Mail.dat - The Answers for the 3 Leading Questions concerning Mail.dat

The United States Postal Service (USPS) will ultimately want all of the mailers to submit Postage Statements and mailing documents in an electronic format rather than paper copies. What this means is mailers will have to use the PostalOne! system to send all of the necessary mailing documents digitally. Mail.dat is among the data file choices mailers may use in order to transmit digital files to the PostalOne! system. So now, why don't we examine a few important concerns you may have concerning Mail.dat.

What exactly is Mail.dat?

Mail.dat is an industry standard database file set which contains detailed presort mailing data determined by specifications set by the International Digital Enterprise Alliance (IDEAlliance). Mail.dat is a group of data files which combines data from numerous sub-files to supply an in depth summary and explanation of your presorted mailing. Mail.dat is produced through the presort process, either by presort software processing name-and-address listings or by MLOCR (multiple line optical character reader) devices. Regardless of how the sortation is performed, the important points that comprise the mailing are saved within the Mail.dat file set for that job.

So why should I utilize Mail.dat?

Mail.dat is a standard set of files that may be quickly exchanged by the many participants within the mailing industry, also it allows for automation, operational effectiveness, and electronic communication. Here are a few more reasons why you will want to use Mail.dat.

* Improve accuracy and productivity

* Carry out business with the USPS digitally by using PostalOne!

* Swap mailing info with clients and business partners using a standardized format

* Easily generate last-minute alterations to the preliminary presort data and generate accurate Postage Statements

* Manage spoilage and avoid paying for pieces that didn't get mailed

* Evaluate mailings for drop shipping or alternative work-sharing savings and combined mailing opportunities (i.e., co-palletization).

Could Mail.dat end up being replaced by Mail.XML?

Not a chance. Mail.XML is not a substitute for Mail.dat; it's simply an abbreviated solution to transmit Mail.dat related information. One can think of Mail.dat as the encyclopedia of your given mailing, and Mail.XML as being the telegram that you simply transmit to someone explaining a small piece of the encyclopedia. If the receiver only needs a tiny segment of data, it is much easier to give them a quick telegram than to give them a complete encyclopedia. Mail.dat offers a storage/database model for mailing information while Mail.XML permits two-way business-function specific communication among members of the supply chain. The specifications for both Mail.dat and Mail.XML are managed by IDEAlliance.

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What Every Mailer Needs to Know About Mail.dat & Mail.XML!