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Time-Delayed and Date-Certain Delivery Mail

Time-Delayed and Date-Certain Delivery Mail. May 15, 2014. Michael Ravnitzky. Caveat. The views expressed are solely those of the author. They do not represent the opinions of the Postal Regulatory Commission or any of the Commissioners.

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Time-Delayed and Date-Certain Delivery Mail

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  1. Time-Delayed and Date-Certain Delivery Mail May 15, 2014 Michael Ravnitzky

  2. Caveat The views expressed are solely those of the author. They do not represent the opinions of the Postal Regulatory Commission or any of the Commissioners.

  3. Delivery of messages or objects at a future time specified by the sender

  4. Time-Delayed Mail would leverage the ubiquity, skills and resources of the USPS, a trusted national institution

  5. Is there a need? Is there demand?

  6. Previous methods • Wills • Sealed Envelopes • Headstones • Family Bibles • Safety Deposit Boxes • Vaults or Safes

  7. Other methods • A trusted family friend • Attorney or established law firm • Recorded audiotapes/videotapes • Publication in a book or article • Internet websites • Computer files

  8. Not the best solutions • Unreliable • Costly • Burdensome

  9. E-Media allow delayed delivery • Most email software • TimeCave.com • LetterMeLater.com • EmailAlabi.com • FutureMe.org • Nudgemail.com

  10. Time-Delayed Mail Provides a way to send Letters, photos and tangible objects Items of personal, sentimental or intrinsic value

  11. Could be regarded as a form of high-value forward logistics for individuals and others Shifts the burden of storage and logistics to the postal provider

  12. Types of Time-Delayed Mail • Short-term delayed communications mail • Less than 3 months • Long-term delayed communications mail • More than 3 months • Contingency mail • “If…”, “When…”, “Unless…”, “Which…” • Date-certain advertising mail

  13. Components of Time-Delayed Mail • Mail Acceptance • Specification of Delay and Contingency Disposition • Optional Digital Redundancy Element • Time-Based Addressing • Onset Address Verification • Sorting • Storage, Transportation and Retrieval • Post-Retrieval Processing • Reliable Delivery

  14. Use of postal infrastructure - 1 • National postal network • Keeper of the nation’s address system • Addressing conventions • National Change of Address (NCOA) • Postal redirection database and software (PARS) • Other address update systems (CARS, COARS, PAD) • UAA reduction experience

  15. Use of postal infrastructure - 2 • Intelligent Mail barcodes and ZIP Codes • Automated sorting and mail handling systems • Procedures for handling accountable mail • Forever postage products • 200 federal laws protecting integrity of the mail • The Postal Inspection Service

  16. But it could require other elements • Handling and Intake Procedures • Employee Training and Labor resources • Secure storage • New addressing aspects • Envelope markings / visibility • Enhanced postal redirection procedures • Contingency handling • Cost analysis • Pricing structure

  17. Risks • Uncorrectable delivery address • Loss or damage • Retrieval failure or delivery failure • Service discontinuance • Lack of institutional continuity • Possible peak congestion problems

  18. Date-Certain Advertising Delivery • Importance of delivery timing • Catalogs, sale flyers/inserts, direct marketing • Election Materials • “In home dates” • Read rates, Open rates, Response rates • Fulfillment resources / inventory • Help desk, phone center planning • Mailbox clutter

  19. Other Potential Applications • Images extracted from social media • Combining into one transaction multiple mail pieces to be sent at different times • Flexible offsite storage options with automated return • Interactive videogaming, MMORPG, RPG, participative fiction • Birthday cards

  20. Conclusions • A new category of postal products would transmit messages and objects through time as well as between locations • Taps the strengths of the existing postal network and would provides a useful service • Would not require technical breakthroughs • Robust address correction minimizes risk • Potential value for advertising communications

  21. Time-Delayed and Date-Certain Delivery Mail May 15, 2014 Michael Ravnitzky

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