Freelance Technologies

2011-10-27T20:08:00.000-07:00

Bulk Mail Software Product Information Spotlight

Each week a new major mailing software solution is profiled with features compared to products in the bulk mailing and data quality software industry.

Mailing Software Information Spotlight:

Satori Software: Bulk Mailer
Simply Powerful Address Management Tools
Bulk Mailer address quality tools ensure that you are using the best data for mailing and qualify those mailings for the lowest postage rates. Increased address quality delivers more mail, ensures less returned mail, offers better return on investment and improves overall satisfaction with direct mail.

Bulk Mailer offers 3 products to match the size of any business:

Bulk Mailer Standard (up to 5000 records per mailing)

Bulk Mailer Professional (up to 1,000,000 records per mailing

Bulk Mailer Business (unlimited records per mailing)

Bulk Mailer products deliver best volume mailing preparation in a stand-alone application.

Benefits

CASS Certified™ for address correction

PAVE™ certified postal presorting

Real-time*NCOA Link® service

Lowest postage rates

Prepares USPS® compliant mailings faster and more easily

Provides USPS® documentation

Custom high-speed printer support

Optional advanced presorts and more

Features

CASS Certified™ for address correction

PAVE™ certified postal presorting

Real-time* Move Update service using NCOALink® processing

USPS® documentation

List cleansing

Job Builder

Custom address printer support

High-performance, multiuser architecture

Integrated Microsoft SQL Server database

Multiuser environment supports template sharing

Unlimited number of user-defined fields

Package mailings with reports for backup or transfer

Archive older mailings

Options and add-ons

Expand the capabilities of Bulk Mailer as your business grows

Systems Requirements
Recommended
OS: Windows 2000, XP or Vista
Processor: Pentium 2 GHZ or higher
Memory: 2 GB RAM or more
Optimal Performance
Processor: Pentium Dual Core 2.5 GHZ or better
Memory: 3 or 4 GB RAM
Hard Disk: 10 GB free space

View the Bulk Mail Software Comparison Chart

Call for more information: 888-970-9944 (Toll-free)

Bulk Mailer ensures the mailing operation to be more productive and offers the ability to prepare USPS® compliant mailings faster and more easily. Achieve increased mail deliverability and the lowest postage rates all while avoiding the aggravation of deciphering complex postal regulations. This next generation of the Bulk Mailer series sports a sophisticated new interface and the option to upgrade to a Microsoft® SQL Server database for faster performance with the largest address data files.

LIST MANAGEMENT:
Increase Quality, Increase Results

Bulk Mailer address quality tools ensure that you are using the best data for mailing and qualify those mailings for the lowest postage rates. Increased address quality delivers more mail, offers better return on investment and improves overall satisfaction with direct mail. Bimonthly updates, sent on DVDs and available for download, provide the latest USPS address management files.

CASS Certified for Address Correction
Standardize abbreviations and address formats to USPS guidelines, correct the spelling of streets and cities and verify deliverability, includes DPV®, LACSLink® and SuiteLink™ processing. Add missing postal data including nine-digit ZIP® codes, eLOT® and carrier route numbers, delivery points and more; then generate USPS Form 3553.

Real-Time Move Update Service
Use our built-in Move Update service to process lists against the full 48-month NCOALink® data set in real-time. There’s no manual import/export and no messy data merge. The only change-of-address method that updates address lists BEFORE the mail is printed and sent, NCOALink® processing meets USPS Move Update requirements for First-Class Mail® and Standard Mail® discounts.

List Cleansing
The included Duplication Search wizard offers multiple search options and field combinations for precise results. Upgrade to Merge/Purge to combine, compare and eliminate duplicates from disparate list types. Process lists against a suppression list to meet Do-Not-Mail requirements.

Import and Export Files

Work with a wide variety of address files without hassle.

Supported file formats include comma or tab delimited, Fixed Length, dBase, XML and Microsoft Access and Excel

Intelligent field mapping automatically suggests matches

Increase productivity, save settings for similar data files in templates

View and Edit Records

List Views present addresses in a spreadsheet for quick review. Spot anomalies and validate the results of group criteria. Update, split or combine fields in all active records. Cut, copy and paste groups of records — even to and from Microsoft Excel.

Detail Views offer organized access to data fields in an address-card format. Easily add, validate and update individual records.

Groups

Easily limit a mailing to a subset of your list. Define criteria and sort options for a more targeted mailing.

Any field or set of fields may be used to define a group

Conditions include custom, predefined and data sampling

Preset groups include All Corrected Records, All Move Update Records and more

MAILING PREPARATION
Full-featured, USPS PAVE Certified Presorting

Sort address lists for the lowest possible postal rates and generate all required USPS documentation, reports and postage statements. The Mail Sort wizard makes presorting easy for everyone from the novice to the seasoned expert.

Mail Sort Wizard Features

First-Class Mail, Standard Mail and Periodicals presorts

SCF, BMC, ADC and DDU entry point discounts. Management of multiple mailing permits

All required USPS documentation: Qualification Report, Postage Statement forms 3602, 3541 and 3600, and others

Advanced settings for minimum or maximum pieces per container, type of tray and maximum sack weight

Generates barcoded sack and tray tags

A convenient settings report

Append a presort ID and other mailing data for use in other environments

Presort add-ons include Package Services, Mixed Weights and Palletization

State-of-the-Art, Printing Control
Take full advantage of your address printer — Bulk Mailer provides built-in support for model specific features. Address printing features include barcoding, an optional endorsement line, compressed fields and an intelligent address block. It also includes support for fonts, images — for example, your logo — grids, package spacers and more.

Industry-Leading Layout Design

Precisely set label and envelope dimensions

Select Intelligent Mail® or POSTNET™ barcoding

Specify when to print each element
- Always
- On the first or last piece within a group or container
- According to a conditional statement

Draw lines, rectangles and circles

Custom Drivers for High-Speed Address Printers
Our custom drivers eliminate the need to manually program your printer. Printer specific controls include DPI, belt speed, page size and more. Print directly to popular models including Astrojet, Bryce, Hasler, Neopost, RENA, Secap and others, or output a print file when needed.

Advanced Features and Capabilities

Combine Tasks for Automated Processing
Available with Bulk Mailer Professional and Business, Job Builder allows you to increase productivity by combining a series of template-based tasks into a complete mailing job.

Be more productive with Job Builder.

Include any task defined by a template

Set a job to pause after the completion of any task

Edit job templates as needs change

High-Performance, Multiuser Architecture
Built for the highest-volume mailers, Bulk Mailer Business offers advanced capabilities that offer faster performance with large address files and support team-based processes.

Integrated Microsoft SQL-based database

Multiuser environment supports template sharing

Unlimited number of user-defined fields

Package mailings with reports for backup or transfer

Archive older mailing

Advanced Presorts, Data Sets and Utilities
Expand the capabilities of Bulk Mailer as your business grows. Add-ons enable Bulk Mailer to meet the most demanding mailing requirements.

Advanced Presorting - Package Services, Mixed Weights or Palletization

Data Enhancement - Move Update credits, Geocode, RDI™ Interface or Monthly Updates

Utilities - Merge/Purge, Mail.dat or Move Update server
Upcoming comparison software for Postal Soft Desk Top Edition and Postalsoft Business Edition and Bulk Mailer are BCC Mail Manager, Mailroom Toolkit, A-Qua Mailer and Smart Addresser 5.

Visit our website @freelancetech.com to learn more about Bulk Mail Software products.

Steps to Achieving High Data Quality - Data Entry

2011-10-17T22:06:00.000-07:00

Maintaining High Data Quality
Step 1 ... Data Quality Point of Entry

Maintaining high data quality is critical to business success. Yet unreliable, outdated, or inaccurate data costs U.S. businesses more than $600 billion annually. Data Quality Software is used to cleanse data, correct addresses, correct contact information, detect duplications, correctly field data, personalize data, merge and validate data saving both time and money.

Each week we will give you pointers on improving your data quality and offer suggestions for the software products which incorporporate these features.

Step 1:
Data Quality Point of Entry Solutions

Real-Time Data Quality Is Critical to ROI. Don’t lose leads from bad data entered on your website, or waste time and money sending mail to non-deliverable addresses. Real-time data solutions will improve the quality of your data at point of entry.

1-10-100 rule

Point of entry data management is ultimately important because of the “1-10-100 rule,” which illustrates the importance of being proactive. The rule states that it costs only $1 to verify a record, $10 to cleanse and de-dupe it after it has been entered, but $100 in potential lost productivity or revenue if nothing at all is done.

While identifying and correcting bad data is important, it is far more cost effective to manage data in real time, at the point of entry. User errors can be costly. Over 25 percent of data problems are because of entry errors by potential customers, and are a major factor in poor data quality. It costs U.S. businesses billions each year, according to The Data Warehousing Institute (TDWI).

The solutions offered by FTI can help you lower the costs of sales, marketing and customer service, by cleaning your database of inaccurate or incomplete contact data—at point of entry.

Another point of poor data quality is falsified or fraudulent information. Fraud involving identity theft is costing merchants big, an estimated $3.3 billion in 2009, according to Cybersource, a risk management solutions firm.

Up-to-date, correct and consistent data, starting at Point of entry, helps ensure timely deliveries of goods, fast ROI and great customer interactions!

Real time business solutions

Data cleansing downstream from the point of entry is costly and inefficient. It can increase service lead-times and add unnecessary complexity to your information chains. Here are just a few ways FTI can help your business improve data entry data quality:

Point of entry error correction and verification

Deploy reliable deliveries of goods that will produce satisfied customers and generate more profit from repeat business

Match, cleanse, revise and de-dupe data according to defined rules and by cross referencing address, bank, geo-data, telephone numbers and more in batch processing or in real-time

Build a stronger relationship with your customer base through high quality service on the basis of reliable customer information to make each interaction more efficient

Maintain reliable cash flow with a minimal risk of delays in payment or non-payment through precise order and customer data

Geo-coding allows you to offer location pinpointing USPS/CASS encoding to format verified addresses to USPS standard

Data Quality Software Solutions for Point of Entry:

Accumail Frameworks: Validates, corrects and standardizes addresses at point of entry and in batch mode

Mailroom Toolkit Architect: Validate addresses at point-of-entry on website. Clean and update addresses in any database

Mailroom Toolkit Capture: Speed data entry in a variety of applications, such as call centers, CRM systems, accounting packages and more with MailRoom ToolKit Capture. Save time and increase accuracy — enter full addresses with the fewest possible keystrokes

Data Quality Suite:
Address Object: - Ensure the integrity of your database, catch customer data-input errors, and standardize data for faster processing.
Email Object: - Verifies, corrects, and standardizes email addresses in batch or at point of entry. Three levels of verification: Syntax, Local Database, and MXlookup.

FTI is unique because we offer a choice of data quality software and can provide on-site or online training that matches the specific requirements of your business! We will match the price of any authorized dealer to give the BEST PRICE GUARANTEE, saving your business time and money. Benefit from our experience in mailing software to find the best solution for your business. We offer the best price, best service and best certified training.

Best Price - Best Service - Best Training

For additional information contact FTI at:

888-970-9944

e-mail at fti@freelancetech.com

Mailing and Print Business Fulfillment Software

2011-10-05T23:09:00.000-07:00

"...Fulfillment is the fastest growing segment of the printing industry."

We invite you to learn more about streamlining your Fulfillment Business with a web-based fulfillment management system. With Fulfillment software mailing and print businesses can significantly improve efficiency of fulfillment processes and automate workflow to increase both return and revenues.

Midnight Fulfillment™ is a fulfillment management system designed for businesses to quickly implement a robust web-based solution to meet fulfillment needs.

According to NAPL Printing Economic Research Center, Fulfillment Revenues have grown over the last three years for both mailers (58.1%) and printers (68.2%). Profitability is expected to increase over the next two years for mailers by 60% and for printers by 59.7%.

