1. 1 It’s Time for Intelligent Mail ® All About the Barcodes Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2008

2. 2 Agenda Introduction to the 3 Barcodes Constructing the Barcodes Managing Your Mail –Uniqueness –Mailer IDs Technical Resources

3. 3 Basic and Full-Service Options What is the Basic Option? –Available today for letters, cards and flats What is the Full-Service Option? –Gives mailers key insight into their mail Why should mailers opt for Full-Service Option? –Can take advantage of added mailstream visibility –Allows improved management of mailing costs and quality What is required for the Full-Service Option? –Proper use of the Intelligent Mail ® suite of barcodes –Submission of electronic documentation

4. 4 Intelligent Mail ® Barcode Intelligent Mail ® Tray Barcode Intelligent Mail ® Container Barcode Intelligent Mail ® Barcode Intelligent Mail ® Tray Barcode Intelligent Mail ® Container Barcode Suite of Intelligent Mail ® Barcodes

5. 5 Since the 80’s, mailers have applied the POSTNET barcode to mailpieces 5-digit ZIP Code ZIP+4 Code Delivery Point POSTNET ™ – Overview

6. 6 By reading the POSTNET on mailpieces, processing equipment is able to direct mail automatically through the postal network to its destination

7. 7 POSTNET ™ – Overview The POSTNET is great. However, it only contains information about the mailpiece’s final destination. No other information about the mailpiece can be included.

8. 8 #BWNGKVN #9999 9920 0104 276 POSTNET ™ Code for Sortation PLANET Code ® for CONFIRM ® Service Address Change Participant Code Keyline for Address Change Service As the Postal Service introduced services such as CONFIRM ® for tracking and Address Change Service for change of address notification, more information needed to be printed on the mailpiece Intelligent Mail ® Barcode – Overview

9. 9 #BWNGKVN #9999 9920 0104 276 POSTNET ™ Code for Sortation PLANET ® Code for CONFIRM ® Service Address Change Participant Code Keyline for Address Change Service With all this extra information, the mailpiece was cluttered and in need of a serious make over Intelligent Mail ® Barcode – Overview

10. 10 So, the Postal Service undertook the task of creating a new barcode… It would need to be smarter… Different information… A barcode that could hold more information… A better barcode than the POSTNET ™… Intelligent… Intelligent Mail ® Barcode – Overview

11. 11 And so, in 2006, the Postal Service introduced the Intelligent Mail ® barcode to mailers Intelligent Mail ® Barcode – Overview

12. 12 What’s in the Intelligent Mail ® Barcode? So, what information is contained in this new barcode that makes it so smart? Barcode ID Ex: “50” for Mixed AADC Service Type Ex: “700” for First Class Mail Mailer ID Ex: “123456” USPS assigned Routing Code Ex: 6449 Amberview Ct., Memphis, TN 38141834649 Serial Number Ex: “200800001” Mailer assigned Remember: The POSTNET contains only Delivery Point information

13. 13 Because delivery point information and additional information needed for CONFIRM ® and Address Change Service now fits neatly into a single barcode, the mailpiece is once again free from clutter! #BWNGKVN #9999 9920 0104 276 POSTNET ™ Code for Sortation PLANET Code ® for CONFIRM ® Service Address Change Participant Code Keyline for Address Change Service Intelligent Mail ® Barcode – Overview

14. 14 For Letters and Flats Height-modulated barcode Full bar, Ascender, Tracker, and Descender Key Barcode Tolerances Overall length between 2.667 and 3.225 inches Overall height between 0.125 and 0.165 inch Vertical clear zone at least 0.028 inch Other physical characteristics are same as POSTNET Attribute11-digit POSTNET13-digit PLANETIntelligent Mail Barcode Number of bars 627265 Horizontal Pitch 22 ± 2 bars per inch F A T D Intelligent Mail ® Barcode – Specifications

15. 15 Intelligent Mail ® Tray and Container Barcodes and Labels Use of the Intelligent Mail ® Tray and Container barcodes and labels will be required for the Full-Service Option in May 2009 By using the Intelligent Mail ® Tray barcode and Intelligent Mail ® Container barcode, the USPS can maintain visibility of mailpieces and mail aggregates throughout the network through nesting relationships

16. 16 Unique Mailpiece Barcode Unique Tray Barcode Unique Container Barcode How Nesting Works

