Getting Deeper into the Weeds of Informed Visibility – Part 2
December 4, 2017   Dave Lewis

In our last look at Informed Visibility (Click here if you missed it) we talked about individual piece scan data – piece scans, logical events and assumed events.  This all adds up to enhanced piece level data delivered from a groovy new data platform – IV.  It’s still raw data that needs to be processed, interpreted, and reported on – just more of it.  You’re welcome! In addition to enhancing piece tracking, the IV system adds new data points – container, tray, and bundle tracking. Flat tracking made better by tracking bundles Bundle tracking is one of the big deals of IV.  It promises to fix a big problem that has existed with mail tracking from its inception – tracking flats. Flat-size mail (basically anything bigger than 6-1/8” x 11” to grossly oversimplify) does not follow the same path as letter-size mail.  Letters are sorted and sequenced on sorting machinery pretty much from the time they reach their destinating SCF until they are put in walk-sequence for a carrier.  This makes them easy to accurately track. Flats, on the other hand, often bypass automated sorting equipment.  Flat sorters are big, expensive, slow machines (compared to letter equipment) so only about 70% of the addresses in the United States are served by a facility with flat-sorting equipment.  Even those facilities that have a flat sorting machine generally are not sequencing flat mail for carriers.  Mail that is bundled for a 5-digit destination will generally bypass all equipment and go right to the 5-digit DDU (Destination Delivery Unit – you knew that, right?)  The final result is that tracking flats has generally been inconsistent.  It’s just the way mail is handled – if it doesn’t go through a sorting machine there are no scans available. Now the Postal Service plans on tracking bundles of mail – not just pieces.  To accomplish this, they will simply scan the IMb on the top piece of the bundle.  This scan will be sent with on operation code indicating that it was a bundle scan as opposed to a piece scan – as well as what activity was occurring with that bundle when it was scanned.  Savvy service providers (that’s us) will recognize this and be able to associate this scan with the other pieces in the bundle, and – Voila! – we’ll be able to provide delivery data on virtually all flats.  In order to associate this scan, mailers will need to provide a bundle ID with their tracking data, or it can be extracted for the mail.dat records. One of the big questions about bundle scans is exactly when and where they will occur.  Currently when a pallet of flats arrives at a DDU, the bundles are not scanned, so this will be a new activity.  Experience tells us that there will be some inconsistency between facilities as IV becomes more widely adopted.  We expect to see improved data after the first of the year. In addition to actual scans of each bundle, we expect to see a variety of logical and assumed events derived from earlier handling events that may also enhance flats tracking.  Most of these assumed events will not be implemented until January at the earliest. Leaving something for Part 3 In addition to piece and bundle scans, IV is delivering data on the movement of containers (generally pallets) and handling units (trays), associating them with eDocs, FAST appointments and more.  If you’re managing logistics for your mail, this will be a exciting enhancement we’ll dig into next month.  Who can possibly wait?! Once again, in all caps for you:  IF YOU ARE A SNAILWORKS CUSTOMER WE ARE TAKING CARE OF ALL OF THE DETAILS ON THIS FOR YOU.  YOU DON’T NEED TO DO ANYTHING BUT BASK IN THE GLOW OF IMPROVED REPORTING. If you are not currently a SnailWorks customer you really, really may want to contact us.  Just sayin’…

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