Mail Center Management

  • By Christopher M. O'Brien
  • 11/01/17

The e-commerce boom has changed student buying habits. Many schools are learning how to receive, sort and deliver an exponentially higher number of packages, quickly and accurately, to thousands of students every day. This high volume of incoming packages is the new normal that is straining campus mailing services, increasing operating expenses and overwhelming mail center employees.

Smart mail center managers cope via tracking systems. No more handwritten package-delivery notices. An inbound package tracking system scans packages the second they arrive, prints a barcoded label for the package and generates an email notice for the student recipient. Students receive the email in real time, which encourages fast pickup and reduces the amount of time that packages pile up in your mail center.

An inbound package tracking system also gives you another huge benefit: real-time data. You can see the exact number of packages your mail center receives daily by carrier as well as the amount of time a package sits in your mail center before a student picks it up. Instant data at your fingertips translates into stronger reporting up to management.

Finding packages during the pick-up process gets easier, too. Packages with barcode labels facing out can be stacked to maximize shelf space and can be accessed easily for checkpoints in the process. Plus, barcode tracking reduces the number of lost or missing inbound packages to almost zero.

Grab end-to-end control by automating your inbound parcel management today. Who wins? You. Your mail center staff. And, most importantly, your school’s students.

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

About the Author

Christopher M. O'Brien is executive vice president, Communication and Shipping Solutions, for Neopost USA (www.neopostusa.com). He can be reached at c.obrien@neopost.com or 203/301-3400.

Featured

  • Nureva Pro audio solution

    Nureva HDL Pro Audio Systems Earn HETMA Approved Status

    The Higher Education Technology Managers Alliance (HETMA) has added two solutions from audio conferencing provider Nureva to its HETMA Approved Products list.

  • bar graph with the bars made out of abstract cinder blocks and other construction materials

    Spaces4Learning 2025 Trends in K–12: Materials & Construction

    With 2025 well underway, it’s time to take a look at some broader trends submitted by you, our Spaces4Learning readership. We asked for your thoughts on topics like classroom design, health & safety, materials & construction, and technology in both K–12 and higher-education environments. Below is a roundup of 2025 trends in K–12 materials and construction from the experts in the trenches.

  • All Surfaces Hires New Commercial Business Development Specification Manager

    Flooring solutions provider All Surfaces recently announced that it has hired industry veteran Mechelle Bliss as its new Commercial Business Development Specification Manager, according to a news release. In her new role, she’ll be responsible for expanding the organization’s hold in various commercial markets, as well as strengthening relationships with existing clients.

  • Addressing the Housing Affordability Crisis Through Creative Campus Development

    Many Southern California college and university campuses are living amidst surging housing costs, driving the need to house more of their populations on campus. Especially for community colleges, the need to support millions of unhoused and housing insecure students has become a prominent issue that lawmakers and institutions alike are trying to solve.