Arandell Corp., a pre-press, printing, mailing and postal optimization company for catalogers, has been certified by the U.S. Postal Service for Phase I use of the agency's PostalOne system.
PostalOne is a USPS program designed to enhance the electronic exchange of information with bulk mailers. According to the USPS, the system makes it easier for customers to do business with the agency by providing electronic documentation of bulk mailings, electronic access to information about their mailings and in-plant transportation assignment capabilities.
The USPS' $10.1 million investment in PostalOne is part of its organizationwide Information Platform Program.
Arandell, Menomonee Falls, WI, is one of the first printers to be certified to use this system.
“This is the first step on a long path to full implementation of the vision we have of PostalOne,” said Todd Kintopf, director of postal systems at Arandell. “There are many hurdles to overcome along the route, but … we will continue to move forward.”
Arandell joined forces with the USPS last spring to test the transmission of data. In May, the detached mail unit site at Arandell received the PostalOne computer, and by September the company was running parallel between PostalOne and the Arandell supplied software program.
The first phase of operation for PostalOne eliminates the need for Arandell to supply the USPS with standard documents for each mailing. Instead, detached mail unit clerks can obtain the required documentation through the PostalOne system.
Larry Goodman, manager of business customer support systems for the USPS, said, “Within the next few months, the USPS is anxious to continue a partnership with Arandell in pilot-testing additional PostalOne functions … [such as] the testing of electronic exchange of postage information that would eventually eliminate the need for a printed postage statement.
“Additionally, we are planning on testing with Arandell the ability for their customers to access via the Web information about postage processing and payment,” he said.
