USPS Intelligent Mail™

Package Barcode

(IM™pb) and the

Tracking/Visibility Implementation and Benefits

August 13, 2013

Shipping Information Systems

Product Information

USPS

Ryan Seipp, United States Postal Service

Ryan works in the Shipping Information Systems group of the USPS, which

supports the Product Tracking System and certification process. He brings years

of sales experience to this position and works with customers on the IMpb

transition and certification process. He also oversees various Postal projects to

improve package visibility and the overall customer experience.

Ryan earned his undergraduate degree at Lynchburg College and is working

towards a MS in Technology Management at Stevenson University.

Michael Rosenfield, Pitney Bowes

Michael has been with Pitney Bowes in the areas of program and product

management for three years. As part of his position, he focuses on the

relationship between Pitney Bowes and the USPS, with regard to our metered

clients. Previously, Michael was with CIGNA and GE Financial. He graduated

from Pace University.

Your Presenters

IMpb Benefits

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WHY IMpb? • Best Prices for Packages

• Commercial Base and Commercial Plus • Avoids upcharges or fees

• End-to-End Tracking with no additional charge for most products

• Know when to expect your shipments to arrive

• Improves sorting efficiency

• Baked-in Insurance up to $50 for Retail and Commercial Base

Pricing and $100 for Commercial Plus customers Priority Mail.

• Supports simplified carrier route distribution and in the future, dynamic routing

• Improves customer service

100% Package Visibility

• What does this mean? – Barcode on every package

– Tracking built into pricing for major shipping products

– Full end-to-end tracking

– Rich information to help customers and USPS

manage operations and improve customer experience

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Rebranding and Recent Changes

Better validation for package delivery

Name changes represent move to tracking, not

just delivery confirmation:

– Delivery Confirmation to USPS Tracking

– Parcel Post to Standard Post

– Baked in tracking for Priority Mail and Standard Post

at Retail Offices.

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USPS Tracking Capabilities –

Scans, Domestic Items

Increased number of scan events - better tracking

– Domestic information/scanning events: • Electronic Shipping Info Received

• Acceptance

• In-Transit / Processed

• Arrival at Unit

• Out for Delivery

• Delivered

• Notice left when packages not delivered on 1st attempt

– Additional Information available • Expected Delivery Date, Container Information

– More Domestic Scan Events • Nested events

• In / out of processing facility events

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USPS.com Track & Confirm Example 1

(Domestic)

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Intelligent Mail

Package Barcode

General

Requirements &

Features

• Tracking at no additional charge for competitive products

• Priority Mail

• First-Class Package Services *

• Parcel Select*

• Parcel Select Light Weight*

• IMpb Requirements – Unique IMpb

– Destination Delivery Address and/or ZIP+4 Code

– Shipping Service File Version 1.6 or higher

* Commercial only product

Intelligent Mail Package Barcode

General Requirements & Features

IMpb - Implementation Timeline

• First Introduced: September, 2011

• Final Rules: effective January 28, 2013 • Covered certain products and extra services

• Added transition period until July 28, 2013 • Additional rules proposed • Customers continue to receive presort/destination entry prices

• Compliance measured and feedback to customers

• Non-compliant mailers must request exception

• Pitney Bowes exception (January, 2014)

• Final Compliance Date – January 26, 2014 • In conjunction with Price Change

Intelligent Mail Package Barcode

IMpb – Details & Benefits

Details • Supports 6 and 9-digit Mailer IDs

• Longer serial numbers - up to 14 digits – to maintain barcode uniqueness

Benefits • Reduces multiple barcodes on package

• Saves money – less printing toner/ink when barcodes combined

• Better processing - potential to simplify operations and improve

customer service

USPS Tracking Label 400

Customer’s Receipt

(Perforated)

Don’t need this

• New! Information must be provided by customer on the

product that the label will be applied and where mail will be

entered in USPS.

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Internal Tracking Visibility

only

Fee for USPS Tracking info

must be paid by customer

External and Internal Tracking

Visibility available

Fee for Signature Confirmation

must be paid by customer

External and Internal Tracking

Visibility available

Preprinted Intelligent Mail Package Barcode Labels

Available for Order

WHY?

• Built-in intelligence promotes

accurate reporting of package

shipments, enabling mailers’ call

centers to respond to customer

inquiries with speed and accuracy

• Proactively manage customer

expectations, operations and supply

chain Greater Accountability

• DYNAMIC ROUTING – resulting in

more efficiently moving all parcels

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IMpb FAQ’s can be viewed at:

https://ribbs.usps.gov/intelligentmail_package/documents/tech_guides/IMPB_FAQs.

pdf

Barcode, Package, Intelligent Mail (USPS2000508) document and Publication 199:

Intelligent Mail Package Barcode (IMpb) Implementation Guide are posted on

RIBBS and viewable at:

http://ribbs.usps.gov/index.cfm?page=intellmailpackage

Publication 205, Electronic Verification System Business and Technical Guide is

also available on RIBBS at:

http://ribbs.usps.gov/evs/documents/tech_guides/Pub205.PDF

The IMpb Final Rule Federal Register Notice is available at:

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-09-27/html/2011-24705.htm

The IMpb Proposed Rule Federal Register Notice is available at:

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-07-11/pdf/2013-16524.pdf

For other questions, please email: impb@usps.gov

IMpb: Additional Information

Q&A

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