Although the mandatory start date has been pushed back by the Post Office until May 2009 mailers can take advantage of the exciting new features of the Intelligent Barcode immediately.

Talon's computer software, laser printers and high speed ink-jet machines have been re-tooled to produce the new barcode.  Additionally, Talon has filed the necessary paperwork and the post office has tested and approved our barcode imaging and given us the go-ahead.

The largest possible postage savings is achieved when direct mail pieces are designed for automation discounts.  Pieces must conform with postal guidelines and have proper barcodes and sorting techniques.  Talon can help you with the design requirements.  Automation design and barcodes reduce sorting and delivery time for the post office.  The post office passes their reduced processing costs along to mailers, currently valued at about $18 billion.

The Postal Service is hoping that by implementing intelligent mail bar codes, there will be an increased value for mail organizations that are shifting some of their promotions to e-mail and Internet ads.

The Barcode Breakdown:

Eleven of the digits show the destination zip code.  Companies will use six to nine digits to identify themselves as the sender and Talon will assign a unique number to each of the mail pieces.

The new barcode will also consolidate and eliminate other barcodes used in the past by the postal system.  Gone are barcodes that were used for automated sorting and for certified mail.

The new barcodes are not just for mail pieces:  It will also be on trays, sacks and tubs used to hold mail in postal facilities and on large containers and pallets used for shipping mail.  Postal employees using handheld scanners will be able to more quickly place mail in the right truck and the correct destination.  Mail handlers will get an electronic alert if the supplied manifest alerts them that mail did not get put on a truck.

The mailing industry is looking forward to the new barcode, said John Campo, vice president for postal relations at Pitney Bowes, which specializes in mail technology.  "The service that the Post Office provides is not always consistent across the board, and this will allow them to focus on areas of weak performance as compared to their stellar performance," he said.