Of all the USPS promotions, the Integrated Technology promotion may be the most intimidating. Some of the accepted technologies are really out there – well beyond the means of many mailers. The cost of some would well exceed the savings available. But fear not! There are some technologies that you may already be using, or, if you are not, are relatively easy to adopt.
One reason to focus on the Integrated Technology promotion is because it is the first available. The promotions calendar allows you to pick any six contiguous months to participate. You can start on January 1, and continue to use it until July 1, so you can use this promotion right out of the gate. The promotion will offer you a 3% discount, plus you can add the Informed Delivery and Sustainability add-on promotions to bring your discount to 5%.
The promotion allows the use of eight different technologies. They are:
- Augmented Reality: You must include 3D elements, images or modules, or Animation, or other interplays between the user and the mail piece. These technologies must be triggered by a QR code or App. Generally speaking, this technology requires a significant investment in art and images. You don’t do it for a discount.
- Mixed Reality: This technology requires delivery an experience through a wearable – goggles or a headset. Again, very complex technology, not for a 3% discount.
- Virtual Reality: Another advanced technology that requires delivery of a message through goggles or a mobile device.
- Voice Assistant: This one is a little more attainable by most mailers. You need to provide the consumer prompts to direct their voice device using either custom applications or apps already on the voice device. You will need to provide the Postal Service with an audio file of someone proving out the command and response. This can get very complex, as well. Still, there may be relatively inexpensive means of executing on this technology.
- Video in Print (ViP): OK, put a screen in your mail piece, or provide a shoppable video. You cannot just provide a link to a YouTube video. Big budget retailers only, please.
- Near Field Communications (NFC): Put an NFC chip in your mail piece that can activate an app on your mobile device, or something similar. Again, not something you can pay for with three percent of postage.
OK, these first six technologies are kind of difficult. If you are already using them then by all means claim a discount, but you are unlikely to do them just for the discount. There are, however, two other technologies that may be relatively easy to implement. Let’s look at them:
- Mobile Shopping: You really should be doing this already, discount or not. Include a QR code or other triggering device to send prospects to a fully mobile optimized site. From there they must be able to complete and pay for the transaction on their mobile device. Seriously, if you are not doing this already you should be – it’s like including a “buy” button on your mail piece. To be eligible you must be selling a tangible product that can be shipped by USPS, or soliciting a donation for which you will follow with a mailed thank-you acknowledgement, or you can include a BRE.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI): Oooo…AI. Now that’s high tech. And in this case a really easy way to get a discount – but don’t tell your creative team. To qualify you need to use an AI system (like ChatGPT) to write some of your copy for the mailing or create a unique image that relates to the offer. The mail piece must include at least one unedited sentence from the AI, or an AI provided image as is. You also need to explain to USPS how you did it, as well as sharing the prompts used.
Also, with the 2025 promotion rules, you can add the Informed Delivery and Sustainability add-ons for an additional 2% discount (1% for each add-on).
As with all promotions, there is a registration and pre-approval process that can take some time. If you are looking to start taking advantage of this promotion, now is the time to start preparing.
You can learn the details of the promotion in an excellent promotion guidebook from the Postal Service. You can get a copy of it here. https://postalpro.usps.com/promotions/25-it
Need some help getting set up and ready? Contact us – we can help.