Midnight Fulfillment™ Key Features:

Web-based solution

Easy to build web storefronts for your clients

Transaction based warehouse management

Built-in order management workflow

Postage and freight tracking

Order entry via web storefronts, batch imports or manual entry

Integration with UPS Worldship™ and FedEx Shipping Manager™ applications

Kit assembly

Activity based billing system

Standard suite of management reports

Web services for integrating with third party shipments and storefronts

Hand-held bar code scanner with Wi-Fi connectivity

Smart phone Applications - Query Anything is an agile and easy-to-use application that transforms your Apple iPhone, Apple iPad, Android or BlackBerry into a flexible tool for querying your company’s database.

Midnight Fulfillment provides workflow tools and real-time insight to help you simplify management of your fulfillment operation. Designed by fulfillment industry professionals, Midnight Fulfillment provides your customers with powerful features that are easy for you to manage and afford.

With Midnight Fulfillment you can provide your customers with…

Secure online storefronts

Online reports

Email event notifications

Order status and package tracking

Accurate, real-time inventory counts

While you enjoy…

Out-of-the-box, industry standard workflow tools

Low-cost, hosted SAAS delivery model

Accurate, transaction-based inventory tracking

Easy to configure storefronts

Standard managerial reports

“After sitting through multiple demos from many different fulfillment software companies, we have finally found a fulfillment system that is very detailed and very easy to use!"
Midnight Fulfillment Customer

For more information call 888-970-9944 or visit our website @ http://freelancetech.com/Products_Virtual_Systems_Midnight_Fulfillment.html

Mailing and Data Quality Software for Colleges and Universities

2011-09-28T19:54:00.000-07:00

Students are one of the fastest growing demographics in the USA. Children of the baby boomers are now in college and even the baby boomers themselves are starting to return to college. The number of college students ages 40 to 64 has jumped by almost 20 percent to nearly 2 million in the past decade. Universities and educational institutions rely on mail-outs to reach these students for marketing, applications, billing and alumni support. College graduates are known to be the most transient demographic on record. The U.S. Postal Service estimates that over 43 million American individuals, families and businesses move each year.

Mailing is a large expense for universities and colleges. Incorrect or undeliverable addresses mean costs go up and responses go down. In fact, postage discounts can be reduced or cancelled by the postal facility if mass mailings include a large number of incorrect addresses.

Freelance Technologies (FTI) specializes in matching colleges and universities with the cost-effective data quality and mailing software from leading mailing and data quality vendors. FTI is unique because we offer a choice of mailing and data quality software and can help you to find the most appropriate software package to match the specific requirements of your institution. FTI offers mailing and data quality software from companies such as SAP, Melissa Data, BCC Software, Satori, Datatech Smartsoft, Loquate and Lorton Data. These software products range from small to enterprise level integrated solutions to web services designed for user friendly operation and optimum ROI. Benefit from our experience in mailing and data quality software to find the best software solution. We will match the price of any authorized dealer to give the BEST PRICE GUARANTEE, saving time and money.

Here are just a few ways Freelance Technologies (FTI) can help find the right data quality solution for managing small and large volumes of data and an expanding student population. The benefits of these software products for colleges and university systems are:

Point of data entry error correction and verification

More precise data for better analysis of student and alumni behavior

Stronger student and alumni relationships through high quality service using reliable data

More effective student and alumni interaction and optimized fulfillment processes

Deploy effective, cost-efficient marketing campaigns through goal-directed address selection and correct, complete data for mailing campaigns

Mailing and Data Quality solutions can help you lower the costs of sales, marketing and recruitment, by cleaning your database of inaccurate or incomplete contact data. Some features include:

Change-of-address updates (NCOA)

PAVE Presort to save on postage

Address Correction to add missing elements and correct spelling

Address Standardization to ensure conformance and deliverability

Data Validation to confirm that the address exists in the appropriate database as a delivery point

Data Fielding & Parsing allows a seamless transactions in CRM systems

Duplicate Detection (de-duping) makes duplicate records easier to find and consolidate

Address and data correction tools can help universities and colleges save on postage, materials and lost productivity by reducing returned mail and optimizing mailings for postal discounts. From tuition statements to alumni newsletters, it’s vital to stay on top of mailing lists and make sure send-outs arrive to the intended recipient. Here are just some of the solutions FTI offers:

Mailing Software

A-Qua Mailer™
A-Qua™ FTP
Bulk Mailer Standard
Bulk Mailer Professional
Bulk Mailer Business
MailRoom Toolkit Office
MailRoom Toolkit Architect
Mail Manager 2010
Mail Manager 2010 LE
Mail Manager Full Service
Mailers+4 Standard
Mailers+4 Professional
PostalSoft Business Edition
PostalSoft DeskTop Mailer
SmartAddresser 5
Smart Addressor 5 LT

Data Quality Software (Data parsing, fielding, genderizing, match consolidation, de-duplication, data extraction, resequencing, address correction and presorting)

Accumail Frameworks
Address Object
Data Qualtiy Suite
Geo-Coder Object
Global Locator
Loqate
Match Up
MailRoom Toolkit Architect
MailRoom Toolkit Office
MailRoom Toolkit Capture
Master Delivery Series
Name Object
Personator 4
Right Fielder
StyleList

Call today for a free consultation to find out more information about data quality software. Contact FTI at 888-970-9944 or via email at fti@freelancetech.com.

Global Data Quality Sept 2011

2011-09-21T23:57:00.000-07:00

Global Business demands higher level of efficiency with greater profit potential

Maintaining high quality data is critical to business success. Yet unreliable, outdated, or inaccurate data costs U.S. businesses more than $600 billion annually. With quality data, international organizations can know how many customers they have, detect duplicate customer data, correct addresses for most countries worldwide, correct contact information, correctly field data, personalize data, merge and validate data. All this saves both time and money. Maintaining accurate data quality also can accurately predict customers' interests and can prioritize marketing programs to more effectively cross sell or upsell products. Multinational businesses need to understand these metrics to determine the value and impact of current business process.

International business initiatives encounter a large variety of languages, names, address conventions and other culturally embedded business rules and habits. In systems unable to recognize international characters or international name and address forms, the inclusion of non-native data can cause unexpected results and undermine existing data integrity throughout the enterprise. An accurate address can mean the difference between profit earned from a successfully completed delivery or customer dissatisfaction and financial penalties accumulated due to misdirected mail and resultant postal costs.

Multi-national organizations face common obstacles as they work to consolidate disparate global data into meaningful information:

Trade across multiple countries and borders yields different customer data quality issues with different languages and character sets.

Decentralized business systems have a critical impact on reporting, daily operations, sales forecasting, and inventory.

Significant record duplication hinders the creation of trusted, global enterprise views.

International Data Quality Software packages include address correction that cleanses, standardizes, parses, matches, and governs multi-national information across countries, languages, and character sets. Having high-quality data as the foundation of all your enterprise efforts delivers the benefits and competitive advantage that today’s global companies seek.

Automatic processing of mixed country data (records) applies appropriate culture- and country-specific logic

Country-specific business rules, corporate standards and processes consistently applied to global data

Organizes and standardizes relationships among customers and vendors across regions

Global data quality solution that is scalable to meet the demands of current and future data quality needs

Global Data Quality Software provides appropriate categorization of cultural differences in international data, such as name order, multiple last names, street and currency designations and formats, and preferred syntax, data translation from one code page to another, even mixed data within the same record, and can match validated and cleansed addresses to corresponding latitude and longitude coordinates.

FTI specializes in matching businesses with the cost-effective global data quality solutions. International Data Quality solutions can help you lower the costs of sales, marketing and customer service by cleaning your database of inaccurate or incomplete contact data. Here are just a few ways FTI can help your business with International Data Quality Software features:

International address data intelligence

Access to global address data

De-duplication

Merge-purge

Geocoding

Worldwide address management

Address Correction to add missing elements and correct spelling

Address Standardization to ensure conformance and deliverability

Global Data Validation to confirm that the address exists in the appropriate database as a delivery point

Data Fielding & Parsing allows a seamless transactions

Organizations that engage in business across international borders require an effective global data quality solution that ensures data is accurate and correct, no matter what language it’s in. FTI provides software solutions that parse, standardize and correct data for 240 countries using country-specific rules applied across language and character sets. We offer many international data quality options that can be tailored to meet your business needs:

Loqate

Global Locator

Master Delivery Series

Data Quality Suites

Call today for a free consultation to find out more information about international data quality software. Contact FTI at 888-970-9944 via email at fti@freelancetech.com.

2010-12-29T06:36:00.001-08:00

Transform your business documents into advertising vehicles! Find out how to increase ROI 10 to 15 times http://ping.fm/wXroi

Variable Data Printing Increases ROI

2010-11-26T07:29:00.000-08:00

Variable Data Printing transforms your business!

Variable-data printing (VDP) (also known as variable-information printing (VIP) or VI) is a form of on-demand printing in which elements such as text, graphics and images may be changed from one printed piece to the next, without stopping or slowing down the printing process and using information from a database or mailing list.

Today's media-rich environment supports a wide array of communication channels, including print, e-mail, websites, radio, video, and wireless devices. While this mix offers great versatility, it also increases the volume of messages vying for consumers' attention. The returns for variable printing vary from double the normal return at the basic level to 10-15 times the return for fully variable jobs. This depends on the relevancy of that content, but the technique presents an effective tool for increasing ROI on marketing campaigns.

Increase response rates
Stand out from competition
Deliver high quality, personalized graphically rich advertising
Target specific recipients in their preferred method of communications

Variable data printing enables the mass customization of documents via digital print technology, as opposed to the 'mass-production' of a single document using offset lithography. Instead of producing 10,000 copies of a single document, delivering a single message to 10,000 customers, variable data printing could print 10,000 unique documents with customized messages for each customer.

Transform your business documents into advertising vehicles!

Users in a wide range of industries and markets have adopted variable data printing. Its appeal is not limited to personalized direct mail, but can add value to almost any business document, transactional or promotional or a combination of both. Freelance Technologies (FTI) offers work-flow management tools for creation and printing of transactional and promotional variable content documents as well as advanced automated distribution. Use variable data to enhance bills, invoices, coupons, labels, postcards, fliers and much more. In each application, intelligent documents increase the usability of existing business information, and work-flow automation makes the production process efficient, accurate and affordable.

PrintShop Mail is an efficient and user friendly stand alone professional software tool which makes personalized printing quick and easy.
The PlanetPress Suite provides a suite of software modules to enable easy creation, printing and distribution of documents and automated work-flow features.
PrintShop Web provides publication and print automation software utilized to effectively manage promotional printing flows while streamlining customer interaction, combining the benefits of Variable Information (VI) with On-Demand Printing.
New Leaf offers design and placement customization to personalize mailings.

VDP is a direct outgrowth of digital printing, which harnesses computer databases and digital print devices and highly effective software to create high-quality, full color documents, with a look and feel comparable to conventional offset printing. FTI specializes in matching businesses with the cost-effective data quality solutions, and has multi-platform software BCC Software, Objectif Lune and JetLetter. Variable Data Software allows you to optimize the billing process, saving you time and earning money.

We offer a variety of documentation software services that each provide unique, specific capabilities for your business development. Learn more about the variable data marketplace and give us a call to find a solution tailored to your needs.

Call today for a free consultation to find out more information about data quality software. Contact FTI at 888-970-9944 or via email at fti@freelancetech.com.

Retail Data Quality Software Solutions

2010-11-19T05:19:00.000-08:00

Retailers are challenged with fast-paced markets and constantly changing business environments; Data Quality Helps Keep Revenues On Track

Increasingly, retailers are realizing that timely access to accurate operational information is crucial for gaining market share and improving bottom line performance. Whether it be for new market introductions, mergers and acquisitions or to target consumers in specific and more strategic ways, the need for a consistent data foundation has never been greater. Those who are able to consistently maintain quality information about their products, business processes and markets are assured an edge over competition.

