When a company decides to outsource customer communications to a print service provider, that doesn’t mean the work is done. The vendor must be monitored and managed to ensure that they’re meeting the standards negotiated in the contract. Savvy customers take managing their vendors to the next step – by conducting periodic audits for quality control, best practices, and compliance with postal and industry regulations.
U.S. Postal Service (USPS) regulations for print service providers are similar to those for an in-plant operation. The correct class of mail must be used and reflected in the Service Type Identifier in the Intelligent Mail Barcode. If the mail is presented at discounted rates, the addresses must meet the Coding Accuracy Support System (CASS) and Move Update standards. Consistent preparation and submission practices must be followed. These standards are all measured and reported in the Mailer Scorecard.