National Postal Forum 2009: New Business Model to Service Lower Mail Volumes
Our Capital has traditionally been the favored venue for hosting the annual National Postal Forum. Washington DC always seems to draw the largest mailing crowds for this gathering. However, pre-registered attendance was reported to be down a few thousand to 4,200. This most probably was due to the struggling economy. The 140 educational sessions and 120,000 square feet of exhibit area for manufacturers and suppliers were solidly dedicated to how best to use traditional first class and standard mail.
There was only one other writer officially covering this Postal Forum on behalf of the entire printing industry. So what appears in most print trade journals about the NPF will be from official news releases not first hand observation and analysis.
It was enlightening to hear (1) the restructuring plans by the United States Postal Service to counter its heavy losses being incurred as well as (2) the roll out plans for the most significant software technology this 200 hundred year old institution has ever envisioned – the Intelligent Mail Barcode (IMb). The Postal Service is clearly betting on the IMb to be the cornerstone for its future efficiencies and the containment of its escalating labor cost burden.
This article will reflect upon the USPS initiatives taken to restructure its organization and the potential alternative courses of action that the small to medium sized mailing service providers (including full service printers) might consider in achieving IMb readiness.
