Standard Mail Sub Group MTAC WG #114 May 7, 2007

 What is ADVANCE? The ADVANCE Notification and Tracking System is a web-based Postal application. ADVANCE was developed to facilitate the delivery and tracking of “non-automated” USPS Standard Mail and Periodicals with specific in-home delivery windows.

 ADVANCE provides mailer delivery performance reports and data for each mailing.  Mailers must meet certain requirements for the USPS to post ADVANCE mailings on the Web.

 FREE  FREE Service – (No Fee)  Standard and Periodicals mailers can register for ADVANCE by contacting the USPS National Customer Support Center or or via the

 Mailer sends NCSC (Memphis) detailed information regarding upcoming mailing including an image of the mailpiece (8 days before in-home window).  NCSC processes the mailing information before sending the information to the appropriate Delivery Unit.

 When the mailpiece arrives at the Delivery Unit, the date the mailing was located is entered by the Delivery Unit supervisor.  As the delivery event occurs, the Delivery Unit enters when the delivery began and when it was completed.  Using this process, the District and Area offices can track the mailing to ensure receipt and delivery at the Delivery Unit.

Performance Measurement Delivery Completed(Date)  Delivery  Begins  (Date) Locate Mailing(Date) ADVANCE Tracking

Minimum Pieces (Non-Automation Compatible) National300,000 Area150,000 District75,000 5-Digit ZIP50

 Mailers must mail a minimum of 300,000 non- automation compatible pieces per national mailing.  Mailers must mail a minimum of 150,000 non- automation compatible pieces per intra-Area mailing. An intra-area mailing is a mailing that is sent to only one Postal area.  Mailers must mail a minimum of 75,000 non- automation compatible pieces per District.  Mailers must meet a threshold of 50 pieces per carrier route within a participating 5-digit ZIP Code for national or intra-area ADVANCE tracking.

 No. of Registered Mailers (reference handout) (*as of May 4, 2007)

Upload ADVANCE Detail File

ADVANCE Detail File Includes:  All 5-Digit Participating ZIP Codes  All 4-Digit Carrier Route Info.  Number of Pieces Per Carrier Route

ADVANCE Image File Choice Requirements:  jpeg - jfif complaint  Windows or OS/2 bit map  gif CompuServe Graphics Interchange

USPS OVERSIGHT

No Response

Late (Pieces)

PQ2 FY07 ( Jan-Feb-Mar ) Total # Sites Area Calculated % Logged-In VOC % Timely Data Entry VOC % On-Time Delivery National %96.1%98.0% Capital Metro %95.0%98.3% Eastern %98.0%98.4% Great Lakes %96.0%99.1% New York Metro %96.6%98.8% Northeast %94.9%98.9% Pacific %96.2%98.9% Southeast %95.1%95.8% Southwest %96.0%96.9% Western %96.5%97.1%

 Publishers want to be successful.  The Postal Service wants to be successful.  ADVANCE will track delivery performance for Standard Mail and Periodicals and assist with the identification of operational issues that will help both parties succeed and avoid or reduce unnecessary costs.

USPS Headquarters: Alexis Broadhurst-Ross ADVANCE National Program Manager Delivery Systems, Delivery Operations (202) Capital Metro Area: Susan Pierce Delivery and Retail Analyst Northern VA District Capital Metro Area (703)