17. 17 Intelligent Mail ® Tray Label – Overview The Intelligent Mail ® Tray label has been used internally by USPS for years By attaching an Intelligent Mail ® Tray barcode to each tray, sack or tub in a mailing, mail can be automatically directed through facilities by processing equipment

18. 18 Tray Barcode - Overview What’s in the Intelligent Mail ® Tray barcode that makes it so smart? ZIP Code Ex: Memphis, TN “38141” Content Identification Number (CIN) 3-digits describing the tray Processing Code Ex: “1” for Automation Compatible Serial Number Serial Number Ex :“20080001 ” Mailer Assigned Mailer ID Ex: “123456” USPS Assigned Label Type Ex: “1” for 6-digit MID The former tray barcode only contained delivery point information

19. 19 Intelligent Mail ® Container Label – Overview The Intelligent Mail Container barcode and label has been tested over the past few years and is ready for deployment By attaching the Container label to containers and pallets that move mail, mail induction can be automated

20. 20 Intelligent Mail ® Container barcode – Overview What’s in the Container barcode that makes it so smart? Application Identifier “99” Type Indicator “M” Mailer ID USPS Assigned, Ex: “123456” Serial Number Mailer Assigned, Ex: “200800000001” The former container label did not contain a barcode

21. 21 Agenda Introduction to the 3 Barcodes Constructing the Barcodes Managing Your Mail –Uniqueness –Mailer IDs Technical Resources

22. 22 What you need… –USPS or vendor-developed Intelligent Mail ® barcode encoder –USPS or vendor-developed font for the Intelligent Mail ® Barcode –USPS assigned Mailer ID (MID) –Content Identification Number (CIN) List –Software to generate Code 128 subset C for the Intelligent Mail ® Tray barcode and software GS1-128 for the Intelligent Mail ® Container barcode It’s easy to generate the suite of Intelligent Mail ® barcodes. Here’s what you’ll need:

23. 23 Intelligent Mail ® barcode There are three steps required to generate the Intelligent Mail barcode on mailpieces: 1.Form the 31-digit payload 2.Encode the 31-digits 3.Print the barcode on mailpieces

24. 24 Form the 31-digit Payload Data for the 31-digits in the barcode needs to be gathered and assembled Ex: “5070012345620080000138141834649” 1 Barcode ID “50” for Mixed AADC Service Type ID “700” for First Class Mail Mailer ID USPS assigned “123456” Routing Code 6449 Amberview Ct Memphis, TN 38141834649 Serial Number Mailer Assigned Ex: “200800001”

25. 25 Encode the Barcode Next, encoding software is used to transform the 31-digits into the barcode payload 2 “5070012345620080000138141834649” DADTATFFAFFTTTAFTAFDADFDDDDDTAFFDAAFFDAFDDFFTADFTFTTFDAAFTFTADTTT Apply Encoding Algorithm To download encoders and user guides visit: http://RIBBS.USPS.GOV/ONECODESOLUTION http://RIBBS.USPS.GOV/ONECODESOLUTION

26. 26 PRINT Then, simply apply the Intelligent Mail ® font to the encoded string, and PRINT 3 Print Intelligent Mail® barcode USPS or Vendor Developed Font DADTATFFAFFTTTAFTAFDADFDDDDDTAFFDAAFFDAFDDFFTADFTFTTFDAAFTFTADTTT

27. 27 Intelligent Mail ® Tray Label Currently, there are two options available for generating Intelligent Mail ® Tray Labels: 1.Generate the labels “in-house” or 2.Submit online label orders to the Label Production Center in Topeka, KS Soon there will be third method of printing Tray labels via Shipping Assistant!!!

28. 28 Generating Intelligent Mail ® Tray Labels Obtain and use the Intelligent Mail Tray label specification from http://ribbs.usps.gov Remember to apply for your Mailer ID (MID) and have the Content Information Number (CIN) List available before you begin! http://ribbs.usps.gov

29. 29 Ordering Intelligent Mail ® Tray Labels Ordering labels from the Label Production Center in Topeka, KS is handled through the Customer Label Distribution System (CLDS) CLDS is a web based application that provides mailers with the capability to create, edit and submit Intelligent Mail ® Tray Label orders online http://clds.usps.gov

30. 30 Affix the 8"x11" label and the 4"x7" adhesive label on the outside of the shrinkwrap or container Intelligent Mail ® Container Label 8 " x 11 " 4 " x 7 " The 8’’x11’’ label is the minimum size!

