The USPS recently made an unexpected move to extend the CASS / MASS deadline for cycle M. I say unexpected because many of the software vendors, including BCC, had already achieved our CASS cycle M certification well in advance of the original deadline of August 1, 2009.
Upon hearing the news, I contacted the National Customer Support Center (NCSC) to find out what was behind this extension. The explanation I received was tied to three reasons:
- Some software vendors simply were not ready. This is surprising to me since CASS cycle M had a two-year lead time for preparation.
- The testing process overall was taking longer than normal. Whether this is really a reflection of the NCSC (who grades the CASS tests) or if the delay is tied to the unnamed software vendors, I am not sure. I can say, though, that improvements certainly need to be made to the CASS and PAVE testing process. Advancements in Mail.dat and related postal data structures should be leveraged to expedite software certification.
- Testing time for MASS certification was also running longer than usual. This is not too surprising since MASS testing (address testing for MLOCR hardware devices) is longer and more involved than the CASS software certification. We saw some of these delays two-years ago during MASS cycle L. However, I am certain that improvement opportunities are available here as well.
CASS / MASS certification is essential for the mailing industry. By creating a certified platform for address quality, mailers can be assured that crucial ZIP+4 codes are being assigned at consistent and at the highest level possible. As a testament to this, the passing score for CASS certification is over 98% across several categories, including some categories that require 100% accuracy. This is based on grading a list of 100,000 USPS provided addresses.
CASS / MASS cycle N, the next cycle, is currently scheduled for August 1, 2011. With two years before this next deadline, let’s hope improvements will continue to expedite the grading process and improve overall address quality. BCC customers can be assured that we are already working on known cycle N requirements today.
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With all the talk of market forces recently, it seems as being unable to meet such benchmarks within a market means you by default are left out of the market.
In this case the late software providers should give up their chance to provide software after the Aug 1 deadline.
It is the only way that companies, like BCC, find the incentive to invest the resources needed to meet the demands of the market, no matter how or who establishes the deadline.
Fail to meet the deadline, go out of business. May be harsh but this is what drives investment.
Honda’s CVCC engine was the only engine to meet air and mileage standards 20 or so years ago. Detroit either would not or could not meet the mandated requirements. Their ablility to serve the market should have ended then. Now down the road a bit and 50 Billion dollars later, their disfunction can no longer been hidden by their friends in Congress.
So it seems the same can be said of the USPS. It enables the poor disabled companies, instead moving forward with enabled companies who have once again wasted tens of thousands of investment dollars in meeting the USPS requirement. The enabled now find no advantage to invest since they can simply claim they are not ready and the USPS will stop the clock again.
Continuing the Discussion