This week on Mailin' It, we welcome back Jakki Krage Strako, USPS Chief Commerce and Business Solutions Officer, to talk about the Postal Service’s latest product offering—USPS Ground Advantage. Join us as we learn the details on Ground Advantage and how it will improve package shipping when it launches this July!
In this episode, we get details on USPS Ground Advantage—a new program that will make package shipping simpler and cheaper for millions of businesses and customers nationwide. Join us as we sit down with Jakki Krage Strako, USPS Chief Commerce and Business Solutions Officer, to learn about what customers want the most and how Ground Advantage is taking the Delivering for America plan a step further.
DALE PARSAN:
HEY EVERYBODY. WELCOME TO MAILIN’ IT! THE OFFICIAL PODCAST OF THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE. I'M DALE PARSAN.
KARLA KIRBY:
AND I'M KARLA KIRBY. THIS EPISODE WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE POSTAL SERVICES LATEST PRODUCT OFFERING GROUND ADVANTAGE, A REVOLUTIONARY NEW PROGRAM THAT WILL MAKE PACKAGE SHIPPING SIMPLER AND CHEAPER FOR MILLIONS OF BUSINESSES AND CONSUMERS. JOINING US ON THE SHOW FOR THE SECOND TIME IS JAKKI KRAGE STRAKO, THE POSTAL SERVICES CHIEF COMMERCE AND BUSINESS SOLUTIONS OFFICER AND EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT TO SHARE SOME DETAILS ON GROUND ADVANTAGE AND HOW IT'LL IMPROVE PACKAGE SHIPPING WHEN IT LAUNCHES THIS JULY. JAKKI, WELCOME TO MAILING IT.
JAKKI:
THANKS KARLA.
DALE PARSAN:
JAKKI, WHEN WE HAD YOU ON THE PODCAST LAST FEBRUARY, YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW THE USPS CONNECT OFFERING, WHICH THE POSTAL SERVICE LAUNCHED LAST YEAR, WAS HELPING TO SIMPLIFY PACKAGE SHIPPING FOR MAIN STREET BUSINESSES. BEFORE WE GET INTO HOW GROUND ADVANTAGE IS TAKING THOSE EFFORTS A STEP FURTHER, WOULD YOU MIND SHARING A BRIEF INTRODUCTION ON YOUR ROLE AND BACKGROUND WITH THE POSTAL SERVICE?
JAKKI:
ABSOLUTELY. THANKS DALE. YEAH, I AM JAKKI KRAGE STRAK. I AM THE CHIEF COMMERCE AND BUSINESS SOLUTIONS OFFICER FOR THE POSTAL SERVICE. IT'S A NEW POSITION. IT'S ONLY BEEN AROUND REALLY SINCE LOUIS DEJOY BECAME THE POSTMASTER GENERAL. AND WHEN LOUIS JOINED THE ORGANIZATION, WHAT HE SAW WAS THAT WE HAD A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP SOLUTIONS FOR OUR CUSTOMERS BASED ON THE ASSETS THAT THE ORGANIZATION HAD. AND IT WAS THE PHYSICAL ASSETS OF OUR BUILDINGS. IT WAS THE, THE NETWORK WHETHER IT'S OUR PLANT NETWORK, WHETHER IT'S OUR POST OFFICE NETWORK AND THE TRANSPORTATION THAT CONNECTED ALL OF THAT IN BETWEEN. SO WHEN LOUIS CREATED THE, THE GROUP THAT I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF LEADING, WHEN LOUIS CREATED THE CHIEF COMMERCE AND BUSINESS SOLUTIONS GROUP, HE CREATED THREE BRAND NEW VICE PRESIDENTS THAT I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH. SO FIRST OFF, I'VE GOT OUR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND WHAT THAT GROUP IS RESPONSIBLE FOR IS GOING OUT AND WINNING NEW BUSINESS FOR OUR SHIPPING CUSTOMERS.
JAKKI:
AND THEY'RE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR CULTIVATING RELATIONSHIPS WITH EXISTING CUSTOMERS TO GROW OUR SHIPPING AS WELL AS OUR MAIL BUSINESS. THAT GROUP IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR CONTRACTING. SO A LOT OF COMPANIES DON'T REALIZE THAT WE DO WRITE CONTRACTS FOR SHIPPING. SO THIS IS MY GROUP THAT NEGOTIATES SHIPPING CONTRACTS WITH OUR CLIENTS. THEN I'VE GOT ANOTHER GROUP, VICE PRESIDENT BUSINESS SOLUTIONS. AND UNDER THAT GROUP WE'VE GOT AWESOME PEOPLE, A LOT OF ENGINEERS AND OTHER FOLKS THAT REALLY UNDERSTAND OUR NETWORK AND OUR ASSETS. AND THEY ARE CONSTANTLY MODELING WHAT ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE CAN LEVERAGE AND HARNESS FROM THE NETWORK THAT THAT WE HAVE, WHETHER IT'S OPEN SPACE ON A PACKAGE, SORTATION EQUIPMENT, WHETHER IT'S OPEN SPACE IN A TRUCK, OPEN SPACE IN A BUILDING, HOW DO WE TAKE THE ASSETS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE AND TURN THAT INTO A SOLUTION FOR OUR CUSTOMER? SO THAT'S WHAT THAT GROUP IS ALL ABOUT.