Regardless of the size of the retail operation, improving data quality helps streamline business processes. Up-to-date, accurate and consistent data helps ensure timely deliveries of goods and better customer interactions. Catch errors at point of entry, before they enter your database. Data cleansing downstream from the point of entry is costly and inefficient. It can increase service lead-times and add unnecessary complexity to your information chains. Integrating data quality tools at the point of entry can eliminate these problems.

Strengthening your relationships with existing customers and acquiring new customers cost-efficiently is most pivotal aspect of increasing ROI and maintaining existing revenues. It can cost five to six times as much to attract new customers than to keep current clients satisfied. Poor data quality affects customer satisfaction, reputation and even strategic decisions. Time and cost savings alone are a significant benefit to be gained from appropriate data quality software tools.

Freelance Technologies (FTI) specializes in matching businesses with the cost-effective data quality solutions from SAP, BCC Software, Lorton Data, Melissa Data, Satori and Datatech Smartsoft. These range from enterprise level integrated solutions to web services designed for small businesses and optimum ROI.

Data Quality software can help you lower the costs of sales, marketing and customer service, by cleaning your database of inaccurate or incomplete contact data. Here are just a few ways these software tools can improve business:

Point of Entry Address Correction and Verification to add missing elements, correct spelling, etc.
Address Standardization to ensure conformance and deliverability
Change-of-Address updates on a timely basis
Presort features available to save on postage
Data Fielding & Parsing allows a seamless transactions in CRM systems
Intelligent or Fuzzy Duplicate Detection (de-duping) makes duplicate records easier to find and consolidate

It is still common to see retailers' data created and maintained in various applications which are not integrated. Worse yet is the typical scenario where data has been duplicated in spreadsheets in order to address specific analysis requirements. Data that lacks integrity, timeliness, consistency and accuracy may result in decisions that are based on bad information and many times too late to have desired results. FTI provides many data quality options that can be tailored to meet your business needs:

Address Correction

Accumail Frameworks / Verify
Data Quality Suite
MailRoom ToolKit Capture

Address Duplicate Detection Software (De-Duping):

Match Up
matchIT

Data Fielding and ParsingSoftware (Database Tools):

Name Object
Personator
Right Fielder
StyleList

Integrated Solutions:

Data Quality Management SDK
AccuMail Frameworks / Verify
Data Quality Suite
MailRoom ToolKit Architect

Don’t lose leads or customers from bad data in your CRM, or waste time and money sending mail or products to non-deliverable addresses. Call today for a free consultation to find out more information about data quality software. Contact FTI at 888-970-9944 or via email at fti@freelancetech.com.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Data Quality ROI

2010-11-12T08:57:00.000-08:00

Data Quality Software & CRM Systems: Exponential ROI and Optimized Business Performance

Your Customer Relationship Management (CRM) database is critical to business success. Strengthening your relationships with existing customers and acquiring new customers cost-effectively is most pivotal aspect of increasing return on investment (ROI) and maintaining existing revenues. It can cost 5 to 6 times as much to attract new customers than to keep current clients satisfied. Data quality is crucial to the performance of your CRM system. It is far less expensive than losing good customers due to poor data quality.

Beyond the basic ROI, poor data quality can also affect customer satisfaction, reputation or even strategic decisions. Even with well-paid and trained personnel, input errors are a frequent occurrence. These errors have a significant impact on expediting transactions and generating dependable cash flow.

Freelance Technologies (FTI) specializes in matching businesses with the cost-effective data quality solutions, and has multi-platform software from SAP, Melissa Data, BCC Software, Satori, Datatech Smartsoft, Trillium and Lorton Data. These range from enterprise level integrated solutions to web services designed for small businesses and optimum ROI. Here are just a few ways these data quality solutions enhance CRM systems:

Point of entry error correction and verification
Stronger customer relationships through high quality service using reliable data

More effective customer interaction and optimized fulfillment processes
Maintain reliable cash flow with a minimal risk of delays in payment using validated customer information
Make informed business decisions through up-to-date and precise reporting
More precise data for better analysis of consumer behavior and resulting increase of upselling and cross-selling potential.

Deploy effective, cost-efficient marketing campaigns through goal-directed address selection and correct, complete data for mailing campaigns
Transfer data from existing data sources and with ongoing monitoring of new entries and changes

Improving data quality helps streamline your CRM process whether it is a call center, retail shop or online interface. Up-to-date, correct and consistent data helps ensure timely deliveries of goods and great customer interactions. Catch errors at point of entry, before they enter your database. Data cleansing downstream from the point of entry is costly and inefficient. It can increase service lead-times and add unnecessary complexity to your information chains.

Data Quality solutions can help you lower the costs of sales, marketing and customer service, by cleaning your database of inaccurate or incomplete contact data. Some features include:

Change-of-address updates ensure timely and efficient delivery through USPS/CASS
Presort and Barcode features available to save on postage
Address Correction to add missing elements and correct spelling
Address Standardization to ensure conformance and deliverability
Global Data Validation to confirm that the address exists in the appropriate database as a delivery point
Data Fielding & Parsing allows a seamless transactions in CRM systems
Intelligent or Fuzzy Duplicate Detection (de-duping) makes duplicate records easier to find and consolidate

FTI has data quality solutions for CRM systems from small business through the enterprise level and a thorough understanding of the data quality market to ensure the most cost-effective solution for your business requirements. Here are just some of the solutions FTI offers:

Address Correction:

Accumail Frameworks / Verify
Data Quality Suite
MailRoom ToolKit Capture

Address Duplicate Detection Software (De-Duping):

Match Up
matchIT

Data Fielding and ParsingSoftware (Database Tools):

Name Object
Personator
Right Fielder
StyleList

Integrated Solutions:

Data Quality Management SDK
AccuMail Frameworks / Verify

Data Quality Suite
MailRoom ToolKit Architect

2010-11-10T13:20:00.001-08:00

E-Commerce Success Starts with Point of Entry Data Quality, find out how you can maximize your ROI at FTI ... http://ping.fm/YUJuf

E-Commerce Data Quality

2010-11-05T08:02:00.000-07:00

E-Commerce Success Starts with Point of Entry Data Quality

Online businesses and e-commerce enterprises have one major difference from other business applications because they rely on end users to correctly submit information. Data input is carried out directly by the prospective customer and not by trained personnel. Input errors, whether deliberate or inadvertent, are a frequent occurrence. These errors have a significant impact on expediting transactions and generating dependable cash flow.

Another significant impact is falsified or fraudulent information. E-Commerce fraud involving identity theft is costing merchants big, an estimated $3.3 billion in 2009, according to Cybersource, a risk management solutions firm. Integrated data quality solutions help turn e-commerce data management from a liability into a selling point with validated, complete and duplicate-free data.

Freelance Technologies (FTI) specializes in matching businesses with the cost-effective data quality solutions, and has multi-platform software from SAP, Melissa Data, BCC Software, Satori, Datatech Smartsoft, Trillium and Lorton Data. These range from enterprise level integrated solutions to web services designed for small businesses and optimum ROI. Here are just a few ways these data quality solutions help e-business:

Point of entry address data correction and verification

Deploy fast, reliable deliveries of goods that will produce satisfied customers and generate more profit from repeat business

Match, cleanse, revise and de-dupe data according to defined rules and by cross referencing address, bank, geo-data, telephone numbers and more in batch processing or in real-time

Build a stronger relationship with your customer base through high quality service on the basis of reliable customer information to make each interaction more efficient

Maintain reliable cash flow with a minimal risk of delays in payment or non-payment through precise order and customer data
Geo-coding allows you to offer location pinpointing

USPS CASS encoding to format verified addresses to USPS standard

Improving data quality helps you to operate your e-commerce applications and online shop successfully. Up-to-date, correct and consistent data, starting at Point of Entry, helps ensure timely deliveries of goods, fast ROI and great customer interactions! Catch errors before they enter your database.

More than 25 percent of data problems are caused by entry error problems by potential customers, a major factor in poor data quality, costing U.S. businesses more than $600 billion each year according to The Data Warehousing Institute (TDWI). Data Quality solutions can help you lower the costs of sales, marketing and customer service, by cleaning your database of inaccurate or incomplete contact data. Some features include:

Change-of-address updates ensure timely and efficient delivery

Presort and Barcode features save on postage

Address Correction to add missing elements and correct spelling

Address Standardization to ensure conformance and deliverability

Global Data Validation to confirm that the address exists in the appropriate database as a delivery point

Data Fielding & Parsing allows correct processing

Intelligent or Fuzzy Duplicate Detection (de-duping) makes duplicate records easier to find and consolidate

Web Based Applications/Integrated Solutions make data cleansing user friendly

The solutions offered by FTI can help you lower the costs of sales, marketing and customer service by cleaning your database of inaccurate or incomplete contact data, from point of entry all the way through measuring customer satisfaction. We offer the following software options:

Real-Time Address Correction:

Accumail Frameworks / Verify

Data Quality Suite

MailRoom ToolKit Capture

Address Duplicate Detection Software (De-Duping):

Match Up

Match IT

Data Fielding and Parsing Software (Database Tools):

Name Object

Personator

Right Fielder

StyleList

Integrated Solutions:

Data Quality Management SDK

AccuMail Frameworks / Verify

Data Quality Suite

MailRoom ToolKit Architect

FTI has ecommerce, small business and enterprise level software and a thorough understanding of the data quality market to ensure the correct choice of the most cost-effective solution for your specific requirements. For more information about data quality software, contact FTI at 888-970-9944 or via email at fti@freelancetech.com

Data Quality Point of Entry Solutions

2010-10-27T08:53:00.000-07:00

Real-Time Data Quality Is Critical to ROI

Don’t lose leads from bad data entered on your website, or waste time and money sending mail to non-deliverable addresses. Freelance Technologies (FTI) has real-time data solutions that will improve the quality of your data at point of entry. Think in ecological terms, of stopping contaminated water at its source, and how this is less costly and more effective than letting a polluted river contaminate the lake or ocean we depend on for survival.

1-10-100 rule

Point of entry data management is ultimately important because of the “1-10-100 rule,” which illustrates the importance of being proactive. The rule states that it costs only $1 to verify a record, $10 to cleanse and de-dupe it after it has been entered, but $100 in potential lost productivity or revenue if nothing at all is done. While identifying and correcting bad data is important, it is far more cost effective to manage data in real time, at the point of entry.

User errors can be costly

Over 25 percent of data problems are because of entry errors by potential customers, a major factor in poor data quality, costing U.S. businesses billions each year, according to The Data Warehousing Institute (TDWI). The solutions offered by FTI can help you lower the costs of sales, marketing and customer service, by cleaning your database of inaccurate or incomplete contact data—at point of entry.

Another point of frustration is falsified or fraudulent information. Fraud involving identity theft is costing merchants big, an estimated $3.3 billion in 2009, according to Cybersource, a risk management solutions firm. The data quality solutions offered by FTI can help you to turn data management from a liability into a selling point with correct, complete and duplicate-free data.

Improving data quality helps you to operate your online applications successfully. Up-to-date, correct and consistent data, starting at Point of entry, helps ensure timely deliveries of goods, fast ROI and great customer interactions! Catch errors at point of entry, before they enter your database.

Real time business solutions

Data cleansing downstream from the point of entry is costly and inefficient. It can increase service lead-times and add unnecessary complexity to your information chains. Here are just a few ways FTI can help your business improve data entry data quality:

Point of entry error correction and verification
Deploy fast, reliable deliveries of goods that will produce satisfied customers and generate more profit from repeat business
Shorter, more efficient forms encourage a higher volume of response
Match, cleanse, revise and de-dupe data according to defined rules and by cross referencing address, bank, geo-data, telephone numbers and more in batch processing or in real-time
Build a stronger relationship with your customer base through high quality service on the basis of reliable customer information to make each interaction more efficient
Maintain reliable cash flow with a minimal risk of delays in payment or non-payment through precise order and customer data
Geo-coding allows you to offer location pinpointing
USPS/CASS encoding to format verified addresses to USPS standard

FTI has ecommerce, small business and enterprise level solutions based on a thorough understanding of the data quality market to give you the necessary information to make a good business decision that will ensure effective implementation of your specific requirements. For more information about data quality software, contact FTI at 888-970-9944 or via email at fti@freelancetech.com

2010-10-13T09:19:00.001-07:00

Simplify your data processing business operation!

