In June I wrote the blog, Informed Delivery-See What's in Your Mailbox Before it Arrives, that describes the USPS' new Informed Delivery technology from a consumer’s perspective. This time I am going to discuss the advantages from a mailer's perspective.

Informed Delivery gives mailers the opportunity to synchronize marketing campaigns with both a physical mail piece and a digital touch point. Mailers can attach a link to each record of a mail.dat file submitted to the post office containing a color image of the non-address side of the mail piece and a link to a website. This will create a "buy now" experience.

Campaigns can be submitted via email (manual) using an Excel file or via PostalOne! Mailers must work with the Informed Delivery Program Office (IDPO) prior to submitting a campaign to ensure content is complete and accurate.

Email Submission Process (Manual)

• Mailer submits campaign data elements via email to the IDPO using an Excel document
• The IDPO manually enters the information into the Administrative Campaign Console
• The IDPO can edit campaigns within the Administrative Campaign Console if needed
• Campaign data must be submitted at least two business days prior to the campaign start date

PostalOne! Submission Process

• Mailer submits campaign data elements electronically with other PostalOne! eDocs (Mail.dat) using a Referenceable Mail Record (RMR)
• The campaign information is routed electronically to the Informed Delivery application
• The IDPO must edit campaigns within the Administrative Campaign Console to manually add the image(s) provided by the mailer via email*
• Campaigns must be submitted at least two business days prior to the requested start date to allow for manual updates by the IDPO

*Campaign images are not available for automatic uploading at this time

Campaign Portal Submission Process

• Mailer logs into the Business Customer Gateway and selects the Informed Delivery Campaign Portal from the list of Mailer Services
• Mailer is directed to the home page of the Informed Delivery Campaign Portal
• Mailer submits campaign data elements and digital assets electronically as part of a step-by-step campaign creation process
• Mailer can edit campaigns within the Informed Delivery Campaign Portal
• Campaigns must be submitted electronically at least 12 hours prior to the requested start date

PostalOne! Functionality

• Campaigns are still submitted via PostalOne!, however, the functionality will be enhanced to allow for images to be processed automatically
• PostalOne! Mail.dat piece level campaign submission and Mail.XML campaign submission will be available soon (dates TBD)
• All pre- and post-campaign report access will be provided via the Campaign Portal

Look forward to my third blog about the Informed Delivery, coming in a few weeks, where I will discuss the reporting features and provide some examples for using Informed Delivery.