The USPS is Going Digital!
In the last year, USPS has made many changes and updates to their online and mobile platforms. These updates offer all USPS users a variety of features that ease the processes of sending, receiving, and tracking mail.
Some of the digital features offered through USPS are listed here:
Informed Delivery: USPS launched Informed Delivery, a service that allows customers to preview their incoming mail and manage packages digitally. Users receive email notifications containing grayscale images of the exterior, address side of letter-size mailpieces, and tracking information for packages.
Mobile Apps: USPS has a mobile app available for download, allowing users to track packages, find nearby post offices, and access other postal services on their smartphones.
Online Services: USPS offers a range of online services, including online postage purchasing, address change requests, package tracking, and ZIP Code lookup.
Click-N-Ship: This online service enables users to print shipping labels and pay for postage for packages without having to visit a physical post office.
USPS.com Redesign: There have been efforts to improve the USPS website, making it more user-friendly and providing easier access to various services.
Another major feature implemented by USPS is its Business Customer Gateway (BCG). The BCG is an online platform designed to provide business customers with access to a range of USPS services and tools. It is specifically tailored to meet the needs of businesses, allowing them to manage their mailing and shipping activities more efficiently. Some of the key features of the USPS Business Customer Gateway include:
Account Management: Businesses can create and manage their USPS business accounts online. This includes updating account information, adding or removing users, and maintaining a secure and centralized account.
Online Shipping Tools: The platform offers online shipping tools that enable businesses to prepare and manage their shipments digitally. This includes features like online postage purchasing, address verification, and access to shipping labels.
Address Management: Businesses can use the gateway to validate and update addresses, ensuring accurate and timely deliveries. This feature is crucial for maintaining the quality of customer databases and reducing the likelihood of returned mail.
Bulk Mail and Presort Services: The Business Customer Gateway provides tools for businesses to process and presort bulk mail, which can result in discounted postage rates. This is particularly useful for businesses that regularly send large volumes of mail.
Payment and Billing Services: The platform facilitates online payment and billing services, allowing businesses to manage their postage expenses electronically. This includes viewing invoices, making payments, and accessing billing reports.
Real-time Tracking: Businesses can track their packages and shipments in real-time through the gateway, providing visibility into the movement of their mail and packages within the USPS network.
Customized Reporting: The platform may offer reporting tools that allow businesses to generate customized reports based on their mailing and shipping activities. This can help businesses analyze trends, track expenses, and optimize their mailing strategies.
USPS going digital is a huge benefit for virtual office providers. If you have a virtual office that handles your mail for you on a daily basis, setting up an account in the BCG can allow you to know what forwarded mail is coming your way, update your address and more. For the office providers, the digital features on USPS make it easy to forward/scan mail, get updated information and make handling clients mail much more efficient.