Simple Low Cost Data Quality Improvement

2010-10-11T10:54:00.000-07:00

Online data acquisition and applicable integrated tools

Freelance Technologies has data quality solutions that will ensure effective implementation of your specific requirements to give you the necessary information to make a good business decision. Here are some simple, low cost ways to improve data entry data quality:

Take a minimalist approach

Keep it simple, do you really need all that data? Make sure you are not asking users to put so many entries they will get tired of filling out your form. Think about it from their point of view.

Paring down your data entry forms to the bare essentials and you will create far more contented workers and customers who will actually make it to the “send” button!

Design helpful forms

You have, no doubt, seen the particularly helpful phrase: "Error in form, please correct.” How do you respond? It may depend on the incentive to complete the form. With business forms, if we feel helpless, then we walk away.

If a form fails to validate your information then it should be designed in such a way that it guides you through the correction process. Also, adding basic support and assistance will increase the odds they will use it. How many web forms do you see that don't provide a feedback or help option easily visible next to a data entry form?

Do you have a visible call support number, email or Wiki page where your data entry workers can get help or advice? These are just two simple ways to improve the user experience and quality of inbound data to your business.

Avoid mistakes at point of entry

Incorrect or undeliverable addresses mean costs go up, sales go down. Typing errors prevent merchandise from reaching the customer and cause additional research costs. Postage discounts can be reduced or cancelled by the USPS if mass mailings include a large number of incorrect addresses.

Data entry errors caused by unclear or unavailable input make it more difficult or assign data incorrectly especially for international applications with different address structures. These have to be manually corrected with a high investment of time and operating costs.

Deliberate incorrect entries (joke addresses) start dispatch processes which cost money and have to be reversed with great effort.

Duplicates cause unnecessary additional costs where customer satisfaction and customer retention are also affected. Up selling and cross-selling potentials cannot be used cost-effectively.

Prevention is better than cure!

Data cleansing downstream from the point of entry is costly, repetitive, time-consuming and error-prone. It can increase service lead-times and add unnecessary complexity to your information chains.

Maintaining high data quality is critical to business success. Yet unreliable, outdated, or just plain inaccurate data costs U.S. businesses more than 600 billion dollars annually. FTI specializes in data quality software that can turn business data management from a liability into an asset with standardized, validated and duplicate-free data. For more information about data quality software, contact FTI at 888-970-9944 or via email at fti@freelancetech.com

2010-09-27T08:03:00.001-07:00

Profitability can be improved if high quality data is presented concisely and in useful ways to mobile and remote access users. http://ping.fm/eBFSX

ROE Productivity Directly Correlated to Data Quality

2010-09-27T07:36:00.000-07:00

According to a recent study, the financial metrics that predict a firm's competitiveness, overall health and profitability can be improved if high quality data is presented concisely and in useful ways to mobile and remote access users.

A study at The University of Texas at Austin in explored the correlation between Return On Equity (ROE) investments in IT and the financial performance of the business, the productivity of employees, and the ability to more accurately plan and forecastreports Julie Langenkamp for Information Management Magazine, Sept/Oct 2010.

The research done in conjunction with the Indian School of Business and sponsored by Sybase found that the cost of increasing effective data is relatively minor compared to the resulting returns. The study of more than 150 Fortune 1000 firms examined issues associated with the quality, accessibility and relevance of data, and how these factors affect the performance of the business.

Results suggest that even marginal investments in IT can have dramatic impact when that technology addresses data quality, usability and intelligence, whether it be using mobility or remote access solutions, analytics or BI solutions, or a combination of technologies.

For more information on how data quality can optimize your business performance, talk to your knowlegable Freelance Technologies Representative today!

We have multiple solutions for a variety of industries and business models. Let us know your business needs and we will provide you with several solutions at the best price available on the market. Read more.

2010-09-14T07:02:00.001-07:00

Northern Virginia Postal Customer Council for National PCC Day http://ping.fm/RHxA6

FTI at National PCC Day

2010-09-14T06:25:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, September 15, 2010
7:30 AM - 3:30 PM

National PCC Day
Center for Innovative Technology
2214 Rock Hill Rd
Herndon VA 20170

FTI reps will be available to discuss the latest offers and developments in mailing software and data quality tools.

Take the FTI Mailers Challenge - WIN GOLD DOLLARS!

Grand Prize Drawing: Virginia Wine Basket!

Contact FTI to see which choice is the right solution for your business requirements.

Toll-Free: 888.970.9944
fti@freelancetech.com

Data Quality ROI

2010-09-07T07:25:00.000-07:00

What’s Your Company's Bottom Line on Data Quality?

Poor data quality is a significant problem for many organizations as it can lead to inferior customer service, reduced employee productivity, lost sales opportunities and increased marketing costs.

• What tangible or bottom-line benefits will be realized as a result of data quality management efforts?
• What will data quality management cost?
• What’s the organizational impact of a data quality management project?
• What’s the downside of not pursuing data quality management?
• When is the best time to engage in new data quality initiatives?
• Is data quality management a stand-alone initiative, or should it be pursued in conjunction with other projects, such as customer relationship management?

Ten Good Incentives for Data Quality:

Among the key benefits are improved customer service and relationships, more efficient operations, lower costs and more revenue-generating opportunities. All of these benefits contribute to return on investment.

1. Back-office improvements. Data quality management can lead to benefits such as unified billing, accurate revenue accounting, accurate contract billings, unified credit management and reduced mailing costs.

2. Reduced costs of direct mail/marketing. Companies can decrease the costs associated with direct mail and marketing efforts by having more accurate data.

3. Reduced operating costs. Improved customer data and the consolidation of that data into a single source can lead to significant savings in operations costs for companies.

4. Faster and more accurate billing. Operating a central resource to manage data quality rules, taxonomy, and process enables organizations to keep customer information accurate, consistent and up-to-date, helping to ensure that invoices and other mailings get to customers in a timely manner. And, collections can be expedited with more accuracy in customer information.

5. More effective cross-selling and up-selling. With more accurate and reliable data on customer preferences, interests, and demographics, enterprises can more effectively cross-sell and up-sell their products and services to customers.

6. Better relationships with customers. Organizations with more accurate and reliable information about customers will have better relationships with those customers.

7. Improved customer service. Having accurate and timely information on customer preferences and concerns is vital to providing top-notch service.

8. Front-office improvements. Organizations can unify the corporate Web site with back-office systems, ensuring consistent data from all sources.

9. Improved regulatory/compliance efforts. With greater assurances that customer data is current and correct, companies are more likely to be compliant with government regulations.

10. Bolster privacy efforts. An effective data-quality and customer data management effort can help protect the privacy and security of sensitive customer data.

[source: http://www.oracle.com/master-data-management/roi-from-data-quality-white-paper.pdf]

FTI Expert Data Quality Assessment Strategy

Having high quality information about customers, and their needs, enables enterprises to respond proactively and deliver the products and services customers want. Keeping this data timely, accurate and easy to access throughout the enterprise is a key to improving business success.

Achieving data quality management should be an active strategy for IT executives, CFO's and a high priority goal of organizations looking to optimize heir business operations. When looking for the best investment to fit your organizational needs and also your budget, talk to FTI for honest answers and feedback on the current industry standards and options.

Freelance Technologies, Inc
888-970-9944 (Toll-free)
fti@freelancetech.com

2010-09-02T19:39:00.001-07:00

Data Quality can be simple and cost effective... http://ping.fm/TS2MV

Data Quality Solutions for Mailers

2010-09-02T19:34:00.000-07:00

In the esoteric world of data quality, mailers may ask "Why are we discussing Hash Algorithms, and how does this really affect my bottom line?" Beyond the abstract algorithms, the answer can be simple and cost effective... Read More

Data Tools for streamlining business operations provide not only real ROI in terms of productivity and efficiency, but improve your competitive edge in the market. The ability to work effectively with complex data files, or mixed domestic & international data, can provide immediate returns.

Parsing & Fielding
Standardization
Genderization
De-Duplication
Address Correction

The ability to work effectively with complex data files, or mixed domestic & international data, can provide immediate returns. Stand-alone or integrated software tools from BCC, Datatech Smartsoft, Melissa Data, Satori and SAP are the answer.

For current information and the latest promotional offers, contact FTI to see which choice is the right solution for your business requirements.

For more information, contact us toll-free at 888-970-9944.

Mail.Dat for IMB

2010-08-13T07:41:00.000-07:00

The question is whether you have to have Mail.dat in the Basic Category for IMB?

I don't know why end users think you have to have Mail.dat in order to use the IMB. There are two levels, Full Service IMB and Basic IMB. Basic isn't going away at all and will apply to most mailers. Full Service will continue to grow but isn't meant for all mailers. With lower volumes, Full Service is overkill.

May 2011 is the big date for IMB - so what people who have DTM and BCCLE need to know?

Those individuals that are not choosing to be Full Service should know that all "Lite Edition" product users have the Basic IMB available to them and can mail using that IMB. Somehow, somewhere, someone is scaring low volume mailers into thinking they CAN'T mail unless they are going with IMB FS, this is NOT accurate or true. The best place to find additional information related to the Basic IMB would be at ribbs.usps.gov.

IMB- New Mail Barcode for Intelligent Use

2010-08-05T10:06:00.000-07:00

Intelligent Mail barcode is the result of the Postal Service’s efforts to develop more robust codes capable of encoding more information, while minimizing the space used on the mailpiece. The Intelligent Mail barcode (IMB) offers:

Continue earning lowest postal rates
Better customer intelligence
Free Address Change Service
Visibility into the mailstream
More effective returned mail processing
Better scan rates and improved deliverability
Better looking mail pieces (fewer barcodes)
Delivery ConfirmationTM
Access to new services

What are the real concerns facing Mailers?

Price. In todays market, the biggest concern is how much this will cost or save. The savings can add up if you mail in quantity. Early compliance for the Intelligent Mail barcode discount offers:

$.01 per 1000 pieces of mail Standard
$.03 per 1000 pieces of mail First class

For smaller mailers, there are other incentives. Indirect savings through a more efficient mailing system also save everyone money and peace of mind. As you consider how to implement Intelligent Mail in your company, you should recognize that every approach offers unique solutions:

Saving space on the envelope means less product waste
Less undeliverable mail means higher ROI
A forward thinking green approach will give you marketing advantage

Why should mailers care about the IMB?

Two reasons: First, mailers must be using the Intelligent Mail barcode on their mail as of May 2011 in order to qualify for automation prices. Planet Code bar codes will no longer be in effect after the May 2011 deadline.

The second reason is the extra data and tracking capabilities available through IMB. Even basic IMB can track mail and predict delivery dates. Those using Full-Service IMB will receive mail feedback about address quality and get automated address correction information.

Find out More IMB Specifics with the Q&A IMB

Call Us Today for more Information about how IMB can help!

888.970.9944
fti@freelancetech.com

USPS Headed Toward Global Growth in Business

2010-07-27T09:55:00.000-07:00

The Postal Service recently expanded its partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce to help support the government’s newly established National Export Initiative (NEI). The initiative, unveiled by President Obama, calls for a doubling of exports over the next five years.

You also can save money by using a postal-qualified wholesaler to ship your materials overseas. A wholesaler combines mailings from other companies to get volume discounts and passes the savings on to its customers. In turn you can pass the savings on to your customers to help secure additional business.

International development will be achieved by providing foreign-market expertise to businesses interested in expanding their exports. The USPS Global Business team will work with the Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration and U.S. Commercial Service to provide free resources and tools to interested businesses. The first phase of this initiative will target businesses currently shipping to one foreign market through USPS.

Not only can you reap the benefits of overseas growth to expand your business interests, you can also add global clients to your database for your mail marketing.

Learn about global mailing opportunities!

