Intelligent Mail ® Barcodes March 2008

2 Intelligent Mail Vision The Intelligent Mail Vision is to provide end-to-end visibility and a seamless process for mail acceptance and delivery using:  Electronic Documentation  Standardized intelligent barcodes  Continuous mail tracking  Mail quality feedback in real- time and  Service measurements to position Letters, Flats, and Parcels as a Key Communications Medium. Creating total Visibility.

PRIMACY PKWY STE 201 MEMPHIS TN Address Change Service John Doe 6449 AMBERVIEW CV MEMPHIS TN Unique IDs allow tracking of “nested” pieces as they are containerized Unique Container Barcode Unique Mailpiece Barcode Unique Tray Barcode Creating Visibility

4 Suite of Intelligent Mail Barcodes The common thread of Intelligent Mail barcodes:  Uniquely identify the sender  Uniquely identify the mailpiece or mail aggregate  Provide a destination ZIP Code for sortation & routing  Encode Special Service indicators or Address Change Service™ (ACS) requests Intelligent Mail® Barcode Intelligent Mail® Tray Barcode Intelligent Mail® Container Barcode 6060 PRIMACY PKWY STE 201 MEMPHIS TN Address Change Service John Doe 6449 AMBERVIEW CV MEMPHIS TN Intelligent Mail® Package Barcode

5 Barcodes Decoded ID (2N)

6 Intelligent Mail® Barcode FROM THIS TO THIS Used on Letters and Flats

7 Barcode Comparison FieldINTELLIGENT MAIL® BARCODE POSTNETPLANET CODE® Barcode ID200 Service ID302 Mailer / Subscriber ID6/905 Serial Number9/606 Routing ZIPNone, 5, 9, 115, 9, 110 Total Max Digits Intelligent Mail® barcode for Letters and Flats  Encodes up to 31-digits of mailpiece data into 65 vertical bars  Combines multiple service codes into a single code  Select a suite of services using a single code  Move between multiple suite of services within mailing  Greater number of uniquely identifiable mail piece  Relates all services back to 1 unique mailer ID

8 Intelligent Mail® Barcode Data Construct NOTE: See the Intelligent Mail barcode specification and the Technical Resource Guide on OEL indicators Barcode IDIdentifies the presort makeup in conjunction with an Optional Endorsement Line -- most users will leave it as “00”. Service Type ID: Identifies special service requests (e.g. OneCode Confirm and/or OneCode ACS) or Mail Class when used for automation rate discount without any services. If no Special Services are requested use: 700 for First-Class mail; 702 for Standard mail; 704 for Periodicals; 706 Bound Printed Matter. Mailer ID6-digit or 9-digit number that uniquely identifies the mail owner or mailing agent. Serial Number Uniquely identifies the mailpiece or mailing. ZIP Code:For routing, must contain a proper ZIP Code to obtain the automation rate discount.

9 Placement Configurations  Placement on letters  Address block or  Barcode clear zone  Placement on flats  On address side and  At least 1/8 inch from any edge of the piece  To avoid ambiguity, only one IM barcode can be placed in the same area.  Placement configurations of the IM barcode on a letter-size and flat-size mail are defined in the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM™).

10 Today’s OneCode Confirm™  72 subscribers approved & activated (represents many different mailers) - continuing to gain new subscribers

11 Your Vision Power to: Track that important mailpiece in near real-time

12 Your Vision Power to: Better Manage Resources  Staffing  Stock  Finances

13 Today’s OneCode ACS ™  Quicker and more accurate updates  Economically attractive  More than 170 subscribers, and growing

14 Getting Started STEP 1:Talk with mail service providers and vendors STEP 2:Apply for Mailer ID (MID) STEP 3:Download software used to translate your intelligent data into the Intelligent Mail barcode STEP 4:Populate barcode fields STEP 5:Generate correct barcodes

15 Step 1 of 5  Talk with mail service providers and vendors  Determine whether you would like to implement Intelligent Mail yourself or through a provider/vendor.

