As you may already be aware, the USPS have rolled out an informative webinar series that continue until the end of the month. Let’s face it, any clarification on these very relevant topics is helpful and leveraging these sessions may be time well spent.
If you go to http://ribbs.usps.gov/index.cfm?page=intellmaillatestnews you will find a lot of useful info and also links to the webinar series.
Today, November 6th at 2-4 PM EST, there is a webinar – Full Service ACS Update – here’s the login details:
1. Browse to: http://meetingplace3.usps.gov/a/e599be4820790ce462fafc86593e02d2
2. After the MeetingPlace window is open, click the Phone icon (under the Participant List or in the upper right-hand corner).
3. Click Connect Me, validate or update your phone number and click Connect Me again.
4. When the system calls you press 1 to join.
To attend with audio only if you have not connected by computer:
Phone Number: 866-567-8049
Meeting ID: 2412607
On the 13th, from 2-4 PM EST there is a webinar – Submitting Postage Statements Between 15 and November 29
To attend the November 13 Web conference and join with audio (no earlier than 15 minutes prior to the start):
1. Browse to: http://meetingplace3.usps.gov/a/95c1595dce8e8dbbb7e4d67d309e9107
2. After the MeetingPlace window is open, click the Phone icon (under the Participant List or in the upper right-hand corner).
3. Click Connect Me, validate or update your phone number and click Connect Me again.
4. When the system calls you press 1 to join.
To attend with audio only if you have not connected by computer:
Phone Number: 866-567-8049
Meeting ID: 3479989
One further reminder is that PBBI also have a weekly webinar series on many key postal topics, visit http://go.pbinsight.com/postal-webinar-series to gain insight into this series.
As of November 30th, the lowest postal rates will be reserved to mailers who employ the new Full-Service Intelligent Mail® barcode.
Of course, postal savings is only one of the benefits associated with this initiative. Over the next few months, we are going to examine how organizations can take advantage of new capabilities and services. This month, we look at Full-Service ACSTM.
Many organizations already use the USPS Address Correction Service, with electronic notifications costing $0.26 per piece. With the Full-Service Intelligent Mail barcode, these ACS and Nixie notifications will be free.
This automated ACS service is different from the change-of-address processing required for Move Update compliance in a number of ways.
- Recency. While move update data could be three-months old at the time of mailing, ACS updates are based on real-time events.
- Completeness. In addition to matching records against the NCOA database, ACS updates also reflect feedback from mail carriers – giving you an on-the-street view of where your customers and prospects are today.
- Understanding. Each ACS record also includes a Nixie Code – providing your details on why the mail was undeliverable on a record-by-record basis. Depending on the code, you may want to update your list, eliminate the record or forward information to customer service for immediate follow-up. Some replies, such as “V” for Vacant, may be an indication of fraud.
In our experience, mailers who combine ACS with an approved CASS/NCOA process can experience a 20% lift in address corrections, meaning more of your mail will reach its intended recipient in a timely manner.
Through the Intelligent Mail initiative, the USPS will offer flexible options for the distribution of full-service ACS information. Mailers can view the Change of Address and Nixie Detail Records online, you can download them in a comma-delimited or Excel format, or you can receive the data electronically via Mail.XML®.
The valuable address correction service offered via Full-Service can be used to update aged addresses, improve the quality of mailing lists and improve the ROI of every communication. And, it’s free.