CALL OR EMAIL US FOR MORE INFORMATION:

888-970-9944 (Toll-free)

Find us oonline at freelancetech.com

Bulk Mail, to Save or not to Save...

2010-07-26T09:27:00.000-07:00

Even if your mailing has the required number of mailpieces to qualify for a discount price, you still have to perform some of the work the Postal Service would normally do to receive the discount.

When deciding whether to undertake a commercial mailing, you should consider:

Your technology and equipment, such as computers and software, will influence the discount services you can use and the time it will take you to complete the work.
Your budget, the amount of money you spend on a mailing is more than just the cost of postage.
You should also consider the cost of designing and printing your mailpieces and obtaining a mailing list.

If you can’t dedicate the technology or time to a commercial mailing, consider using a mail service provider or retail mailing services, which lets you quickly prepare and send your mailing. As your business grows, your resources may allow you to take advantage of additional discounts.

For more information on the latest trends and cost savings in the Commercial bulk mailing industry, visit our online library of information.

Many of your business expenses can be minimized with better data control and management.

Give us a Call at 888-970-9944 (Toll Free)

2010-07-26T09:24:00.001-07:00

Automation and redundancy elimination allows you to spend your time on your business. Data Quality http://ping.fm/QhoVM

International Data Management

2010-07-22T09:32:00.000-07:00

Data Quality meets the International Marketplace

Worldwide data services include address correction data from Argentina to Zimbabwe, Middle-Eastern mailing with characters from Arabic to Azbuka in the Russian Federation, Central Europe, India, all of Western Europe and more...

What's in your Database?

The quality of your data can directly affect your ROI, weather you are dealing with rural Minnesota or South-East Asia, making sure your customer information is accurate is very important.

Are you looking for:

International address data intelligence
Access to global address data
De-duplication, merge-purge and geocoding
Worldwide address management

Freelance Technologies Inc. offers international data quality with online web applications for address correction software and global information processing.

For more, see the latest information on international data quality software.

2010-07-16T07:46:00.001-07:00

Latest trends in online mailing service: http://ping.fm/nU2AT

New Trend in Web Based Mailing Service

2010-07-16T07:15:00.000-07:00

The latest demand for online web based mailing service has finally been met. Lorton Data introduces A-Qua Mailer™

A-Qua is the first mailing pre-sort software offered as a web service. Like the Microsoft online based web service, Amazon and Google app engines- different web services offer packages that add value, providing information, ease of use and access that give it a few strong selling points:

High ROI
Cost effective

FTI is right choice in mailing software knowledge to help you find out if Web Based Mailing Services are the perfect solution for your business requirements!

New Lorton Technology Offers Online Mailing

2010-07-13T08:06:00.000-07:00

Lorton Data Announces Major Release of A-Qua Mailer™

A powerful and flexible web service platform that provides easy access to mailing applications with state-of-the-art security.

Easy access. Web Service Mailing solutions.
A-Qua is software independent, enabling you to securely connect to us through:

A web browser
File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
SDK for developers

A-Qua is a powerful and flexible mailing web service that provides easy access to Lorton Data Mailing services and expertise. A-Qua consists of a suite of products that directly connects to Lorton Data’s sophisticated back-end technology. It is the first mailing pre-sort software offered as a web service!

2010-07-07T09:38:00.001-07:00

30 percent credit on postage paid by Standard Mail customers mailing an increased volume of letters and flats http://ping.fm/OabWS

USPS Summer Sale!

2010-07-07T09:28:00.000-07:00

FTI is keeping you informed about the prices and mailing standards of the United States Postal Service Summer Sale Returns The Federal Register final rule on the upcoming 2010 Standard Mail(r) Incentive Program (aka 2010 Summer Sale) was posted today on Postal Explorer(r) at pe.usps.com.

The Sale will provide a 30 percent credit on postage paid by Standard Mail customers mailing an increased volume of letters and flats above a predetermined threshold. The program period will run from July 1 through September 30, 2010.

Invitation letters will automatically be sent to eligible customers by May 1, 2010. Mailers who want to participate in the program and believe that they meet the minimum eligibility criteria, of mailing 350,000 Standard Mail letters or flats within the program qualification period, may request a review of their eligibility by contacting summersale@usps.gov no later than May 15, 2010.

The 2010 Standard Mail Incentive Program was reviewed and approved by the Postal Regulatory Commission on April 7, 2010.

The Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) is available on Postal Explorer (pe.usps.com ). To subscribe to the DMM Advisory, send an e-mail to dmmadvisory@usps.com.

CALL OR EMAIL US FOR MORE INFORMATION:
888-970-9944 (Toll-free)
fti@freelancetech.com

What was 1963 Like? USPS Zip Code...

2010-07-01T08:34:00.001-07:00

The Year the US Post Master introduced the Zip Code!

What was 1963 like?

The Beatles had short hair !http://johnochwat.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/beatles_1963.jpg

Founded in Liverpool during the late '50s by guitarists John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison, with drummer Pete Best and Stu Sutcliffe on bass, the Beatles were just getting started...

Elvis Presley was canned !
http://cs.nga.gov.au/Detail.cfm?IRN=45234

1963, Elvis Presley, the man who caused stage-rushing among teenage girls, fistfights amongst boys, and riots among both, was a family-friendly icon of the first order. Worse than that, he was a marketable brand name, as evidenced by Andy Warhol's "pop art" renderings of Elvis that year.

Kennedy, Marilyn and civil rights riots! The world was changing rapidly and the USPS established Zip Codes. 1963, what a year!

Data Quality Enhances Business Revenues

2010-06-30T10:04:00.000-07:00

Make every record count. Discover a wealth of data quality tools that verify addresses and phone numbers, eliminate duplicates and enhance contact data at point-of-entry, in batch, or via the web.

The quality of your contact database has a significant impact on the way you communicate:

Database Marketing involves customer data integration, where customer data quality matters!
Data Enhancement Services offer cleansing hygiene maintenance and unified customer solutions.
Government approved barcode scanners, readers and general barcode solutions help tracking software and mobile management profiling. Data quality tools help verify addresses, phone numbers, and eliminate duplicates at point-of-entry.
Data Quality tip: avoid sending "junk mail" by keep your customer records updated.

Customer data management integration solutions offer enrichment through customer data standardization. With the platform interface of your choice, master data management solutions and logistics management, customer data conversion is your next data mining resource.

Data Quality Software (Data parsing, fielding, genderizing, match consolidation, de-duplication, data extraction, resequencing, address correction and presorting)

AccuMail Gold
Address Object
Global Address
MatchUp
MailRoom Toolkit Architect
MailRoom Toolkit Office
Master Delivery Series
Name Object
Personator
Rightfielder
StreetRite
StyleList

Founded in 1986, Freelance Technologies Inc. (FTI) is a total solutions provider of bulk mail, marketing and data quality tools. FTI helps companies acquire and retain customers, validate and enhance contact data, improve marketing ROI, and save money on postage and mail processing.

Do you want to reach more customers at a lower cost by validating, correcting & enhancing your customer records?
Do you spend too much time processing data?
Are you interested in dramatically reducing costs?
Are your customer touch-points mail, phone and email?
Would you rather spend valuable human resource time on useful phone calls,not wrong numbers?

Maintaining high data quality is critical to business success. Yet unreliable, outdated, or just plain inaccurate data costs U.S. businesses more than 600 billion dollars annually.

We'll help you reduce telephone and postage costs, eliminate duplicate records, and add missing or incomplete information to your existing business or consumer database for better targeting and a greater response.

CALL OR EMAIL US FOR MORE INFORMATION:
888-970-9944 (Toll-free)
fti@freelancetech.com

2010-06-30T10:03:00.001-07:00

2010-06-24T08:42:00.001-07:00

Save $50.00 right off the bat with mail.dat

Mail.Dat Save More on Mailing

2010-06-24T08:37:00.000-07:00

SAVE $50 when you purchase mail.dat with us your first time!

Mail.dat is necessary to submit presort paperwork to the USPS electronically and will be mandatory in order to be considered a Full Service Intelligent Mail Barcode participant.

Mail.dat is a data formatting standard for communicating information about a specific mailing, including data at the segment, pallet, sack or tray, and package levels. It can be used for logistics planning, mail assembly, production and postal payment acceptance.

Send and receive statistical information about mailings without translating the proprietary formatting specifications of various software vendors.

ASCII fixed-format ("flat") files, a perfect medium for communicating complete information describing a complex mailing which can easily be imported into any relational database management system or used as-is by in-house software.

CALL OR EMAIL US FOR MORE INFORMATION:
888-970-9944 (Toll-free)
freelancetech.com

Data Quality and Mailing Guide

2010-06-22T06:18:00.000-07:00

Learning and understanding of how to save money on necessary business expenses can help boost your business....

Top of the line data management systems for:

The links above are mailing and data quality reference information that will help you learn how to use mailing and data cleansing to save money on your current expenses. It contains a business information library to inform you about the many options mailing software provides.

Compare Mailing Software Systems

The quality of your data directly affects every component of your business from top management to the bottom line. Data management information systems help steamline tracking of billing, postage, inventory and increase your business earning potential.

Move Update

NCOA Information
Move Update Compliant Printers
NCOA Software

Mailing and Data Industry News

IMB is in the Green
PCC Updates
DMM News
NCOA Latest Information

Data Quality

International Data Quality
Basic Inormation Data Quality
Software Comparison
Bulk mailing 101
Bulk Mailing Reference Guide
Basic Inormation

Business Information

Managing Mailing Systems
Business Mailing Software
Global Business Management
Business Organizaton

International Mailing Information

Mailing Data Quality
Worldwide Business Management of Data

Variable Data Industry

Transpromotional Documents
Marketing smart to the right person
New ways to reach customers
Direct mail with a new edge

Direct mail software allows you to manage mailing more effectively. Would you like to learn more about increasing your business and marketing potential? Learn More

CALL OR EMAIL FTI FOR MORE INFORMATION:
888-970-9944 (Toll-free)
mailto:fti@freelancetech.com?subject=Move

2010-06-17T09:02:00.001-07:00

BCC options, save before the 29th of June! Buy now, save more: http://ping.fm/b1YrO

Data Cleansing 101

2010-06-16T07:49:00.000-07:00

Why is Data Organization so Crucial to the Bottom Line?

Maintaining high data quality is critical to business success. Yet unreliable, outdated, or just plain inaccurate data costs U.S. businesses more than 600 billion dollars annually.

Data Cleansing systems help you reduce telephone and postage costs, eliminate duplicate records, and add missing or incomplete information to your existing business or consumer database for better targeting and a greater response.

Data Enhancement Services offer cleansing hygiene maintenance and unified customer solutions.

Government approved barcode scanners, readers and general barcode solutions help tracking software and mobile management profiling.
Data quality tools help verify addresses, phone numbers, and eliminate duplicates at point-of-entry.
Data Quality tip: avoid sending "junk mail" by keep your customer records updated.
Customer data management integration solutions offer enrichment through customer data standardization.

With the platform interface of your choice, master data management solutions and logistics management, customer data conversion is your next data mining resource.

Automation and elimination of redundancies allows you to spend your time on your business while you save on wasteful inaccuracies in this challenging economy. Read More

There are many different types of data cleansing pocesses:

The quality of your contact database has a significant impact on the way you communicate: Database Marketing involves customer data integration, where customer data quality matters!

2010-06-10T07:47:00.001-07:00

USPS IMB Compact for end users http://ping.fm/j8eo6

2010-05-24T08:16:00.001-07:00

USPS will be running a 30% discount summer 2010:
http://freelancetech.com/News/DMM/April_10_DMM.html

30% Discount extended by USPS

2010-05-24T08:11:00.000-07:00

USPS will be running a 30% discount which will be extended to eligible mailers during the summer months: read more

USPS said eligible mailers will receive a rebate of 30% on any mail volume in the summer sale period, which is over the past threshold.

