Do I need to send all of my mailings via Intelligent Mail®?

As you are aware, mailers who wish to take advantage of the USPS® Intelligent Mail (IM) benefits are required to pass a testing process (Test Environment for Mailers-TEM) to obtain authorization from the U.S. Postal Service®. But, once you are certified by the Postal Service for Intelligent Mail will you be required to send all of your mailings using Intelligent Mail system?

While the USPS encourages mailers to utilize Intelligent Mail as much as possible you are not required to use IM. Even after the mailer receives authorization from the USPS to use IM, there may be situations where a mailing does not qualify for IM or the mailer simply may choose not to utilize IM for a mailing even if it does qualify. This is particularly true for mailers who mail multiple classes of mail or process mailings to multiple entry point locations.

If you do process mailings using IM Full Service, you are required to submit postage statements and other mailing documents electronically using PostalOne! system (also referred to as Business Customer Gateway). Does this mean that once you are authorized for IM you must submit all documents for all mailings electronically? No, it does not. If you do not plan to use IM Full Service for your mailings, you are not obligated to utilize PostalOne! to submit your postal documents.

Again, the USPS encourages mailers to use PostalOne! as much as possible even if you are not yet authorized for IM or have mailings that do not qualify for IM. However, you do have the option to submit your documents via hard copy on mailings for which you are not claiming IM Full Service discounts. For most mailers, it makes sense to use the same process for all mailings in order to streamline their mailing processes and to provide consistency - and PostalOne! is a an excellent way to streamline your processes.

Although the USPS does not currently require mailers to use Intelligent Mail or PostalOne!, this may be subject to change in the future. For this reason, it is recommended that mailers transition to using PostalOne! as much as possible and to migrate as much mailing to IM as possible. IM provides a much simpler and more accurate system for connecting the business mailer's mailing information with the Postal Service for acceptance, induction, payment, and tracking. It will definitely improve the way information is exchanged between the Postal Service and its customers, and may be the way the USPS will require you to process mail in the near future. Eventually everyone will be using IM, so it is wise to get on board now to stay competitive.

Visit http://www.windowbook.com/IntelligentMail for more information on Intelligent Mail.