The barcode readability rate for flat mail pieces evaluated by the U.S. Postal Service's Merlin machines increases from 80 percent to 90 percent starting July 31.
Merlin, or Mail Evaluation Readability and Lookup Instrument, checks address accuracy for mailers receiving automation rates.
More than 94 percent of flat mailings are passing at the current quality threshold, according to the USPS.
Mailers that don't meet the new threshold but achieve the former standard of 80 percent will continue to receive some discount.
Further information about Merlin can be found at www.usps.com/merlin.
