Barcode Technology - USPS Intelligent Mail Barcode               Hide the description

Intelligent Mail Barcode

The Intelligent Mail barcode (IMb) is used to sort and track letters, cards and flats and offers greater versatility by allowing many services to be requested and embedded within one barcode. The Intelligent Mail barcode combines the data of the existing POSTNET? and the PLANET Code barcodes, as well as other data, into a single barcode.

The Intelligent Mail barcode is a 65-bar Postal Service barcode used to sort and track letters and flats. It allows

mailers to use a single barcode to participate in multiple Postal Service programs simultaneously, expands mailers' ability to track individual mailpieces, and provides greater mail stream visibility.

The IMb is required for use on letters and flats prepared for automation prices. This requirement affects First-Class

Mail postcards, Insured Mail, Certified Mail, and any other mail using extra services currently available and appropriate for the class and shape of mail prepared for automation prices..

USPS Intelligent Mail is one of the many barcode formats currently in use.

A Barcode is a method of representing data in a visual, machine-readable form.

The barcode formats has two categories:

One-dimensional (1D) --- Barcodes represented data by varying the widths and spacings of parallel lines.

Two-dimensional (2D) --- Using rectangles, dots, hexagons and other geometric patterns to represented data.

The IM barcode carries a data payload of 31 digits representing the following elements:

Index of first digit                   Length             Name
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1                                             2                      Barcode identifier
3                                             3                      Service type identifier
6                                             6 or 9                Mailer ID
12 or 15                                   9 or 6               Sequence number
21                                           11                     Delivery point ZIP code

Human Readable:

Most barcodes display their corresponding values below them, which makes it possible to human read and manually  enter the barcode values into the equivalent system when the barcode label is worn out and cannot be read by the barcode scanner.

The Advantages of using barcodes:

If you want to reduce costs and save time, using barcodes is a good choice. Whether you are a company or a non-commercial organization, to improve efficiency and reduce overhead, barcodes are a valuable and viable option, which is economical and reliable.

Using Barcode system eliminates the possibility of human error. The error rate of manually entering data is
significantly higher than that of scan barcodes. Barcode scanning is fast and reliable, and it takes much less time than manual data entry. Especially when using a QR code, hundreds of characters can be read and entered into your system instantly.

The barcode system is very versatile, it can be used for any necessary data collection. This may include pricing or inventory information or management information service system. In addition, because barcodes can be affixed to almost any surface, they can be used not only to track the product itself, but also to track the production process, shipments and equipments.

The barcode system provide better data. Because a barcode can store various information such as inventory and pricing, especially when using QR Code, it can store thousands of characters, so the data stored in the barcode can be quickly obtained by the barcode reader, this fast turnaround ensures that time is not wasted on data entry or retrieval. In addition, the barcode can be customized to include other relevant information as needed. They provide fast and reliable data for various applications.

Barcodes are cheap and user-friendly, providing an indispensable tool for tracking data from pricing to inventory. The end result of a comprehensive bar code system is reduced overhead.

FAQ About Barcode

What is the historical origin of Intelligent Mail Barcode?

Intelligent Mail Barcode (IMb) is a barcode used in U.S. mail. The term "Smart Mail" refers to the service provided by the United States Postal Service for domestic mail delivery.

Intelligent Mail Barcode is a highly modulated barcode used to sort and track mail. It can encode up to 31 decimal digits divided into 65 vertical bars. It consists of four different symbols, hence it was once called the 4-State Customer Barcode.

Its historical origins date back to the 1980s, when the United States Postal Service began using POSTNET barcodes to automatically identify postal codes for mail. In 1996, the U.S. Postal Service introduced the PLANET barcode to track the delivery status of mail. In 2003, the U.S. Postal Service began developing a new barcode that combined the capabilities of POSTNET and PLANET and added more information capacity and security. This is the prototype of Intelligent Mail Barcode.

In 2006, the United States Postal Service officially released the specifications for Intelligent Mail Barcode, and began full implementation in 2009. It allows mail senders to participate in multiple Postal Service programs simultaneously using a single barcode and expands tracking capabilities for individual pieces of mail, improving visibility into mail flow.

IM barcodes are designed to provide richer information and functionality than their predecessors, POSTNET and PLANET.

Intelligent mail barcodes are also known as single-code solutions and 4-state customer barcodes, abbreviated as 4CB, 4-CB or USPS4CB. Complete specifications can be found in USPS document USPS-B-3200.

It effectively combines routing postal code and tracking information contained in previously used postal barcode standards.

IM barcodes are affixed to mails by the sender. Effective January 28, 2013, the Postal Service requires the use of smart mail barcodes to qualify for automated pricing.

The use of IM barcodes can improve overall efficiency, including improved delivery capabilities and new services.

What are the application scenarios of Intelligent Mail Barcode?

It can be used to participate in the Full-Service Intelligent Mail project, a service that provides mail tracking and reporting to help mail senders optimize mail marketing and management.

