The US Postal Service is now testing a new notification service called 'Informed Delivery' that will allow Americans to see images of their unopened letter-sized mail via email before actually receiving it in person.
The USPS already photographs every letter and package that comes through its service, for the purposes of sorting and providing evidence as needed for criminal cases—such as ones that involve the intention of shipping of ricin-laced letters or anthrax to political leaders. In addition to serving official government purposes, people will be able to opt-in to the Informed Delivery alerts online and receive updates each morning with what to expect in their mailbox.
While the service is not available to businesses and people will not be able to look ahead for packaged boxes, the service is still a handy one for those who like to know what's en route.
Pre-Screening Mail Services
USPS' Informed Delivery Shows Americans What to Expect in the Mail
Trend Themes
1. Digital Mail Tracking - The Informed Delivery service by USPS allows Americans to view images of their unopened letter-sized mail before it arrives, opening up opportunities for digital mail tracking innovations.
2. Transparent Mail Delivery - Informed Delivery provides transparency in mail delivery by sending daily updates via email, creating opportunities for businesses to enhance customer communication and improve delivery services.
3. Personalized Mail Notifications - The opt-in feature of Informed Delivery offers personalized mail notifications, offering opportunities for targeted marketing and customized direct mail campaigns.
Industry Implications
1. Postal and Delivery Services - The Informed Delivery service by USPS presents disruptive innovation opportunities for postal and delivery services to enhance customer experience and improve mail tracking capabilities.
2. Marketing and Advertising - The personalized mail notifications feature of Informed Delivery opens up disruptive innovation opportunities for the marketing and advertising industry to create targeted campaigns and personalized direct mailings.
3. E-commerce and Retail - The digital mail tracking capability of Informed Delivery can be leveraged by the e-commerce and retail industry to improve order tracking, enhance customer satisfaction, and deliver a seamless shopping experience.