Mail preparation has come a long way in the last decade, and eligibility for any type of postage discount necessitates some type of USPS-certified postal software. There was  a time when a mailer could pick up a Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) and perhaps create a simple sortation tool for preparing a relatively simple mailing. However, today’s complexities of CASS, PAVE, and TEM for Intelligent Mail requirements far surpass a simple sortation algorithm.

It is the complexity of this new Intelligent mail preparation that likely drives the high dependency of mail preparers on their software investment, making it very difficult to consider switching solutions unless some significant disruption has occurred. This includes significant changes such as a company merger/acquisition of a product discontinuation announcement from a current postal software provider.

Migrating to a new software solution, particularly on the eve of a proposed Full Service Intelligent mail requirement, is not easy. It requires a clear understanding of how your current solution works within your existing workflow, while simultaneously researching a solution from a provider that supports the next proposed USPS requirement. Fortunately, there are some excellent resources and steps to consider for surviving a software switch.

Read the full article to see the steps: Surviving a Software Switch

This article was originally published in the November/December 2012 edition of Mailing Systems Technology.