systems.
California State University at
StampVerify: Streamlines automatic indicia location and detection for envelope images Fullerton and has completed
including stamps, meter marks, facing identification marks, information based indicia or advanced programs in sales,
US postal stationery. StampVerify reduces operating costs and increases mail sorting management, marketing and
efficiency by verifying that proper postage has been paid — and permits obtained — to business strategies.
allow items to enter the domestic mail delivery network.

Parascript
6899 Winchester Circle, Suite 200
Boulder CO 80301
Phone: 303-381-3100
Web: www.parascript.com
John Buck
Vice president

www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com a AUGUST 2009 49


Randy Hoefer has over
TOP companies 2009

12 years of experience
in the mailing industry.
In his current role of
Vice President Research
and Product Strategy for
Satori Software, Inc.,
Randy is responsible
for ensuring that Satori
Software products meet
the needs of our current
and future customers.
In his former position of
vice president of research
and development, Randy
Satori Software led the development of
the company’s address
Satori Software produces industry-leading address management solutions for organiza- management solutions,
tions that collect, maintain and mail to contact lists. In fulfilling our mission to deliver an
including its bestselling
exceptional user experience, our CASS and PAVE-certified products set new standards
for ease-of-use and functionality. Our software removes the aggravation of deciphering Bulk Mailer series of
complex postal regulations, so customers increase overall address quality, increase deliv- products. Through his
erability and achieve the best possible postage rates. commitment to address
quality and extensive
Bulk Mailer: Desktop Mailing Preparation Software. Bulk Mailer features address cor-
knowledge of USPS rules,
rection and validation, postal presorting, de-duplication and Intelligent Mail barcode sup-
port. Timesaving innovations include our intuitive graphical interface, reusable templates regulations and offerings,
and Job Builder for automating repetitive tasks. Any organization that handles volume Satori Software delivers
mailings — publishers, mailing houses, print shops, educational institutions — benefits products that help mailers
from using Bulk Mailer. and direct marketers
achieve better results
MailRoom ToolKit: Integrated Address Management Solutions. MailRoom ToolKit
from mailing programs
products integrate address correction and presorting into databases, websites and other
workflow applications. Point-of-entry address verification, batch address correction and and initiatives. Randy has
regular change-of-address processing save time and maintain database integrity. Mail- a Bachelor of Science in
Room ToolKit products also include postal presorts. Based on .NET and COM technol- Computer Science from
ogy, MailRoom ToolKit products deliver more than address quality; they deliver tools that Western Washington
improve productivity, profitability and help create tighter customer relationships.
University.
Built-in Move Update Service. Satori Software products feature our real-time* Move
Update service. Once activated, customers may process address lists against the
48-month NCOALink dataset via a secure Internet connection anytime. There’s no waiting,
no manual import/export and no messy data merge.

A wide range of companies — from three-person operations to Fortune 500 enterprises


— already benefit from our products. Founded in 1982, Satori Software is privately owned
and based in Seattle, Washington.

Satori Software, Inc.


1301 5th Ave, Suite 2200
Seattle WA 98101 Randy hoefer
Phone: 800-553-6477 Vice president
Web: www.satorisoftware.com Research & Product
Email: sales@satorisoftware.com
Strategy

50 AUGUST 2009 a www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com


08 JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2009 a www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com

Potrebbero piacerti anche