JAKKI:
AND THEY ALSO OWN OUR PRODUCT GROUP. SO THAT GROUP'S BEEN REALLY, REALLY BUSY WORKING ON USPS GROUND ADVANTAGE. AND THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I HAVE A FACILITIES GROUP AND WITH THAT TEAM, THEY HAVE A HUGE LIFT. SO THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERY SINGLE POST OFFICE AND PLANT AND ANY INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE IN THE POSTAL SERVICE. AND IT IS ON TOP OF THAT INFRASTRUCTURE OF ASSETS, OF PHYSICAL ASSETS OF REAL ESTATE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO THE NETWORK EVOLUTION THAT WE'VE GOT UNDERWAY, AS WELL AS ASSETS FOR WHICH WITH WHICH WE CAN DEVELOP SOLUTIONS FOR OUR CUSTOMERS.
KARLA KIRBY:
THAT IS ABSOLUTELY A LOT
JAKKI:
KARLA KIRBY:
SO NOW THAT WE HAVE THAT FRAMEWORK, LET'S GET INTO GROUND ADVANTAGE. WHAT'S SO EXCITING ABOUT THIS NEW OFFERING?
JAKKI:
WELL, FIRST AND FOREMOST, THIS IS THE CONTINUATION OF THE DELIVERING FOR AMERICA PLAN. SO LOUIS AND TEAM ANNOUNCED THE PLAN TWO YEARS AGO, AND PART OF THAT IS CREATING A INTEGRATED NETWORK FOR MAIL AND PACKAGES. AND BY LAW NOW SIX DAYS A WEEK, WE ARE MANDATED TO HAVE AN INTEGRATED NETWORK TO MOVE BOTH MAIL AND PACKAGES. AND ON TOP OF THAT NETWORK IN THE DELIVERING FOR AMERICA PLAN, WE TALK ABOUT THE EFFICIENCIES AND THE SERVICE RELIABILITY THAT WE'RE GOING FOR WITH OUR NETWORK. AND THAT'S REALLY HOW USPS GROUND ADVANTAGE WAS ABLE TO BE FORMED AND DEVELOPED AS A PRODUCT. SO, AS YOU MAY KNOW, WE HAD A NETWORK WHERE WE DID HAVE A GROUND PRODUCT AND IT HAD A REALLY LONG SERVICE STANDARD BECAUSE IT WAS MOVING THROUGH OUR NDC NETWORK. AND FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW OUR NDC NETWORK, IT WAS A NETWORK OF 21 FACILITIES THAT COVERED THE ENTIRE GEOGRAPHY OF THE US AND IT HAD A PLANT NETWORK THAT WOULD PROCESS AND SORT PACKAGES AND THEN IT WOULD MOVE THE PACKAGES TO THE NEXT NDC AND THEN GET THEM OUT TO THE POST OFFICES FOR DELIVERY.
JAKKI:
SO IF YOU ONLY HAVE 21 NDCS TO SERVE THE WHOLE COUNTRY AND A SEPARATE TRANSPORTATION NETWORK, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A SLOWER PRODUCT OFFERING AND IT'S GONNA BE A WHOLE DIFFERENT COST BASE. SO WHAT LOUIS AND OUR PARTNERS ON THE NETWORK SIDE AND TRANSPORTATION SIDE DID IS THEY COLLAPSED THE NETWORK. SO INSTEAD OF HAVING A SEPARATE NDC NETWORK, ALL OF THOSE PACKAGE PROCESSING OPERATIONS AND TRANSPORTATION GOT FOLDED INTO OUR PLANT PROCESSING WITH OUR FIRST-CLASSPACKAGES. SO SINCE WE WERE MERGING THOSE OPERATIONS TOGETHER, WE HAD A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO UPGRADE SERVICE AND TO REALLY MAKE THE POSTAL SERVICE THAT MUCH MORE AFFORDABLE AS A PRODUCT OFFERING.
DALE PARSAN:
FROM A CUSTOMER PERSPECTIVE, IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS ALSO GONNA ADD ADD BENEFIT TO, TO OUR LIVES, RIGHT? FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE MAILING, TALK TO ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PERCEPTION FROM THE CUSTOMER'S SIDE FOR GROUND ADVANTAGE.