16 Step 2 of 5  Apply for Mailer ID  Contact your local Mailpiece Design Analyst (MDA):  Online tool at  Click “Mailpiece Design”  Click “Lookup Tool” under heading “Mailpiece Design Analyst”  Survey will be completed and 6 or 9-digit MID assigned based on mail volume

17 Step 3 of 5  Download Intelligent Mail software Intelligent Mail Data Font software Converts printing instructions into barcode Encoder software Converts intelligent data into printing instructions

18 Download Software Or contact the National Customer Support Center at (877) To download fonts/encoders, request a user ID and password at

19 Free Encoders Three new encoders coming online this year: Mac OS, HP/UX, and Solaris.

20 Free Fonts New shorter-height fonts (close to the minimum 0.125”) being developed and tested.

21 Step 4 of 5  Populate the Intelligent Mail Barcode Fields  Barcode ID defines the presort makeup in conjunction with an Optional Endorsement Line (OEL).  Service Type ID defines the mail class and any services requested (e.g., OneCode Confirm, OneCode ACS).  Do not use “000”  Mailer ID is a 6-digit or 9-digit number that uniquely identifies the mail owner or mailing agent.  Serial Number uniquely (not always!) identifies the mailpiece or mailing.  Routing Code is used to encode the destination ZIP Code of the mailpiece.  Never pad ZIP Code with zeroes, spaces or any other digits that are not part of the ZIP Code; same as POSTNET  IM Barcode does not require CHECK DIGIT

22 Step 5 of 5  Put Everything Together and Generate the Barcode  Once you have selected service(s), received your Mailer ID, and devised a unique Serial Number strategy, you are ready to:  Put all the data fields together to form the digit string  Pass the digit string to the encoder  Apply the font to the encoded 65 bar string Note: the IM barcode is ALWAYS 65 bars

23 Your USPS Resources  Rapid Information Bulletin Board System:  Intelligent Mail Barcode for letters and flats  Encoder Software, Fonts and Online Decoding Tool  Intelligent Mail Barcode Specifications  Technical Resource Guide  Mailer ID Guidelines  OneCode Confirm and OneCode ACS Technical Guides  Domestic Mail Manuals  USPS Publications

24 Validating IM Barcodes  Manual Tools  Visual Inspection  Plastic Templates  Optical Comparator  Software Tools  Online Encoder/Decoder  Scanners and Verifiers

25 Plastic Template Great tool available from local BSN or Mail Piece Design Analyst Automation Barcode Gauge Template (Item #04A)

26 Using Optical Comparator Complements Item 04A with ability to measure exact heights/widths and to assess barcode jitter (~centerline shift). Optical Comparator 6X (Eye Gage) by Gage-Line Technology

27 Online Tools

28 Online Decoder

29 Scanners & Verifiers  Scanners and Verifiers  The Culver Group – HHP4600 scanner  Videk – Model 2030 scanner, IMB Verifier  BÖWE BELL + HOWELL – Mail Verifier Plus (MVP)  Motorola / Symbol  Scanners – DS3408, DS3478 and DS6707  Mobile computers – MC50, MC70, MC3000, MC9000

30 Intelligent Mail® Tray Label Older, Existing Label New, Transitional10/24-digit Intelligent Mail Tray Label Transition Strategy Intelligent Mail ® Tray labels and Intelligent Mail ® Tray barcodes Future Label (3-5 years)

31 Intelligent Mail ® Tray Barcode The Intelligent Mail ® Tray Barcode:  Provides routing/sorting information  Provides Mailer ID  Uniquely identifies every tray/sack/tub  Provides specific mail content information In addition, for USPS internal tray barcode formats:  Identifies specific mail flow  Identifies specific transportation  Identifies specific processing and delivery information

32 10-digit Tray Barcode Construct  Barcode Symbology: Interleaved 2 of 5 (10-digit)  Does not provide for unique identification 10-Digit Encoded Data Elements Field No. Field Description Field Size Character Position 1ZIP -3 or 5-digit51-5 2CIN Digit processing code (USPS) 29-10