The sale will run from July 1 through September 30 and will be open to mailers who mailed more than one million Standard letters and/or flats from October 1, 2007, through March 31, 2008. read more

2010-05-24T06:40:00.001-07:00

MAILCOM MOVES TO WASHINGTON, DC
FOR 2011 CONVENTION

Potter Defends Postal Service in Spite of Fiscal Losses

2010-05-18T08:17:00.000-07:00

POSTAL SERVICE REPORTS CONTINUING LOSSES
Yet LEVELS OF SERVICE REMAIN STABLE

The Postal Service posted a net loss of $1.9 billion on a volume decline of 88.1 billion pieces of mail for the six months ended March 31. As noted in the News Memos, business by AP, the post office is asking congress to reduce delivery from 6 days to 5 days,

As Americans turn more and more from paper to electronic communications, the number of items handled by the post office fell from 213 billion in 2006 to 177 billion last year. Volume is expected to shrink to 150 billion by 2020.

At the same time, the type of material sent is shifting from first-class mail to the less lucrative standard mail, such as advertising. As people set up new homes and businesses, the number of places mail must be delivered is constantly increasing.

The agency has asked Congress for permission to reduce delivery days and has previously discussed the need for other changes such as closing some offices. The response was cited in the AP News memos blog:

Frederic V. Rolando, president of the National Association of Letter Carriers, also urged Congress to provide the post office with “financial breathing room,” but he opposed eliminating one day of delivery.

“I do not believe that weakening our commitment of six-day service to the public will enhance the long-term position of the Postal Service as a critical element in our nation’s economic infrastructure,” Rolando said.

Postmaster General John Potter says this is further evidence that USPS continues to face incredible challenges, and reinforces the need for legislative and regulatory changes necessary to maintain a viable Postal Service. Two of those changes could save the Postal Service more than $8.5 billion in the first full year they are implemented: restructuring the prepayment of retiree health benefit payments and eliminating one day of delivery service per week.

Despite the ongoing financial challenges, Potter commends employees for continuing to take costs out of the system and maintain high rates of customer service. On-time delivery of mail during the past three months was largely steady with 96 percent of overnight single-piece First-Class mail delivered on time.

Overall, 85.7 percent of respondents polled in the most recent Customer Experience Measurement rated their experience in the top two categories - "very satisfied" or "mostly satisfied" - during the past three months.

Mailcom 2011 Conference Washington DC

2010-05-10T08:10:00.000-07:00

MAILCOM MOVES TO WASHINGTON, DC

FOR 2011 CONVENTION

MAILCOM will hold its 31st annual global conference and exhibition at the Washington Hilton's Columbia Hall after 30 years of being in New York City and Atlantic City (see attached files).
The convention will be held March 1-3, 2011 and will feature 125 professional seminars and a 150 booth exhibition hall. The Columbia Hall is a new convention facility that opens in June 2010 following a $140 million renovation of the legendary Washington Hilton.

MAILCOM announced that exhibition show days will be:

Tuesday, March 1, 2011 -- 10:00am - 4:00pm
Wednesday, March 2, 2011 -- 10:00am - 4:00pm
Thursday, March 3, 2011 -- 9:00am - 12:00pm

For more information: http://mailcom-conference.com/

Mailing Software Choices at Best Rate Prices

2010-05-05T09:24:00.000-07:00

What is Mailing Software and what is it good for?

Direct Business Mail allows you to market with a low-cost, tried and true method of gaining some ROI in this challenging economy:

Cut costs with IMB and NCOA move update compliance
Mailing Software helps manage your mailing lists
Understand Bulk Mail requirements and regulations
Save on Postal Rates with compliant solutions

If you find yourself mailing more than 1,000 pieces of mail at a time, utilizing your staff to process mail and are looking for a strategic way to reduce your postage costs - contact FTI for the best price in automation-compatible mailings to make sure that you pay the lowest postage rates possible. Contact Us Online or call 888-970-9944

Why would you go to a company that offers multiple brands?

We offer COMPARISON SHOPPING and LOWER PRICES

Since 1986, Freelance Technologies (FTI) hasprovided mailing software and data quality solutions to clients nationwide.

FTI is unique because we offer a choice of all mailing software packages and can provide on-site or online training that matches the specific requirements of your business!
All Leading Mailing Software andData Quality Software packages.

Check out our BRAND COMPARISON CHART

Over 24 Years in business, bringing you options, information and the best prices!

2010-05-04T10:19:00.001-07:00

Intelligent Mail Barcode, IMB, Mailing Software Solutions: http://ping.fm/A9zfw

2010-04-27T10:13:00.001-07:00

Mailing on Saturdays, what does it mean to you? Let us know your thoughts: http://ping.fm/uirN1

Pushing the Envelope

2010-04-27T09:58:00.000-07:00

Public policy debates about solving the Postal Service’s financial crisis have largely focused on reducing costs by cutting service such as Saturday delivery, transitioning from brick and mortar post offices to alternative retail sales channels, or limiting other functions performed by the Postal Service.

Some of the strategies under discussion include:

Ending Saturday delivery.
Reducing the size of the workforce.
Making postal employees pay the same share of health and life insurance premiums that other federal employees pay.
Generating revenue through new products.
Allowing the Postal Service more pricing freedom.
Restructuring the Postal Service’s network of mail processing facilities.
Moving retail services from Post Offices to alternative access options.

FTI keeps you informed about all the most relevant postal news through our sources. Pushing the Envelope has many ramifications for the communication needs of the country, aside from the postal industry. What will it mean for the avaerage American to put less interest in their mailbox? What will it mean for business transitions into laternative forms of marketing?

We are interested in your opinion! Contact us to tell us how you feel: http://freelancetech.com/Freelance_RequestInfo.asp

Last week the Senate Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security held a hearing on the Future of the Postal Service. The week before there was a hearing in the House on the Postal Service’s financial crisis and future viability, and on April 12, the Government Accountability Office issued a report laying out the strategies and options to maintain the Postal Service’s viability.

2010-04-26T08:20:00.001-07:00

Aspire to Great Savings this Spring... Mail.Dat http://ping.fm/QGBlh

2010-04-21T07:44:00.001-07:00

USPS 30 % off summer sale DMM News http://freelancetech.com/News/DMM/April_10_DMM.html

SUMMER SALE 30% OFF

2010-04-21T07:34:00.000-07:00

Keeping you informed about the prices and mailing standards of the United States Postal Service- message from USPS Pricing

April 21, 2010 DMM Advisory Pricing:

United States Postal Service Summer Sale Returns The Federal Register final rule on the upcoming 2010 Standard Mail(r) Incentive Program (aka 2010 Summer Sale) was posted today on Postal Explorer(r) at pe.usps.com.

The Sale will provide a 30% credit on postage paid by Standard Mail customers mailing an increased volume of letters and flats above a predetermined threshold. The program period will run from July 1 through September 30, 2010.

Invitation letters will automatically be sent to eligible customers by May 1, 2010. Mailers who want to participate in the program and believe that they meet the minimum eligibility criteria, of mailing 350,000 Standard Mail letters or flats within the program qualification period, may request a review of their eligibility by contacting summersale@usps.gov no later than May 15, 2010.

The 2010 Standard Mail Incentive Program was reviewed and approved by the Postal Regulatory Commission on April 7, 2010.

The Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) is available on Postal Explorer (pe.usps.com ). To subscribe to the DMM Advisory, send an e-mail to dmmadvisory@usps.com.

2010-04-12T09:31:00.001-07:00

IMB compliant Mailing supplies http://ping.fm/cR2tz

2010-04-07T06:29:00.001-07:00

Win a $500 gift card at the BCC booth at the Postal Forum http://ping.fm/MrE8M

National Postal Forum Nashville

2010-04-05T06:32:00.000-07:00

FTI will be attending the NPF in Nashville, Tennessee this year. NPF is a not-for-profit educational corporation, was established in 1968 by a group of major postal customers/mailers a partner with the U.S. Postal Service with the ultimate goal of a more efficient Postal Service thereby benefiting the entire USPS customer universe. Read More

NPF attendees who registered for the annual event prior to March 26 will receive a postcard from BCC directing them to bring the card to Booth 132; once there, they may have their card's Intelligent Mail barcode scanned with a Mail Verifier Plus (MVP) unit on display in the booth. If the Serial Number embedded in the IM barcode matches that of a pre-determined winner, the card's recipient will win the $500 American Express Gift Card. Read More

Other Supporters of the Postal Forum in attendance will be Satori Software, and Datatech. Each will be represented and have mailing software and new product information available.

2010-03-29T07:50:00.001-07:00

FTI Software will help organize and optimize your USPS data needs with IMB compatible Software http://ping.fm/pJ8tI

International Data Quality Management

2010-03-29T07:43:00.000-07:00

The quality of your data directly affects every aspect of your business from reporting to customer service. Learn how automated systems in place can save you money and time with Freelance Technologies Inc. consultants in mailing software and data management systems.

Are you looking for:

Inventory Control
Tracking for Billing &Accounts Recievable
Customer Service Management
Mailing made Easy

FTI provides data management information systems to help steamline tracking of billing, postage, inventory and increase your business earning potential. We offer direct mail software that allows you to manage mailing more effectively.

We offer top of the line inventory management system for business’ interested in integrating their data processing, accounting with customer service and mailing needs. This is an all inclusive system that makes it easy to let your business run itself!

Data Quality Software allows you to streamline the mailing process,saving you time and money...to find out how:

Email: fti@freelancetech.com

2010-03-25T10:18:00.001-07:00

IMB info and discounts: http://ping.fm/L4wMw

IMB Facts this Spring 2010

2010-03-25T10:01:00.000-07:00

Intelligent Mail® barcode (IMB) Primary benefits include:

The Intelligent Mail barcode is the result of the Postal Service’s efforts to develop more robust codes capable of encoding more information, while minimizing the space used on the mailpiece.

The Intelligent Mail barcode offers:

Continue earning lowest postal rates
Better customer intelligence
Free Address Change Service
Visibility into the mailstream
More effective returned mail processing
Better scan rates and improved deliverability
Better looking mail pieces (fewer barcodes)
Delivery ConfirmationTM
Access to new services

What are the real concerns facing Mailers?

Price. In todays market, the biggest concern is how much this will cost or save. The savings can add up if you mail in quantity. Early compliance for the Intelligent Mail barcode discount offers:

$.01 per 1000 pieces of mail Standard
$.03 per 1000 pieces of mail First class

For smaller mailers, there are other incentives. Indirect savings through a more efficient mailing system also save everyone money and peace of mind. As you consider how to implement Intelligent Mail in your company, you should recognize that every approach offers unique solutions:

Saving space on the envelope means less product waste
Less undeliverable mail means higher ROI
A forward thinking green approach will give you marketing advantage

Why should mailers care about the IMB?

Two reasons: First, mailers must be using the Intelligent Mail barcode on their mail as of May 2011 in order to qualify for automation prices. Planet Code bar codes will no longer be in effect after the May 2011 deadline. The second reason is the extra data and tracking capabilities available through IMB. Even basic IMB can track mail and predict delivery dates. Those using Full-Service IMB will receive mail feedback about address quality and get automated address correction information.

Download the new IMB Font Here
USPS IMB Compact for end users if you don't already have the font on your system:
USPS IMB Compact

2010-03-24T07:21:00.001-07:00

Presswise- Now a single web-based platform is available, an Online Print Management System with tools to manage your digital business. http://ping.fm/8inmh

Enviromentally Friendly Mailing Solution MAIL.DAT

2010-03-24T07:16:00.000-07:00

Eliminate the postal paper chase with environmentally-friendly Mail.DAT Modules. Learn More

Mail.dat is a relational database that uses a filing system to facilitate efficient and process-enhancing mailing communications. It contributes to important gains in efficiency, economy, and strategy enhancement and has become the standard embraced by a significant portion of the mailing industry and the US Postal Service.

The flexibility Mail.dat offers users to share those files that are necessary for their purpose, thus eliminating complicated options selection, making things easier for new users as well as streamlining more complex applications.