JAKKI:
ABSOLUTELY HUGE BENEFIT. SO FIRST AND FOREMOST, ESPECIALLY WITH WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE ECONOMY RIGHT NOW, COST, COST, COST, EVERY COMPANY, REGARDLESS OF SIZE, IS LOOKING AT HOW DO I EXTRACT COST RIGHT NOW? SO SHIPPING IS A, YOU KNOW, IT CAN BE A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE EXPENSE OF A COMPANY. SO ALL COMPANIES ARE LOOKING FOR HOW CAN I GET MY PRODUCT TO MY CUSTOMER AS QUICKLY AND AFFORDABLY IS POSSIBLE. AND THAT'S WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT THIS PRODUCT. IT'S A TWO TO FIVE DAY SERVICE OFFERING. SO AT A VERY AFFORDABLE PRICE, CUZ AGAIN, WE'RE, WE'VE MERGED TWO NETWORKS TOGETHER AND WE ARE DOING THIS ON EXISTING TRANSPORTATION, EXISTING PROCESSING EQUIPMENT AND THROUGH EXISTING FACILITIES. SO WE'RE REALLY ABLE TO KEEP THIS PRICE POINT VERY AFFORDABLE FOR A GREAT SERVICE OFFERING OF TWO TO FIVE DAYS. SO THAT'S, THAT'S FIRST. SECONDLY, WITH THIS INTEGRATED NETWORK, WE CAN BE HIGHLY RELIABLE. SO IF WE MAKE A SERVICE PROMISE THAT THIS IS A TWO DAY REACH FROM POINT A TO POINT B WE ARE GOING TO MAKE THAT TWO DAY REACH WITH 95% PLUS CERTAINTY. SO IT'S NOT ONLY AFFORDABLE PRICE, BUT IT'S PREDICTABLE AND RELIABLE SO THAT YOU AS THE CUSTOMER CAN MEET YOUR CUSTOMER'S EXPECTATIONS AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY COME BACK TO YOU AND CONTINUE TO DO BUSINESS WITH YOU AS A RETAILER.
DALE PARSAN:
FANTASTIC.
KARLA KIRBY:
SO I GUESS YOU COULD SAY THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE CUSTOMERS WANTED AND NEEDED AND THAT WE DELIVERED ON.
JAKKI:
ABSOLUTELY. AND I THINK THE OTHER KEY THING ABOUT OUR AFFORDABILITY IS WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH THIS PRODUCT AND THE PRODUCT DEFINITION. SO YES, IT'S TWO TO FIVE DAYS, WHICH IS AWESOME, BUT WHAT WE ALSO DID IS WE STUDIED IN THE MARKETPLACE WHAT OTHER OFFERINGS OR OR BENEFITS DO WE NEED TO ATTACH TO THE PRODUCT. SO WHAT WE SAW, WE HAD OUR GROUND PRODUCT PREVIOUSLY PARCEL SELECT GROUND, AND IT DIDN'T OFFER FEATURES LIKE INSURANCE BAKED INTO THE PRICE. IT DIDN'T OFFER, HEY, IF KARLA ORDERED SOMETHING BUT KARLA MOVED AND WE HAVE A FORWARDING ORDER ON FILE. IT DIDN'T INCLUDE GETTING THAT PRODUCT OR THAT PACKAGE FORWARDED KARLA OR IF YOU KNOW, MAYBE IT WAS DALE DIDN'T TYPE IN HIS RIGHT ADDRESS WHEN HE WAS PLACED IN THE ORDER AND IT, IF IT HAS TO BE RETURNED TO THE SHIPPER CAUSE IT'S NOT A VALID ADDRESS, FOR EXAMPLE, IT INCLUDES GETTING THAT UNDELIVERABLE AS ADDRESSED BACK TO THE, THE THE SHIPPER YOU KNOW, WHO, WHOEVER, YOU KNOW, THE MERCHANT.
JAKKI:
SO THOSE WERE SOME THREE PRETTY SIGNIFICANT OFFERINGS THAT WE DECIDED TO BAKE INTO THIS NEW PRODUCT, USPS GROUND ADVANTAGE. SO THAT'S A HUGE PERK FOR CUSTOMERS. THE OTHER THING IS WITH ALL OF OUR PRODUCTS, THERE'S NO SURPRISE. SO AT THE END OF THE MONTH YOU DON'T GET AN INVOICE THAT SAYS, HEY, FUEL WENT UP BY THIS PERCENT, SO WE'RE GONNA SURCHARGE YOU THIS OR HEY, THAT, THAT WENT TO A RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS, SO WE'RE GONNA BUMP YOUR PRICE UP BY X. OUR PRICING IS UPFRONT, AFFORDABLE PRICING SO YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE GONNA PAY. AND AT THE END OF THE MONTH, THERE'S NO SURPRISE,
DALE PARSAN:
SIMPLE AND BENEFICIAL FOR EVERYBODY. I LIKE IT. MM-HMM.
