Throughout 2002, the Postal Service enhanced its ability to offer effective and efficient service through the strategic application of technology. Many of the Postal Service’s accomplishments this year have ensured a secure and modern information technology infrastructure, providing universal computing connectivity, and improving the automated mail process for the Postal Service, mailers, and consumers. By enhancing its technological capabilities, the Postal Service supported current business needs and anticipated potential business requirements, resulting in a robust and flexible technological foundation for the future.


1. INFORMATION PLATFORM
As outlined in the Transformation Plan, the Postal Service is continuing its work toward the development of an “Information Platform” which will provide high-value, reliable, and accurate information to improve service and productivity for its internal customers. The critical success factors for integrating data and applications are standardization, speed to market, and a reduction in costs. Throughout 2002, the Postal Service focused on the following initiatives in support of the development of an Information Platform:

• The Postal Service completed the operational deployment of Confirm, which provides information to mailers by notifying them when their flats and letters enter the mail stream and provides detailed information as their pieces are scanned by Postal Service equipment. Reports are available to subscribers on the Internet.
• The Postal Service also used the Internet to provide further enhancements to its services. These enhancements include the ability to print mailing labels and download PC Postage from www.usps.com, to track the status of certified and insured mail, and to file change of address information via the internet.
• Postal operations were also improved using information technology. The deployment of the Delivery Operations Information System (DOIS) was completed in September 2002, six months earlier than scheduled. DOIS provides delivery supervisors with the information needed to effectively manage overtime and to reassign delivery routes in the case of absences.
• Managed Service Points (MSP) deployment was completed to all targeted sites. In MSP, carriers scan delivery points at selected locations on their routes to ensure that the Postal Service is providing consistent time of day delivery.
• The Surface Air Support System (SASS) has been enhanced to include scanning in ground handling operations at airports. This provides additional information on the status of the mail and the volume of mail being tendered to contract air carriers.
• The Postal Service developed and tested a Labor Scheduler that will provide processing facilities an automated tool for determining the number of bid positions needed. The Labor Scheduler uses information on volumes, operational productivity, and other operational requirements to determine the number of bid positions consistent with our labor agreements.