The US Postal Service accepts Mail.dat as an electronic representation of the mailing and as a replacement for the traditional hardcopy documentation. Mail.dat also accounts for variations that might be present in any USPS or Canada Post mailing.

Use Mail.DAT data format to allow the transmission of electronic Postal Service postal reports, for easier and faster postal acceptance and for a more streamlined payment process, as part of the PostalOne!® program.

Talk to your Freelance Technologies consultant today to find out what the best deals in mailing software and data quality control are for your business needs.

Call FTI: 888-970-9944 (Toll-free)
mailto:fti@freelancetech.com

New Products on the Market!

2010-03-22T09:17:00.000-07:00

Production Workflow Management & E-Business Applications for Print-Specific Mail Preparation Software have emerged to fulfill business user needs:

Presswise- Now a single web-based platform is available, an Online Print Management System with tools to manage your digital business. read more

Frameworks- Correct, parse and standardize your address data with built-in DPV® and LACSLink® validation designed for Call Centers. read more

Mailshop- Integrate customer management resources with direct mailing campaigns and improve the flow of your day to day operations. read more

Verify- Prevent inaccurate or incomplete data from entering your systems, creating an address quality firewall in the process. read more

Call FTI now and learn how you can take advantage of these new online business management tools, further enhancing your mailing capabilities!

888-970-9944 (Toll-free)fti@freelancetech.com

2010-03-18T08:40:00.000-07:00

What can MAIL.DAT do for your mailing http://ping.fm/egyey

2010-03-15T08:19:00.001-07:00

USPS rates increase cause mailers to strategize beyond the box: http://ping.fm/hysIg

Mailers Efforts Double as USPS Rates Increase

2010-03-15T07:46:00.000-07:00

Postal rates increase 2011, many mailers find ways to regroup and redouble their efforts. Despite alleged cost reduction initiatives within the USPS, the facts remain that it will be awhile before any noticable effects hit the market. Meanwhile, lobor costs and other overhead expenses skyrocket.

The US Postal Service is planning a second “summer sale” that will provide a 30% rebate to eligible mailers on some services. The initiative, which will require Postal Regulatory Commission approval, is planned for July 1 through September 30.

The Postal Service expects the sale to generate between 3.3 million and 1.1 billion new mailpieces. Nearly half of the 960 customers enrolled in last year's sale increased their mail volumes, resulting in 1 billion incremental pieces during the sale period with a net revenue contribution of $24 million, according to the USPS.

The overall effect of the combination of cost reduction internally and increase in rates means the brunt of the burden to keep up with the economic changes lies with mailers and their clients. Staying on top of the latest technology and makeing sure savings is passed down to the end user essentially keeps us all in business!

Talk to your Freelance Technologies consultant today to find out what the best deals in mailing software and data quality control are for your business needs.

Call FTI:
888-970-9944 (Toll-free)
mailto:fti@freelancetech.com?subject=Move

2010-03-10T08:05:00.001-08:00

Snail Mail is Dead... read about it: http://ping.fm/ODGCy

Is Snail Mail Dead?

2010-03-10T07:39:00.000-08:00

The new generations of computer based marketing and ecommerce have, some would say, made having a mailbox obsolete. Has the new wave of online multi-media completely replaced the mother's day card and department store coupon already?

According to sources who follow government policies, the rumors of dropping back to 5-day per week mail service have been denied. Obama's budget for fiscal year 2011 includes language that shows his administration supports requiring the US Postal Service to deliver mail six days per week. The budget's wording explicitly says "six-day delivery and rural delivery of mail continue at not less than 1983 level."

Reporting losses of millions for the first few weeks of 2010, how can the broken business model of the USPS survive? Postal Service reports $592M January loss and all the statistics reported by the DMM support the loss of faith to the new wave of internet-based communication.

There is still a charm associated with receiving something in the mailbox. It adds a personal touch, many say, and in fact, items in hand have a much higher "open" rate than even the most reputable online marketing campaigns.

2010-03-04T09:26:00.001-08:00

National Postal Forum: mailing industry's premier educational venue, trade show and networking event for industry professionals.

2010-03-04T09:20:00.001-08:00

National Postal Forum, April 11- 14, 2010, NPF is the mailing industry's premier educational venue http://ping.fm/zhAaF

2010-03-02T10:45:00.001-08:00

New Options on the Market in Print Production and Mailing Software
http://ping.fm/8Z04t

2010-03-02T10:25:00.001-08:00

FTI now offering Transpromotional marketing http://ping.fm/AJbD9

2010-03-02T09:28:00.001-08:00

Freelance Technologies provides mailing software and international data cleansing! http://ping.fm/tUaWe

2010-03-02T08:54:00.001-08:00

FTI is offering seasonal discounts on Mail.dat http://ping.fm/Hmf6o

Why Hold Off on IMB Implementation?

2010-02-22T08:32:00.000-08:00

Ten Reasons Why Mailers Should Delay Implementing the Full Service Intelligent Mail Barcode
* from The Bennett Group

1. Not so much ROI benefit. The current incentives are very low…

2. Passing MERLIN performance verification at the time of mail acceptance may not save the cost of errors….read more

3.The Intelligent Mail barcode requires purchase of scanner equipment, additional software or enhancements of current software will need to be purchased … read more

4.ZIP+4 DPV encoding process produce an Intelligent Mail barcode that appears to be perfectly acceptable...read more

5.Postage statements must be submitted electronically through PostalOne! The GAO has concerns over the safety and reliability of the USPS to protect your security and money...read more

6.The USPS' PostalOne! system crash experienced by mailers from Friday, February 5, 2010 to Tuesday,February 9, 2010 "When the Postal Service's systems crash, it has a significant and costly impact on the mailers' ability to prepare and enter mail." from http://www.postcom.org/

7.Delays have been reported with the access to the FAST system to schedule appointments. http://www.presort.com/?p=230

8.If acceptance issues require rework of a mailing...read more

9.Postal acceptance personnel inducting Intelligent Mail barcode mailings need training and familiarity with new Intelligent Mail barcode mailing procedures. http://www.presort.com/?p=230

10.Programs such as ACS and Confirm with the Intelligent Mail barcode have USPS costs... read more

*** brought to you by Freelance Technologies

Freelancetech Software Blogging Tips

2010-02-19T07:58:00.000-08:00

Using the appropriate tiltles and key words in the title to attract search traffic is the first way to start attracting attention.

First, don't use your own name, its not only narcissitic, but also tacky...

Encourage your readers to digg your posts. (and to use furl and reddit). Do it with every post.
Post your photos on flickr.
Encourage your readers to subscribe by RSS.Start at the beginning and take your readers through a months-long education.
Include comments so your blog becomes a virtual water cooler that feeds itself.Assume that every day is the beginning, because you always have new readers.
Highlight your best posts on your Squidoo lens.
Don't include comments, people will cross post their responses.
Write posts that each include dozens of trackbacks to dozens of blog posts so that people will notice you.
Run no ads.
Keep tweaking your template to make it include every conceivable bell or whistle.Write about blogging.
Digest the good ideas of other people, all day, every day.
Invent a whole new kind of art or interaction.Post on weekdays, because there are more readers.
Write about a never-ending parade of different topics so you don't bore your readers.Post on weekends, because there are fewer new posts.Don't interrupt your writing with a lot of links.
Dress your blog (fonts and design) as well as you would dress yourself for a meeting with a stranger.
Edit yourself. Ruthlessly.
Give credit to those that inspired, it makes your writing more useful. (Thanks Seth)
Ping technorati. Or have someone smarter than me tell you how to do it automatically.
Write about only one thing, in ever-deepening detail, so you become definitive.
Write in English.
Better, write in Chinese.
Write about obscure stuff that appeals to an obsessed minority.
Don't be boring.

Some other blogs with good advice:

http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d83451b31569e200d8345dc28a69e2

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2006/06/how_to_get_traf.html

http://melissawiley.typepad.com/bonnyglen/2006/06/secrets_of_the_.html

New Year Boost Sales- Decrease Cost

2009-12-28T08:36:00.000-08:00

Is your New Year’s resolution to increase sales without increasing your costs?

A growing number of retailers are looking across the pond to find new customers and increase revenues. Most businesses in the U.S. are asking themselves the same kind of questions.

The international sale is far more complex and difficult than selling in the US. The result is an average of 17% increase in revenue. One secret is a new emerging trend of using international parcel forwarders.

Sellers benefit from the fraud free solutions and consumers benefit from the low cost of shipping through consolidation. The possible revenues are worth considering…

Is your move update plan working for you?

2009-12-23T08:41:00.000-08:00

Where is SANTA's MAIL going?

Making sure your mailings reach the right destination is crucial to your success.

NCOA Basics

Mandatory Move Update requirements with the USPS save you money. You must be in compliance by January 2010 to avoid paying heavy penalties!

Making sure your mail reaches the right destination has become even more important this year!

If you are not using NCOA, it is even more crucial to start now! If you are using NCOA, there are some important updates you will need to know about for your business needs this coming year. NCOA Information- so really Where DOES Santa's Mail Go?

Why is NCOA so important?

Starting January 2010, the USPS will begin mandatory regulations with Move Update requirements. If you are sending mailings without it, and reach a certain threshold, you will be required to pay as much as 20% penalties.

Find out more about how to be compliant before you get hit with stiff penalties by talking to your Freelance Consultant today. Call 888-970-9944 (Toll-free)

How to avoid paying penalties?

It’s important to have a software provider to stay on top of market trends and present to you the best information available about your options. NCOA requirements for your business can be complicated. We offer you the best resources for figuring out the conditions and rguations, helping you make the best business decision.

Choosing the best NCOA package can take valuable time and resources. Let us take the guesswork about different options out of the equation and provide honest insight about your personalized solution!

Intelligent Mail® barcode (IMB) Market Trends

2009-12-18T02:25:00.000-08:00

Intelligent Mail® barcode (IMB) is one of the newer catchwords for mail solutions on the market but what does it mean for you?

Primary benefits include:

The Intelligent Mail barcode is the result of the Postal Service’s efforts to develop more robust codes capable of encoding more information, while minimizing the space used on the mailpiece. The Intelligent Mail barcode offers:

Continue earning lowest postal rates
Better customer intelligence
Free Address Change Service
Visibility into the mailstream
More effective returned mail processing
Better scan rates and improved deliverability
Better looking mail pieces (fewer barcodes)
Delivery ConfirmationTM
Access to new services

What are the real concerns facing Mailers?

Price. In todays market, the biggest concern is how much this will cost or save. The savings can add up if you mail in quantity. Early compliance for the Intelligent Mail barcode discount offers:

$.01 per 1000 pieces of mail Standard

$.03 per 1000 pieces of mail First class

Saving space on the envelope means less product waste
Less undeliverable mail means higher ROI
A forward thinking green approach will give you marketing advantage

Why should mailers care about the IMB?

Two reasons: First, mailers must be using the Intelligent Mail barcode on their mail as of May 2011 in order to qualify for automation prices. Planet Code bar codes will no longer be in effect after the May 2011 deadline. The second reason is the extra data and tracking capabilities available through IMB. Even basic IMB can track mail and predict delivery dates. Those using Full-Service IMB will receive mail feedback about address quality and get automated address correction information.

Facts about the INTELLIGENT MAIL® BARCODE (IMB)

To obtain the lowest automation prices on Letters and Flats, mailers must use the 65-bar Intelligent Mail® barcode on each mail piece, encoding the delivery point information plus four new fields including an assigned Mailer ID, the class of mail, an optional endorsement line, plus a mail piece sequence number that must remain unique for 45 days.

New 24-digit tray barcodes and 21-digit container barcodes.

Electronic documentation using Mail.dat,®Wizard Web Services or Postage Statement Wizard® will be required for the full-service option.

Must acquire Mailer ID number(s) from the Postal Service, encode all data into the barcode components and then graphically render this barcode on every mail piece, tray and container.

Program optimization means that you must:

Create mechanisms to capture data provided by the USPS
Link USPS data back to your source data
Leverage this data to improve your business
The USPS will provide mailers with two options: Full-Service and Basic.

