Standard Mail Sub Group

MTAC WG #114May 7, 2007

What is ADVANCE?

The ADVANCE Notification and Tracking System is a web-based Postal application. ADVANCE was developed to facilitate the delivery and tracking of “non-automated” USPS Standard Mail and Periodicals with specific in-home delivery windows.

ADVANCE provides mailer delivery performance

reports and data for each mailing.

Mailers must meet certain requirements for the USPS to post ADVANCE mailings on the Web.

FREEFREE Service – (No Fee)

Standard and Periodicals mailers can register for ADVANCE by contacting the USPS

National Customer Support Center (NCSC) @

1-800-238-3150 or 1-877-640-0724

or via the Internet @ http://advance.usps.gov

Mailer sends NCSC (Memphis) detailed information regarding upcoming mailing including an image of the mailpiece (8 days before in-home window).

NCSC processes the mailing information before sending the information to the appropriate Delivery Unit.

When the mailpiece arrives at the Delivery Unit, the date the mailing was located is entered by the Delivery Unit supervisor.

As the delivery event occurs, the Delivery Unit enters when the delivery began and when it was completed.

Using this process, the District and Area offices can track the mailing to ensure receipt and delivery at the Delivery Unit.

Performance Measurement

Delivery

Completed

(Date)(Date)

Delivery

Begins

(Date)(Date)

Locate

Mailing

(Date)(Date)

ADVANCE

Tracking

Minimum Pieces(Non-

AutomationCompatible)

National 300,000

Area 150,000

District 75,000

5-Digit ZIP 50

Mailers must mail a minimum of 300,000 non-automation compatible pieces per national mailing.

Mailers must mail a minimum of 150,000 non-automation compatible pieces per intra-Area mailing. An intra-area mailing is a mailing that is sent to only one Postal area.

Mailers must mail a minimum of 75,000 non-automation compatible pieces per District.

Mailers must meet a threshold of 50 pieces per carrier route within a participating 5-digit ZIP Code for national or intra-area ADVANCE tracking.

No. of Registered Mailers - 200

(reference handout)

(*as of May 4, 2007)

Upload ADVANCE Detail File

ADVANCE

Detail File Includes: All 5-Digit Participating ZIP Codes All 4-Digit Carrier Route Info. Number of Pieces Per Carrier Route

ADVANCE

Image File Choice Requirements: jpeg - jfif complaint

Windows or OS/2 bit map

gif CompuServe Graphics Interchange

USPS OVERSIGHT

No Response

Late (Pieces)

PQ2 FY07( Jan-Feb-Mar )

Total#

Sites 

Area Calculated

% Logged-In

VOC %

TimelyData Entry

VOC %

On-TimeDelivery

National 7219   98.9% 96.1% 98.0%

Capital Metro 610   98.4% 95.0% 98.3%

Eastern 1053   99.7% 98.0% 98.4%

Great Lakes 819   99.5% 96.0% 99.1%

New York Metro 602   98.8% 96.6% 98.8%

Northeast 581   98.0% 94.9% 98.9%

Pacific 731   98.7% 96.2% 98.9%

Southeast 961   99.0% 95.1% 95.8%

Southwest 813   98.7% 96.0% 96.9%

Western 1049   98.8% 96.5% 97.1%

Publishers want to be successful.

The Postal Service wants to be successful.

ADVANCE will track delivery performance for Standard Mail and Periodicals and assist with the identification of operational issues that will help both parties succeed and avoid or reduce unnecessary costs.

USPS Headquarters:USPS Headquarters: Alexis Broadhurst-Ross ADVANCE National Program Manager

Delivery Systems, Delivery Operations (202) 268-3765

alexis.broadhurst-ross@usps.gov

Capital Metro Area:Capital Metro Area:Susan Pierce

Delivery and Retail AnalystNorthern VA DistrictCapital Metro Area(703) 698-6669susan.m.pierce@usps.gov