United states postal service

Hearing the words "Post Office" America, you can imagine the Cowboy in the Hat shirokopoloy c beshennoy away at speeds nesuschegosya norovistom knight. "Pony Express" is familiar to us by movie and the book. But this shining page in the history of American mail lasted short, and today the Postal Service SSHA- United States Postal Service (USPS) recalls nothing about it. Is that speed, as then, sought to the highest indicators of his time.

Stiff competition

But a few years ago, the picture was not as bright. In 2001 the Postal Service USA incurred losses amounting to some 1.7 billion dollars. The financial health of the postal services deteriorated even before the bombers 11 September and spread anthrax. Since 11 September the picture has become altogether discouraging.

All of this has led to the fact that in April 2002 the Postal Service submitted to the United States Congress transformation plan, which analyzed the problems facing the postal service, and proposed changes in the long term, which should have been made to improve the financial performance of the company.

Within three years after approval of the plan of transformation, the United States Postal Service implements changes to modernize and improve all aspects of business. Thanks to the successful implementation of the plan, the results of the company's operations and customer service by 2005, reached a good level. Reducing costs, as the company expects, by 2006 it will be 5 billion dollars. But this is a tribute not only to the company. In order to cope with growing losses, the U.S. Congress, in 2003 passed a law that helped reduce USPS payments to the Pension Fund USA, thereby debt fell to 3.8 billion immediately




To reduce costs, the United States Postal Service has had to cut more than 45 thousand jobs and increase the price of postage. But despite the reduction in the number of staff Nearly managed successfully serve continuously growing network of contacts. Results of research conducted by the company twice a year, show that the quality of service and increasing customer satisfaction. According to the Minister of Posts USA John E. Potter, aggressive management of prices, coupled with the reduced costs allowed in 2004, to obtain total revenue, equal to 3.1 billion dollars.

The United States Postal Service is constantly conducting studies related to the timeliness of the delivery of mail. In 2004, the delivery of customized correspondence was carried out on time in 95% of cases, but I quarter of 2005 it reached 96%. The quality of services in other categories measured, also continues to rise, even though the network delivery increased by 1.8 million addresses each year.



The law on the reorganization of mail in 1970 withdrew from the Ministry of Post and the government has transformed the United States in the Postal Service is an independent agency in the executive branch the country. Postal Service began operations July 1, 1971 and must provide customers reliable postal services at reasonable prices and rates. Organization is governed by a Board of Governors. It includes 11 members-9 of them were appointed by the President, they, in turn, to be chosen by the Minister of Posts, which is headed by the Board, and deputy. Decisions on changes in tariffs and domestic postage charges for postal services managers U.S. Postal Service take on the recommendation of an independent commission on postal rates.

The reduction of jobs in the company not only to reduce costs but also to more effectively deal with security staff. A particularly important factor is that after 2001, two officers USPS infected with anthrax, which were contained in the controversial envelope mail. In late 2003, in 38 major mail-sorting facilities were installed modern bio-hazard detection system (Biohazard Detection Systems). These systems scan mail and warn employees working in the sorting facilities, the possible danger. By the end of 2005 the equipment to be installed at all 283 centers mail-sorting country.

Profit-making technology

However, it is understandable that no one company can not reach a high performance single reduced costs. Therefore, the United States Postal Service is constantly introducing new technology and services more convenient for customers. E-mail "Smart" (Intelligent Mail) that allows the sender to track the path of their mailing, increases the reliability and predictability of the work of the United States Postal Service.

Web site www.usps.com becoming increasingly useful tool for the company's customers. There, to say that this site had "almost every home." Today, to commit numerous transactions with mailings, our clients need only to come to his computer.

For example, a courier service delivery (Carrier Pickup Online Notification Service) allows customers to order online delivery came in the name customized correspondence or urgent mail, a postman delivers them the next day on the road to the other addressees.



Famous Eagle, the former for many years the theme "Letay advertising campaigns as" Eagle United States Postal Service, in 2002, was replaced by the less demanding symbol: blue mailbox with a picture of the mail Dodo birds and poultry. The new United States Postal Service slogan: "Postal Service is everywhere, so you can be anywhere", in the opinion of the company's management should work better, because appeals directly to the consumer. These changes result from a desire to reduce USPS advertising budget, which was due to a sharp fall in revenues. The company expects that the new slogan will be heard by potential clients rather companies stalled and would reduce advertising costs by 28%. They amount to only 100 million dollars a year.

Another interesting service offered by the USPS, called the "Card Shop" in the network (NetPost CardStore). Customers can create their own unique virtual cards, which the next day will be sent to the address indicated or list of addresses, but in paper form. In addition, the store can buy greeting cards from famous restaurants or shopping networks and also send them where you want without leaving your home.

The United States Postal Service come and meet his main competitor e-mail. "Thanks to the services network mailbox line" (NetPost Mailing Online), the customer can write an e-mail and send it to your site, www.usps.com, together with the list of addressees. Letters will be printed, put it in an envelope with the correct address and attributed to the nearest post office, from where it will depart as the usual letter in the mailbox abandoned by the sender.

Apart from the site itself the United States Postal Service, USPS services can be ordered at such Web sites as eBay and PayPal. There, customers can pay for postage from your account. In doing so, and the buyer and seller can track the route and speed the delivery of mail.

Due to the fact that the company sought to maintain the quality of service while reducing the number of employees at post offices in the country recently started an active installation of the automated postal kiosks points (Automated Postal Center), where they can receive a wide range of postal services, not long queues to vystaivaya box cashier. To date, our clients are available already 2.5 thousand such centers, and most of them are working round the clock.



In 2003, the Postal Service of the United States accelerates the implementation of the plan at the suggestion of advertising seats on sale. This is one of the company's attempt to increase earnings against a backdrop of falling financial performance in recent years. Advertisements will be posted on the side surfaces of postal vehicles to postal boxes on the walls of post offices and on the Web site www.usps.com. "We are looking for new sources of income in order to raise the price of our services," says John Ward, vice president for core business mail offices in Washington. "We have already conducted a market study, he added, consumers liked this idea, although they warned us that we should do it with taste."

The company is always advancement and promotion of its services. Every year she holds the National Postal Forum, the primary trade exhibition and conference of the entire industry that, in September 2004, visited the 6 thousand people.

Growth in sales of U.S. Postal Service in 2004, amounted to 0.7%. This is the best rate in the past few years. John E. Potter believes that the worst times for the company passed, and this year it intends to improve its financial performance and become a profitable enterprise, a feel confident in the modern, rapidly changing world.