Simplicity and making it easier to do business with the Postal Service were the themes earlier this week at National Postal Forum, where USPS Executive Leadership Team members addressed a standing-room-only crowd during the Postmaster General’s Executive Session.

“We want to share some of our strategies with you and better explain some of our key priorities,” said PMG Pat Donahoe, who was joined onstage by Chief Operating Officer Megan Brennan, Chief Information Officer Ellis Burgoyne, Chief Sales/Marketing Officer Paul Vogel and DPMG Ron Stroman to discuss USPS initiatives.

The first phase of installing 100 flats sequencing system machines will be completed by June and will result in a reduction of almost 1,100 delivery routes, said Brennan. But work remains on improving national critical entry times for First-Class Mail, Periodicals and Standard Mail flats.

Continued improvements to Full Service Address Correction Service; increasing tracking for mailpieces, trays and containers; and full tracking of all barcoded packages by October were among the customer improvements announced by Burgoyne.

Two new IT programs — eDropShip and electronic payment — will replace cumbersome paper-based systems for mail acceptance and billing.

After reinforcing the Postal Service’s commitment to a national advertising campaign that reinforces the value of mail, Vogel said that $10 million in revenues already have been achieved through Every Door Direct Mail — a product that simplifies creating and delivering marketing mail.

Other customer-focused products being considered include expanding Reply Rides Free to include a free second ounce, and ways to provide free shipping for online purchases, added Vogel.

source: USPS News Link – May 5, 2011.