As the new Global Portfolio Director for Communications Intelligence, I am continuously impressed by the way you, our customers, juggle corporate demands with the communication needs of customers and prospects. Having joined Pitney Bowes Business Insight from the industry, I can certainly relate!
On top of that, together we must also support a broad range of USPS initiatives designed to improve the overall flow of mail. Recently, postal officials announced their long-awaited plan on how they will be dealing with move update compliance.
Undeliverable mail costs the US Postal Service over $1.6 Billion a year, and mailers who contribute to this problem will soon be expected to pick up more of the tab.
Postal officials have implemented a new Performance Based Verification system to monitor compliance with the Move Update standards that took effect back in November 2008. The verification processes utilizes the PostalOne! and MERLIN systems to evaluate whether mailers have updated and changed addresses according to postal rules.
I wanted to take the opportunity to call your attention to January 4, 2010, the date on which this approach will be used at the point of mail acceptance to determine whether additional postage is required. Mailers who wish to avoid these unexpected costs must be able to certify that their mail was prepared using an approved Move Update method-but the time to act is now. (To learn more about solutions, tips, webinars and resources, visit our move verification page.)
You should also read the new PBBI white paper-The Truth About Move Update- which recaps the new standards, details the penalties you may expect, and provides insights into the impact that effective address change management can have on your organization. When you download this paper today, you can learn about best-in-class solutions and the next steps necessary to ensure there are no surprises down the road.
At Pitney Bowes Business Insight, my team and I will be here to provide the up-to-date news, practical tips and strategies, and cost-effective technologies you need to meet the demands of your company, customers and postal compliance. I am glad to be the newest addition to the team and look forward to meeting and serving you in the months ahead.