It can be used to participate in the OneCode Confirm project, a service that provides mail delivery confirmations that help mail senders understand the arrival time and status of their mails.

It can be used to participate in the OneCode ACS project, which is an mail address correction service that can help mail senders update mail addresses and reduce bounced mails.

It can be used to participate in the Intelligent Mail Small Business (IMsb) Tool project, an online tool for small businesses that helps them create and print Intelligent Mail Barcodes and submit electronic postage statements.

How secure is Intelligent Mail Barcode?

Intelligent Mail Barcode has high security:

It uses a highly modulated barcode that can encode up to 31 decimal digits, including the mail sender's identification code, mail service type, mail serial number, postal code and other information. This information helps the U.S. Postal Service efficiently sort and track mail while also protecting the privacy and security of mail senders.

It uses a barcode composed of four different symbols, namely full-height bar, tracking bar, ascending bar and descending bar. These symbols can provide more information capacity and redundancy, increase the readability and reliability of barcodes, and also increase the complexity and difficulty of counterfeiting of barcodes.

It uses an encryption algorithm to generate an mail sequence number, a 12-digit number that uniquely identifies each mail. This algorithm is a secret shared by the U.S. Postal Service and mail senders, and only they can decipher the meaning of a mail serial number. This prevents third parties from intercepting or tampering with mail serial numbers, thus protecting the integrity and authenticity of mails.

What are the structural characteristics of Intelligent Mail Barcode?

Intelligent Mail Barcode is a height-modulated barcode, meaning the height of the bar determines its encoded value. Mail data of up to 31 decimal digits can be encoded into 65 vertical bars.

It consists of two parts: tracking code and routing code. The tracking code contains the sender and message information, and the routing code contains the destination zip code.

The tracking code contains the sender and message information, and the routing code contains the destination zip code.

It used four different symbols, so it was once called the 4-State Customer Barcode.

It uses four different height bars, representing 0, 1, 2, and 3 respectively.

It can encode mail data from 20 to 31 decimal digits.

What is the difference between IMB and other barcodes?

What distinguishes IMB from other barcodes is mainly its capacity and functionality.

IMB can encode mail data up to 31 digits, while Postnet and Planet can only encode postal codes of 11 digits.

IMB can also request and embed a variety of services such as tracking, confirmation, address correction, etc.

IMB uses four bars of different heights, while Postnet and Planet only use two.

Other commonly used barcode types include EAN-13, UPC-A, Code 39, etc. They are mainly used in fields such as commodities, assets, inventory, etc., and the supported character sets and encoding lengths are also different.

Who formulated the standards for Intelligent Mail Barcode? Why develop this standard?

The Intelligent Mail Barcode standard is developed by the United States Postal Service (USPS).

The purpose of this standard is to improve the efficiency of mail sorting and tracking, and to provide more value-added services. Intelligent Mail Barcode combines data from legacy POSTNET? and PLANET Code? barcodes, as well as other data, into a single barcode.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of Intelligent Mail Barcode?

Advantage:

It allows mail senders to use a single barcode to participate in multiple US Postal Service programs at the same time, such as Full-Service Intelligent Mail, OneCode Confirm, OneCode ACS, etc. This can save mail space and costs, and improve mail efficiency and convenience.

It allows mail senders to track the delivery status and location of each mail, thereby improving mail visibility and control. This can help mail senders optimize mail marketing and management, and improve mail response rates and satisfaction.

It allows mail senders to enjoy more benefits and services provided by the US Postal Service, such as electronic postage statements, address corrections, delivery confirmations, return processing, etc. This can help mail senders save time and money and improve the quality and effectiveness of mails.

Shortcoming:

It requires more printing space and precision, potentially increasing costs and error rates.

It requires the use of specific software and hardware to generate and scan, which may limit compatibility and flexibility.

It requires real-time communication with the U.S. Postal Service's database and may be affected by network delays and failures.

How to use Intelligent Mail Barcode?

Apply for a Mailer ID, which is a 6-digit or 9-digit number that uniquely identifies the mail owner or mail agent.

Use specific software and hardware to generate and print barcodes.

Make sure the size and location of the barcode meets U.S. Postal Service technical standards.

Attach the barcode to the address area or the blank space in the lower right corner of the letter or snail mail.

Use the United States Postal Service's databases and tools to track and manage mail.

How to apply for a US Mailer ID?

To apply for a US Mailer ID, you need to do the following:

Submit Form 5053 (Proof of Bulk Delivery) to USPS.

Please visit the USPS Business Customer Gateway Mailer ID page and follow the instructions to request a Mailer ID for Smart Mail barcoding.

Wait for USPS to approve your application and assign you a Mailing ID.

Are there any fees for applying for a Mailer ID?

According to the USPS website, there are no fees for applying for a Mailer ID.

However, you may need to pay for the software and hardware that are required to generate and print the Intelligent Mail barcode. You may also need to pay for the postage and delivery confirmation services that are associated with the barcode.

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