So what does that mean?

The Basic option will have fewer requirements. The Full-Service option will provide access to more services (such as free ACS and Start the Clock information*) and will enable mailers to earn the greatest postal discounts as of the fall of 2009. The details below apply to the Full-Service option.

Where to find more information on the Intelligent Mail barcode...

FTI Q&A Breakdown of questions from the DMNews source:

Are there other key dates that mailers should be aware of between now and the May 2011 deadline?
Why should mailers care about the IMB?
How does it work?
How do mailers benefit from the Intelligent Mail barcode?
What are the steps mailers should take to implement the basic IMB?
What services use the Intelligent Mail barcode and when can I start using it?
What is the difference between basic IMB and Full-Service IMB standards?
What is the process for Full-Service IMB clients to qualify?
What about automation prices?
Am I required to use the Intelligent Mail barcode in lieu of POSTNET and PLANET codes?
Where can I place the Intelligent Mail barcode?
What are the dimensions of the barcode?
Will I have problems passing MERLIN® program requirements?
Will I need to complete CASS™ or MASS™ certification again?
Tell me about the “start-the-clock” statistic and its significance for mailers?
How many mailers are already using IMB?
What should printers know about the IMB?
What tools are available to help me or my provider adopt the Intelligent Mail barcode?
Where can I find more information on the Intelligent Mail barcode?
For the latest information on the Intelligent Mail barcode, including the full dimension specification, visit the Rapid Information Bulletin Board System (RIBBS) website at:http://ribbs.usps.gov/OneCodeSolution/

IMB is in the Green

2009-12-12T02:36:00.000-08:00

IMB is in the Green- incentive to economize your mailing system and get data quality up to par!

New Intelligent Mail barcode specifications will help save space on envelopes and get mail on its correct route with little tolerance for undeliverable addresses.

This eco-friendly move will also put more cash back in your pocket with financial incentives to be compliant when it went into effect on May 11th, 2009.

Now is the time to take a realistic look at your company’s green initiatives and ask whether or not the practices undertaken are “evergreen” – promoting not only environmental conservation, but also sound business practices and solid return on investment so as to be sustainable in good economic conditions as well as bad.

Did you know that six million trees and more than 300 million pounds of paper are wasted each year on undeliverable-as-addressed mail (UAA) Standard class mail? It costs the USPS over two billion dollars annually to process this true “junk mail”. And the cost to mailers is even more dramatic – UAA mail costs direct mailers over six billion dollars a year...

Why is NCOA so important? NCOA Update - National Change of Address information

2009-11-30T03:37:00.000-08:00

Move Update- Do you know where your mail is going?

Making sure your mail reaches the right destination has become even more important this year! The Move Update standard requires periodic matching of a mailer's address records with customer-filed change-of-address (COA) orders. Its goal is to reduce the number of mail pieces in a mailing that require additional handling for forwarding or return.

If you are not using NCOA, it is even more crucial to start now! If you are using NCOA, there are some important updates you will need to know about for your business needs this coming year.

Recently, a notice was filed with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) to describe the new method that Business Mail Entry Units (BMEU) will use to determine whether or not to assess the $0.07 Move Update charge to First-Class Mail and Standard Mail pieces evaluated during acceptance

For consistency with the treatment of Standard mail, they will also apply the same effective date to First-Class Mail. Both classes will be assessed the additional postage charge on pieces determined at acceptance to have an error rate above a 30% tolerance level. Sample testing will be done for each mailing accepted at MERLIN locations, and the BMEUs will provide feedback to the mailer on the effectiveness of their Move Update process. The assessment applies only to those pieces in the mailing that are found to exceed the tolerance level, based on the sampling.

When will the new regulation take effect?

For example: if a mailing is found to have an error level of 50%, then 50% minus 30% (tolerance level) = 20% of the mailing that will is assessed $0.07 per piece. Any mailing that has five or fewer update errors is not assessed the fee, regardless of the percentage that is not updated.

How to avoid paying penalties?

It’s important to have a software provider to stay on top of market trends and present to you the best information available about your options. NCOA requirements for your business can be complicated. We offer you the best resources for figuring out the conditions and regulations, helping you make the best business decision.

Choosing the best NCOA package can take valuable time and resources. Let us take the guesswork about different options out of the equation and provide honest insight about your personalized solution!

Find out more about how to be compliant before you get hit with stiff penalties by talking to your Freelance Technologies consultant today. Call 888-970-9944 (Toll-free)

Why use free services to help get the best mailing software for your business needs?

2009-10-26T09:14:00.000-07:00

Many people today ask why use a dealer when you can go straight to the manufacturer? In hard times, its actually one of the best solutions to have a company with vested interest in your success working for you... for free!

Why use Freelance Technologies, Inc?

The most important reason not to go straight to the manufacturer is that it doesn’t save you money! In fact, it may cost more. Here's why.

When you talk to a representative from a software vendor selling only one brand of software, you do not have options outside that product line. Their mission is to fit you to their product, whether or not it’s the best choice.

Talking to a freelance rep provides more of an overview about the different products on the market and makes a best match to your business needs. The savings is the same, and in many cases, better. Freelance tech reps know when and where the sales are, so may be able to find another line offering the same type of product at a better fit for your budget.

Do we really have your best interests at heart?

It’s important to have a software provider to stay on top of market trends and present to you the best information available about your options. Over the long term this will provide a value to your investment. Our business succeeds only if yours does.

Much like a travel agent, our revenue comes from the product, and you don’t pay the difference, the manufacturer does. So, why not take advantage of an added level of service at not cost to you!

Choosing a product can take valuable time and resources. Let us take the guesswork about different options out of the equation and provide honest insight about your personalized solution.

Freelance Technologies Inc. working since 1986 to bring you the best value in data quality and mailing software solutions.

20 percent postage rebate- USPS Update presort first class mail

2009-10-12T14:47:00.000-07:00

The Postal Service proposes to offer eligible companies a 20 percent postage rebate on qualifying presorted First-Class letter, flat, and card volumes mailed between October 1, 2009 and December 31, 2009.

To be eligible for the First-Class Mail Incentive program, a company must have mailed 500,000 or more non-parcel First-Class Mail pieces between October - December 31st, through permit accounts owned by the company or through permits set up on behalf of the company by a Mail Service Provider. Also, to participate in the first class mail incentive program, your compay must have mailed 500,000 or more non-parcel First-Class Mail pieces between October through December in 2007 and 2008 as well. The Postal Service will mail a letter to all eligible customers explaining the program in detail.

This change affects First-Class mail presort letter, flat and card prices.

More Information:
http://freelancetech.com/News_bigmailerdiscount.html

Postal Details:
http://govpulse.us/entries/2009/09/24/E9-23024/postal-service-incentive-pricing-program

Transpromotional Marketing

2009-10-06T18:17:00.000-07:00

In the current economic climate, transpromotional marketing is a win-win situation for both consumers and shareholders. Leverage existing customer statements and turn attention into action with the use of promotional messages.

What is Transpromotional Marketing?

The phrase “transpromotional” refers to the use of transactional opportunities, such as statements, to deliver personlized promotions and marketing. Transactional documents like monthly statements and invoices present new opportunities for personalized marketing messages.

Why does it Work?

Statements work because they are expected by the recipient and usually require action. They are also high-involvement documents which many consumers spend 1-3 minutes reviewing and are viewed more than once. The real value is the ability to use transactional documents to turn consumer attention into action.

The ultimate objective is to combine information delivery with data-driven personalization and promotional offers to generate faster and higher response rates. Transpromotional marketing is growing fast. Many organizations are moving to convert traditional billing and statements to transpromotional messages because they understand the value of leveraging data they already have on their customers to create new opportunities for additional revenue.

Organizations utilizing transpromotional printing typically see the following results:

Response Rates: Up 36 percent
Average Value of Order: Up 24.5 percent
Repetitive Orders/Retention: Up 47.6 percent
Overall Revenue/Profit: Up 31.6 percent
Response Time: Up 33.9 percent

Source: Adobe

The clause is to always keep the message to the customer and its validity in mind. This is the key to making it work. What offer/action is appropriate for this customer? How can I personalize it and make it attractive to them? How do I correctly include risk in my calculations as to what to offer.

How is it Green?

By using transactional documents as marketing tools to cross-sell products and services, transpromotional marketing not only enhances a company’s communications by offering customers additional information, it reduces the need for direct mail, making it more cost-effective. Crucially, it also ticks the CSR box on the environment by saving waste, as well as postage.

What is VDP?

Technically speaking, the Transpromotional transaction, or Variable Data Printing, VDP, is a form of on-demand printing in which elements such as text, graphics, and images can be changed from one printed piece to the next using information from a database.

VDP has been shown to boost the effectiveness of printed output, whether it’s measured by response rates, readership, ROI, or customer satisfaction.

How does it work?

To produce personalized communications, in high volume, requires a substantial amount of data about your customers and software that will allow that data to be utilized effectively. Collecting the data is a CSR task you may already have in place. Providing you with the software to perform transpromotional functionality is our job. Transpromotional Products

It is also recommended to have an output device that can handle color and VDP with great efficiency. Increasingly, more transactional print providers are turning to FTI products because of the low cost, small footprint, and high level of reliability. Printers

The thinking is "in your hand" ad messages on transactional documents that are relevant to you, your needs and interests should generate more sales and profit (for the vendor). Transpromotional Products

What do I need to do Transpromotional Marketing?

Making this new promotional tool possible is the rapid decrease in color printing costs combined with high quality data quality software. These new generation software tools and printers allows for top quality full color ad messages to appear on invoices without breaking the bank in terms of production costs for each bill run.

Where can I find out more about Transpromotional Marketing?

More companies are beginning to use transpromotional marketing efforts to reach consumers with more targeted advertising messages that address specific needs and/or loyalties. Check your mailbox, transpromotional marketing may be coming in your next invoice.

More about Transpromotional Marketing:

§ The Future of Direct Mail

§ Wikipedia Definition Transpromotional Marketing

§ CCI Increase response with Transpromotional Marketing

§ Wall Street Journal Marketplace

Direct Mail Marketing Tips

2009-10-01T13:59:00.000-07:00

Recession proofing your business during this economy is tough. It's become ever more important to stay in front of your customers than to cut corners on all your marketing. An affordable way to keep customers engaged and your sales growing is direct mail.

Whether you communicate best online or face-to-face, direct mail marketing through traditional mail allows you to stay connected to your valued customers and reach out to new customers without spending a fortune.

Whats your Objective?
Develop your mailing objective. Outline a strategy, the direct mail call to action, to keep your design and your direct mail goals simple. Whether you are aiming for new customers or driving more traffic to your store, make your mailing target a measurable one.

Package your Message
Based on your campaign strategy, use only direct mail components critical to effectively communicate to your customers. If your goal is to drive customers to your website or to educate customers about a new service, a small black and white postcard may work. Just remember- less is more.

Keep it Simple
Put your customer needs on the table. With tight budgets, don’t try to sell the moon. A practical idea will be more compelling than everything under the sun at deep discount. If you are able to do more with less, direct mail can help you close the sale at a fraction of the cost of traditional sales methods. Use to-the-point copy and small, thoughtful graphics. Keep it simple - get in front, call to action, and get out with a user-friendly way to respond.

Push the Envelope
Once your mailing package is perfected, don't forget the envelope. The envelope plays a critical role in direct mail. Now, with IMB and NCOA upgrades helping to ensure the mailing reaches the intended recipient, the envelope can also help improve results. Here’s an idea based on research by the Direct Marketing Association, “if your direct mail looks like personal correspondence you can significantly increase the open rate.”

Choose an envelope that is different than a standard white business envelope. A card shaped envelope may look like a wedding invitation and thus be more likely to be opened. Personalized font or real postage stamps also give your mailing a more unusual appearance and reduce the number of unopened parcels that get tossed.

Direct mail offers you a cheaper way to keep your business in front of your customers. Improve your sales prospects even in a recession, with just a touch of simple creativity.

Freelance Technologies

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