33 24-digit Tray Label Construct 24-Digit Encoded Data Elements Barcode ElementPositionDefinition ZIP Code1–5Identifies the tray or sack’s destination in accordance with the USPS DMM Content Identifier Number (CIN) 6–8Describes the contents of the tray or sack based in accordance with the USPS DMM Label Source9The value ‘1’ is used for Automation Compatible, Barcoded, and Machinable Mail The value ’7’ is used for all other mail Mailer ID (MID)*10–15 or A six-digit or nine-digit USPS assigned ID used to uniquely identify the preparer of the tray or sack Serial Number*16–23 or A unique five-digit or eight-digit number for each tray or sack Label Type24“1” when used with a six-digit MID and “8” when used with a nine-digit MID  Barcode Symbology: 24-digit: ISS Code 128, subset C

34 Generating IM ™ Tray Labels For Intelligent Mail Tray labels:  Use largest label stock sizes and holders  Obtain and follow the specifications available on the Rapid Information Bulletin Board System: to create and print labelshttp://ribbs.usps.gov/  April specification updated with Mailer text area to the right of the 24 digit barcode and fit on smaller label stock sizes

35 Intelligent Mail® Container Barcode The Intelligent Mail® Container Barcode:  Is applied on a “Placard” or Pallet Label  Identifies Mailer  Establishes a unique “serial number” for each pallet/container  Associates pallet/container to unique mailing Mailer’s Container Label

36 Intelligent Mail ® Container Barcode – Construct For Containers: Uses GS1-128 – formerly UCC/EAN 128 Example:

37 Generating Intelligent Mail Container Labels For Intelligent Mail Container Labels:  Go to the Rapid Information Bulletin Board System: for the Intelligent Mail Container Barcode specifications  DMM update to allow the use of new layout and instructions for the (pallet/placard) labels in development

38 Federal Register Notice  Two Proposed Options  Basic *  Intelligent Mail barcode for automation discounts  Services and barcode uniqueness not necessary  Full Service  Intelligent Mail Barcode  Intelligent Mail Tray Label  Intelligent Mail Container Label  All barcodes must be unique for 45 days  Electronic Documentation  Appointment Scheduling * Intelligent Mail barcode optional for Automation rate discounts today

39 Update of the Offer  Original Federal Register Notice  Effective date Jan 2009  Intelligent Mail Barcodes: “Basic”, “Full Service”  No POSTNET for discounts  PMG Comments – New dates of offer  Effective date May 2009  Intelligent Mail Barcodes: “Basic”, “Full Service”  POSTNET  Effective date May 2010  Intelligent Mail Barcodes  No POSTNET for discounts

40 Postage Statement Wizard Mail.dat ® Web Services Electronic Documentation

41 Intelligent Mail Barcode Tray Pallet Pieces Intelligent Mail Tray Barcode Intelligent Mail Container Barcode Nesting of Data

42 Appointment Scheduling  Use Facility Access Shipment Tracking System (FAST) to:  Schedule Appointments for Drop-Ship Mailings  Schedule Appointments for Mailings verified at Detached Mail Units.

43 Electronic Documentation & FAST Resources  For help with Electronic Documentation:  Visit  Call PostalOne! Help Desk at  For additional information on FAST:  Visit

44 Full Service Feedback Mailer receives payment feedback  Balance information  Fee schedule  Postage transactions  Payment receipts Mailer receives induction feedback  Processing Confirmation  Appointment Number  Date/Time/Location

45 Full Service Feedback Mailer receives free Start-the-Clock Feedback  Arrival date/time  Arrival content profile Mailer receives free Address Correction  Undeliverable-as-Addressed  Reason for Non-Delivery  Customer change-of-address Mailer can receive visibility feedback  Track Mailpieces through Confirm

46 Service Performance Measurement  Meet requirements of the new Law  Use container, handling unit and mailpiece scans along with mailer data to provide detailed performance insight. Mailing A Mixed AADC 3-Digit 5-Digit “Start-the-clock” 1 st scan “Stop-the-clock” Mailer Facility Originating Facility Destination Facility Tray Types