As the millennium approaches, mail centers across the country are picking up the pace. In spite of the increasing use of e-mail, hard-copy mail volume continues to rise. Business-to-business mailing also shows no sign of slowing down. Smart mail center managers are taking advantage of the Internet to help speed delivery and tracking of paper mail by directly connecting to delivery providers like the USPS, FedEx and UPS.
 
For business and service organizations, the increasing mail volumes brings
a corresponding increase in the need for advanced accounting and reporting services. The medium- to heavy-volume mail centers will require networked reporting capabilities to efficiently log mail volume and report costs to the accounting department. Since today�s mail centers are frequently running with a lean staff, an easy-to-use system with automated reporting functionality is essential.
 
Ascom delivers a powerful mail center management solution with the new iMCM Mail Center Manager. This automated, high-performance system provides differential weighing, rating and processing of outbound mail and parcels. It interfaces with Ascom postage meters for a complete �plug and play� mail center solution. The PC-based iMCM system provides a dedicated, easy-to-read screen with large icons to increase operator efficiency and eliminate errors. A variety of management reports can be called up and printed as needed. Complete accounting information is available anytime in convenient formats. Designed for the Windows 95/98/NT platform, the system offers multi-carrier shipping options to let you select the shipping carrier that�s right for you. And, with Internet access, you can track your shipments online.
 
Networking Mail Management Across Departments
The National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) is the largest securities industry self-regulatory organization in the US. Lois Carter, mail center supervisor, comments �Ascom�s iMCM has really made my life easier.� Handling monthly postage amounts of more than $120,000, Carter supervises the efficient operation of three NASD mail center locations, which use a total of eight iMCM systems. Before installing iMCM, Carter spent a lot of time simply monitoring the mail center to ensure smooth operational flow. �Now I let my lead assistant monitor day-to-day operations, which leaves me free to concentrate on more important management concerns.� adds Carter, �Plus, the iMCM is virtually service-free. Choosing the iMCM Mail Center Manager was one of my smartest mail center purchases!�
 
The American College of Cardiology (ACC) mail center uses an iMCM to process more than $30,000 of metered mail and shipping charges per month. The ACC is a professional medical society for over 24,000 cardiovascular physicians and scientists from around the world. Bill Macewicz, assistant to the director of Support Services, says, �We love the flexibility of the system. We don�t want to be locked into one carrier. With the iMCM, we can choose the carrier that makes the most sense. And, with the Internet connection, we can handle our mail tracking online. This gives us a tremendous service advantage.� The college�s iMCM system is networked into their overall corporate computing infrastructure so mailing costs are automatically fed to their accounting department. �We used to write reports manually,� says Macewicz, �the reporting capabilities of the iMCM have resulted in a huge improvement in our efficiency and accuracy.� Macewicz finds the online help and tutorial in the iMCM to be extremely helpful in quickly getting mail center staff up-to-speed on the system.
 
Internet Puts Mailers Online
With 2,500 churches in the United States and over 350 missionaries around the world, the National Association of Free Will Baptists mails an average of five million pieces each month. The variety is staggering. From new member information, to denominational information booklets, to household items for missionaries, the Free Will Baptist mail center keeps its iMCM busy. �We use mostly UPS and the USPS,� notes Steve Pate, maintenance supervisor and mail clerk, �and we really need to be online with these carriers. The iMCM answers our need for fast communication and easy tracking capabilities.� Like other iMCM customers, Pate finds the system easy to use. �It�s faster than any other system we�ve had,� he says. �It�s extremely easy to use. And the accounting information is very important to us.�
 
Internet Access, Networking Capabilities and Comprehensive Reporting
The iMCM Mail Center Manager delivers complete control over the weighing, rating, processing and accounting of outbound mail and parcels. It is fully compatible with Windows 95/98/NT and is Year 2000 compliant The system is easy to install and use and includes a built-in audio training tutorial to help guide new employees through system operations. Its Differential Weighing capabilities make any job move much faster. And detailed reports ensure you get the accounting and management information you need, when you need it.
 
The true excitement of the iMCM is that it is Internet-ready. It enables Internet connectivity to all online delivery service providers, including the USPS� new Delivery Confirmation Service. And, it is UPS Online compatible.
 
Kate Oliver is a public relations specialist for Ascom Hasler Mailing Systems. Contact Ascom at 800-243-6275, custerv@ahmail.com or visit its Web site atwww.ascomhasler.com.