Postage Meter Changes: New Intelligent Mail Indicia (IMI) Mandated In 2024

Posted on December 1, 2022 by mailomg in memo 662 // 0 Comments

IMI-PC

WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Postal Service is moving to a new postage meter and PC postage evidencing technology called Intelligent Mail Indicia (IMI) in 2024, replacing the current Information Based Indicia (IBI).

The changes are detailed in this Federal Register Final Rule (click here).

Mailers will be required to update their postage meters and PC postage systems.

Click for USPS IMI-PC Information Sheet

Effective June 30, 2024, the USPS will decertify all IBI-based postage meters and by December 31, 2024 IBI systems must be withdrawn from service. Extensions to this deadline have been approved for Pitney Bowes DM Infinity until June 30, 2026 and the SendPro P-Series/Connect+ mailing systems until December 31, 2027.

“Postage indicia printed by Decertified PES will not be considered valid postage after June 30, 2025; also, refund requests for all unused postage indicia need to be completed before this date,” the USPS states in its final rule.

Mail operations installing or upgrading postage meters in 2023 should switch to the new IMI technology. Leases for IBI technology will not be extended past 2024.

The new IMI gives the USPS “more transparent and detailed transaction data; enable(s) automation of costly back-office operations; and employ(s) better security standards,” according to an IMI Fact Sheet (click to read).

Click for Pitney Bowes IMI information

Click for Quadient IMI Information

Engineering Innovation, Sendle Announce Partnership

In a pioneering move set to redefine the landscape of parcel and mail delivery, Engineering Innovation, Inc. (Eii) and Sendle have announced their strategic partnership, [...]
Best Practices For Mail Center Security

From MAIL Magazine November/December edition: There are millions of businesses that use the mail. The vast majority of these have only ‘one to a few’ per son(s) [...]
OVERLABELED: Too Many Labels Hurts Your Shipping

Good labeling is really important in shipping and distribution. Labels are like messages between the people sending, carrying, and getting packages. They tell important [...]
MAILCOM 2024 VEGAS DEADLINES IN DECEMBER

MAILCOM 2024 Conference & Exhibition will be held March 18-20 at the Tuscany in Las Vegas. Please note these deadlines coming up in December: Call for Speakers — [...]
What is Data Quality, and Why is it Important?

From Melissa: Having clean and reliable data is akin to having a powerful ace up your sleeve for your organization. However, picture this: a database packed with [...]
MAIL Magazine Nov/Dec Edition Online

The November/December 2023 issue of MAIL Magazine is now available. Click to read Click to subscribe to MAIL Magazine & Official Mail Guide Click to view previous [...]
Your UAA Mail Problem: Still Here

In every mailroom, there invariably lurks a pile of returned mail the Postal Service could not deliver. This issue, termed UAA (Undeliverable as Addressed) mail by the US [...]
MEXPRESS: Time Definite Service To/From Mexico

Mexpress is a provider of transportation and related logistics services for Air, Ocean Cargo, FTL and LTL freight to and from Mexico, with special in-bond authority granted [...]
Unmasking Greenwashing: The Consequences and Cure

From Two Sides North America: In our increasingly environmentally conscious world, it’s common for companies to tout their green initiatives and environmentally friendly [...]
Postal Addressing Standards — Pub 28 – Updated 2023

The U.S. Postal Service issued an updated Publication 28 – Postal Addressing Standards. The only change since the November 2022 edition is that mailstop code [...]
How Mail Centers Can Defend Against Fentanyl

From MAIL Magazine November/December 2023: Inbound mail centers need to be on guard with new ways to detect and contain fentanyl. Recent attacks against election offices in [...]
USPS Announces New Shipping Rates for 2024

Rate Hikes 5%+ on Priority Mail Domestic, International; IPA & ISAL Rise WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Postal Service filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission [...]