31. 31 To create and print labels, obtain and use the specifications available at http://ribbs.usps.gov Consider working with vendors Generating Intelligent Mail ® Container Label http://ribbs.usps.gov

32. 32 Agenda Introduction to the 3 Barcodes Constructing the Barcodes Managing Your Mail –Uniqueness –Mailer IDs Technical Resources

33. 33 Lessons from Early Adopters Ability to induct Full-Service Mail does not happen overnight! Consider whether to “build or buy” capabilities Pay special attention to managing uniqueness and the Mailer ID

34. 34 Agenda Introduction to the 3 Barcodes Constructing the Barcodes Managing Your Mail –Uniqueness –Mailer IDs Technical Resources

35. 35 Uniqueness Key considerations: –How will uniqueness be driven? –Who will manage uniqueness? –Will uniqueness be managed centrally? For the Full-Service Option, mailers are required to maintain unique mailpiece, tray, and container barcodes for 45 days Managing uniqueness can be complex

36. 36 Managing Uniqueness Consider letting a vendor manage your uniqueness Use license plating to connect data behind the scenes –Use the barcode to relate to data in a database –Remember: You’ll need to link Address Correction information to mailpieces and mailings without using Keyline information

37. 37 Agenda Introduction to the 3 Barcodes Constructing the Barcodes Managing Your Mail –Uniqueness –Mailer IDs Technical Resources

38. 38 Your Mailer ID Your Mailer ID (MID) will be included in each mailpiece, tray, and container barcode that you print If you use multiple mail preparers, managing your Mailer ID while maintaining uniqueness will require constant attention

39. 39 Managing Multiple Mailer IDs Larger mailers may have multiple Mailer IDs to manage Be sure to keep track of your Mailer IDs and who is using each ID Strategies to consider: –Distribute your Mailer IDs based on geography. Assign each of your major hubs a different ID –Assign each mail preparer you work with one Mailer ID

40. 40 Managing A Single Mailer ID Most mailers will need to manage a single Mailer ID Use only your own Mailer ID; it’s the key to your mail Consider assigning each mail preparer you work with a different first digit in the serial numbers they apply to mailpieces, trays, and containers “50700123456X1234567838141834649” For Mail Preparer 1, X = 1 For Mail Preparer 2, X = 2 …

41. 41 Agenda Introduction to the 3 Barcodes Constructing the Barcodes Managing Your Mail –Uniqueness –Mailer IDs Technical Resources

42. 42 Validating Intelligent Mail ® Barcodes Manual Tools –Visual Inspection –Plastic Templates –Optical Comparator Software –Online Encoder/Decoder –Scanners and Verifiers Local postal resources

43. 43 Technical Resources Plastic Template Automation Barcode Gauge Template (Item #04A) Great tool available from local BSN or Mailpiece Design Analyst Measures both the Intelligent Mail barcode and the POSTNET ™

44. 44 Technical Resources Optical Comparator Optical Comparator 6X (Eye Gage) by Gage-Line Technology Complements Item 04A with ability to measure exact heights/widths and to assess barcode jitter (~centerline shift)

45. 45 Technical Resources Basic online decoder tool is available at: http://ribbs.usps.com/OneCodeSolution

46. 46 Technical Resources Scanners and Verifiers The Culver Group –HHP4600 Area Imager Videk –VisionSensor 2030 and PostnetVerifier BCC Software (A BÖWE BELL+HOWELL Company) –Mail Verifier Plus (MVP) Motorola / Symbol –Scanners – DS3408, DS3478 and DS6707 –Mobile computers – MC50, MC70, MC3000, MC9000 Information about these companies is available at ribbs.usps.gov/OneCodeSolution

47. 47 Steps to Getting Started STEP 1:Talk with your Mailpiece Design Analyst, mail service providers & vendors STEP 2:Apply for Mailer ID (MID) STEP 3:Apply for a PostalOne! ® account STEP 4:Visit RIBBS - download guides and software STEP 5:Determine uniqueness strategy STEP 6:Generate barcodes

48. 48 The Time is NOW… When is the Right Time for you to Implement Intelligent Mail®?