Direct Mailing Services - Data Processing - Fulfillment

National Change of Address (NCOA) Services

The Truth About Intelligent Mail Barcodes (IMBs)

Getting the mail sorted and delivered

Okay, we know they're here, we know you've seen them, but what's the real story?

With all the hype about IMBs, the fact is, for most people who use the mail for advertising, necessity, and to simply deliver your message, the IMB is nothing more than a new font! Period. The new code has some added data to it, like mail owner, but the long and short of it is a regular delivery point barcode.

Tracking mail through the USPS

Not nearly as sophisticated as it sounds, adding this feature to your mail looks the same as the code above, but allows you to "track" where your mail is within the USPS. This has limited capabilities and the USPS has made it somewhat costly. Though we don't advocate this service (which replaces Planet Codes), it does have limited value to smaller volume mailers.

Cleaning your data - On the fly! ACS

ACS, or address correction service, has been available for many years, and is a terrific way for smaller volume mailers to perform it's own NCOA so to speak. We mail a piece using the ACS/IMB barcode, the USPS will check each piece to see if the person has moved and shown up on the NCOA list. If so, the USPS will send us an electronic file showing all the old and new addresses so your data can be updated, while the mail piece is forwarded to its new address.

Though Mailways can perform all 3 of the IMB services, we feel that "pre-cleaning" your data prior to mailing leaves less to chance, and is ultimately lower cost.