Mailing/Fulfillment - Postal Trends

Technology automates production and amplifies impact of complex, targeted multipart direct mail programs.

An efficient operation isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity these days. In the fulfillment business, this means putting material handling processes under the microscope to identify areas of inefficiencies that need to be tweaked or even completely overhauled to improve operating costs.

PRESIDENT DWIGHT D. Eisenhower had a dream of developing a program that would promote international understanding and friendship. So in 1956, Eisenhower founded People to People, basing the organization on his idea that direct contact between ordinary citizens from different parts of the world can encourage cultural understanding and world peace. Eight U.S. Presidents have served as the honorary chairman of People to People International.

James Euchner, Pitney Bowes Vice President of Advanced Technology & Chief eBusiness Officer discusses Pitney Bowes’ customer-focused innovation.

Printers that are offering mail processing and fulfillment services, or are considering it, should make plans to attend Graph Expo in Chicago, September 9-12 (www.gasc.org). A Mailing & Fulfillment Center will be in full operation, giving you a chance to see all the latest equipment and software in action. In addition, a special theater will be set up offering numerous educational sessions. Here’s the schedule: SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 11:00 am – 12:00 noon What You Need to Know About Cameras and Matching Systems 12:30 – 1:30 pm What Have They Done to My Barcode? 2:00 – 3:00 pm Become a Direct Mail Champion –

INCREASINGLY, PRINTERS are entering the fulfillment business sector to make their operations more viable in the future. However, most printers are not reaping the rewards of establishing a fulfillment operation. Here are several facts to substantiate this premise: n 88 percent of printers adopted fulfillment at their clients’ request. Many of those 88 percent admit they were placed in a defensive posture to keep the printing. n 50 percent of the printers surveyed in 2006 did not know if they were making a profit in their fulfillment operations. And 25 percent did not have a separate P&L. The cost of entry for fulfillment is