Outward Processing of Packets - New Procedure (Barcodes)

[Lockardian]

Not sure if this is a nationwide thing, but from next week all first class and second class packets/parcels we process on the outward sort have to have barcodes. Those packets without barcodes are to be segregated and have barcode labels printed and attached prior to sorting.

It will be interesting to see how this works and if dispatch times are still met. Can anyone hazard a guess at what percentage of packets come through without a barcode? Obviously all handwritten and stamped mail. I’m not sure if Horizon QR-type labels are classed as a barcode?

Is this procedure going live at all mail centres?

[tabact]

Can't see that working and still meeting dispatch times unless only done only on bulks. We used to scan all barcoded outward mail which included Horizon on primary sort a couple of years ago but it was abandoned when it got busy with covid.

[NW11851]

Not heard that one.

If true, whoever thought up that idea has no idea of the problems it would cause.

It’s totally impractical. By all means attempt to scan everything with an existing barcode - if there are even enough scanners - but for people to have to stop and print individual barcodes is a nonsense.

Besides, our primary sorters often misread postcodes. I wouidnt trust them to suddenly print the correct labels

[SpacePhoenix]

There's no way in hell that any MC will have the time for this, many packets don't have the stamps cancelled so most early and late shifts must be short on staff/hours as it is.

Can't see the point as inward MCs only scan Tracked and SDs anyway

[Lockardian]

Perhaps the idea is so more packets can go through PSMs at inward mail centres? Do the PSMs “scan” non-tracked items and hold the data somewhere?

[Steve_claret]

It's called IPROL - In Process Rejection and Over Labelling and its already gone live in certain MC's,

[Lockardian]

It's called IPROL - In Process Rejection and Over Labelling and its already gone live in certain MC's,

Thanks Steve. Can you tell us any more about it, eg. what the benefits are to RM/the customers?

[Steve_claret]

I don't know too much about it but presume it sits under Revenue as well as increasing automation percentage. I think it is mainly aimed at account holders as part of their T&Cs as their accounts will be charged by IPROL to print the barcode.

[Lockardian]

I see. A lot of the metered and PPI packets currently come through with only the franking mark, so I guess these will be relabelled and this is where the IPROL billing applies. Not sure about stamped packets and Horizon.