First-Class Palletization Now Available

BCC Software has upgraded its palletization capabilities in Mail Manager® software products, with the addition of support for First-Class Mail® pallets. The new First-Class Mail Palletization feature (optional for Mail Manager users and included in Mail Manager Full Service® installations) will be available beginning September 3, 2009.

This feature meets all USPS® DMM® preparation, sequence and labeling guidelines, and provides electronic documentation to minimize postal acceptance issues. It joins BCC's existing palletization support for Periodical packages, sacks and trays. Mail Manager users may add First-Class Mail Palletization as a stand-alone option; as an upgrade to their existing Palletization Suite; or as part of a new Palletization Suite purchase.

For more information about activating First-Class Palletization in your Mail Manager Full Service installation, contact BCC Customer Support at (866) 326-0108. To add First-Class Palletization to your Mail Manager solutions set, call (800) 453-3130.

Join BCC for National PCC Day

The Postal Customer Council (PCC) was created to improve communications between The Postal Service® and its customers, resulting in improved efficiency and delivery and greater customer satisfaction.

The next National PCC Day is September 16, and BCC representatives will observe the day by attending various events in the following locations:

National PCC Day: Illinois
September 16, 2009
Medinah Banquets
Addison, IL

National PCC Day: NY
September 16, 2009
Chelsea Piers
Booth 30
New York, NY

National PCC Day: Twin Cities
September 16-17, 2009
Earle Brown Heritage Center
Booth 32
Brooklyn Center, MN

National PCC Day: Mississippi Valley
September 16
Jumer's Casino
Rock Island, IL

BCC Executive Vice President Chris Lien will be presenting Intelligent Mail: Who, What, When, Why and How with USPS® speakers at the Mississippi Valley PCC Day. This session covers Intelligent Mail®, the value it brings to mailers and its power to transform the mailing industry.

As the Postal Service moves forward with Intelligent Mail implementation, the inevitability of this new barcode and its related services is clear. Join Chris for this informative session to learn how to prepare for the change, when to make the move, and exactly what Intelligent Mail can do for your mailings, and for your business.

For more information about these our other PCC Day events, visit the Postal Customer Council.

Print '09 Sessions for Mailers

The six information-packed days of Print '09 (September 11-16 at McCormick Place, Chicago, IL) will have something to offer every attendee. For mailers focused on enhancing their mailing operations and maximizing their postal discounts, consider the following sessions:

How to Maximize Postal Discounts Using
Intelligent Mail Barcode & Software
Monday, Sept. 14, 8:15-10am CT
Presented by Mary Ann Bennett
President & CEO, The Bennett Group

• Learn how mailers and the USPS utilize various software programs to process mail more efficiently and cost effectively. IMb, CASS™, PAVE™, Mail.dat, MERLIN®, CONFIRM®, and PostalOne!® are postal programs that do or will play an integral role in the future.

Postal IQ: A Primer on Regulations
that Will Save You Money
Monday, Sept. 14, 2:15-4pm CT
Presented by Leo Raymond
Vice President, Postal and Member Relations,
Mailing & Fulfillment Service Association

• Printers who want to offer mailing and fulfillment services will almost certainly need to deal with the Postal Service. Learning about it, what it does, how it operates, and who to talk to will put savvy printer/mailers ahead of the pack. In this session, The Mailing and Fulfillment Service Association Vice President of Postal and Member Relations, a 35-year USPS veteran, will provide mailers with the basics they'll need to know to start their journey into mailing.

Designing Your Mailpiece -
Dos and Don'ts to Maximize Postal Discounts
Tuesday, Sept. 15, 8:15-10am CT
Presented by George Heinrich
"The Postal Professor" PPhD, OMG, CMQCS, CMDP

• The key to maximizing postage discounts is to create a mail piece designed to meet U.S. Postal Service® processing standards. Discover the basics of what to look for when a client presents a mailing project and gain some important tips and tricks for understanding the complexities of USPS regulations.

The Business Proposition of Offering Mailing Services
Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2:15-4pm
Presented by John Rafner
Managing Director, Nice Lines Direct Mail

• Increasingly, printers are adding mailing services to their portfolios—with mixed results. Join industry expert and entertaining presenter John Rafner as he explores the myriad of questions that mailers must ask before taking the plunge into the mailing business.

Computer Lab -
Introduction to Variable Data Printing Programs
Wednesday, Sept. 16, 8:30-11:30am CT
Presented by John Lenninger
Professor, Department of Graphic Communications,
Clemson University

• This session is ideal for printers just entering the market as well as designers and print buyers. You can sit through a seminar on sales and marketing with VDP, but understanding how all the pieces fit together to make VDP work is best learned from first-hand experience. From start to finish, learn about the foundations for applying variable data in print production and how the tools work together to optimize the effectiveness of the process and the final product.

Week of August 31, 2009

BCC Blog: Details to Consider
Before Signing a CSA

Increasingly, mailers are being approached to sign Customer Supplier Agreements (CSAs), negotiated agreements between the USPS and mailers that cover such details as critical entry times and local entry separations. But should you?

Essential variables you should consider before signing a CSA are discussed in the most recent post at Mailing Industry News, the BCC blog. Check out this regularly updated page for the latest commentary and insights from BCC thought leaders -- and be sure to share your comments with us.

What OS Are You Using? -
Short Survey

In order to streamline our development priorities according to your needs, we would like to get a better idea of which platforms are currently being used to run BCC Software products. Please take a moment to answer a brief operating system survey; your input will help guide our ongoing programming efforts.

Professional Services Update

BCC will host an Advanced Classroom Workshop September 24-25 in Rochester. The two-day training experience complements a Standard Workshop, and is ideal for mailers with existing Mail Manager experience who want to further improve their mailing workflows.

For additional training, two free online Express Learning Sessions are being offered next week on essential postal topics and aspects of Mail Manager software. If you're new to mailing, Mailing Basics 101 (Wednesday, Sept. 9, 3pm ET) deals with postal fundamentals. If you're a new BCC user, Introducing Mail Manager (Thursday, Sept. 10, 3pm ET) will cover the processes necessary for preparing a mailing using our flagship product.

 Contact BCC for more details on any of the information in this issue of the BCC eBulletin. Just Let Us Know: How Can We Help?