JAKKI:
YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. DEAL. SO USPS CONNECT HAD FOUR REAL DISTINCT SEGMENTS. SO IT WAS THE NATIONAL TIER REFERENCE, IT WAS REGIONAL, IT WAS LOCAL. AND THEN THE FOURTH CATEGORY WAS REALLY ABOUT GETTING INTO RETURNS. AND I'LL, I'LL WANNA HIT ON THAT FIRST AND THEN I'LL GO BACKWARDS TO THE NATIONAL CUZ IT DOES TIE TOGETHER. SO USPS CONNECT RETURNS IS REALLY LOOKING AT OUR NETWORK AS A FULL NETWORK. SO A LOT OF PEOPLE TALK ABOUT LAST MILE. MM-HMM
JAKKI:
SO IF I MAYBE HAVE ONLY TWO DISTRIBUTION CENTERS IN THE COUNTRY OR MAYBE ONE DISTRIBUTION CENTER IN THE COUNTRY, I NEED TO GET FROM MY DISTRIBUTION CENTER TO ANYBODY WHO'S ORDERING FROM ME. SO I MIGHT NEED TO GET TO ALASKA, I MIGHT NEED TO GET TO IOWA, I MIGHT NEED TO GET TO FLORIDA. SO WE HAVE WHAT WE CALL NETWORK SOLUTION PRODUCTS. SO THAT'S OUR PRIORITY MAIL PRODUCT. IT IS OUR FORMER PARCEL SELECT GROUND PRODUCT THAT USED TO MOVE THROUGH OUR NDCS. AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE OUR FIRST-CLASS PACKAGE PRODUCT CURRENTLY THAT'S GONNA BE MERGED INTO THE USPS GROUND ADVANTAGE. SO THOSE ARE OUR NATIONAL PRODUCTS. SO WHAT WE DID IS WE WERE LOOKING AT USPS CONNECT AND WE SAID WE'VE GOT NATIONAL, WE'VE GOT REGIONAL, WE'VE GOT LOCAL AND WE'VE GOT RETURNS. SO WHAT DID WE NEED TO DO IN THE NATIONAL PRODUCT, THAT FULL NETWORK?
JAKKI:
WHAT WE REALLY SAW WAS WE LOOKED AT OUR COMPETITORS AND OUR COMPETITORS HAD VERY DISTINCT PRODUCTS. THEY HAVE A GROUND PRODUCT AND THEY HAVE AN AIR PRODUCT. YEP. OUR PRIORITY PRODUCT, SOME OF IT MOVES ON THE GROUND AND SOME OF IT MOVES IN THE AIR. AND OUR PRIORITY PRODUCT IS AN OVERNIGHT TWO THREE DAY SERVICE PROMISE. THEN WE HAD OUR FIRST-CLASS PACKAGE OFFERING THAT WAS A TWO TO FIVE DAY OFFERING AND THEN OUR PARCEL SELECT GROUND THAT'S NOW GONE OUT OF THE NDC NETWORK. THAT WAS A TWO TO EIGHT DAY PRODUCT. SO I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE CONFUSED, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS, YOU KNOW, IF I'M BUYING PRIORITY VERSUS FIRST-CLASS PACKAGE, WHAT AM I BUYING? WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE IF I'M BUYING PARCEL SELECT GROUND VERSUS PRIORITY, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? SO PART OF IT WAS JUST CLARITY, CREATING VERY I'LL JUST SAY INDUSTRY CONSISTENT PRODUCTS SO THAT OUR CUSTOMERS REALLY DIDN'T HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FIRST-CLASS PACKAGE PARCEL SELECT GROUND PRIORITY HELPED ME MAKE IT SIMPLE, LET ME MAKE CHOICES. SO PART OF WHAT WE'RE DOING IS REALLY REDEFINING. SO WE'RE SAYING THAT THIS IS A GROUND PRODUCT. SO OVER THE LAST YEAR, KELLY ABNEY, OUR CHIEF LOGISTIC OFFICER AND HIS TEAM HAVE CREATED A FULL GROUND NETWORK. SO NOW WE HAVE USPS GROUND ADVANTAGE, WHICH CAN MOVE FROM TIP OF FLORIDA TO THE TIP OF MAINE OR THE TIP OF FLORIDA TO WASHINGTON STATE IN FIVE DAYS. SO THAT IS OUR GROUND PRODUCT TO REALLY COMPETE HEAD TO HEAD WITH OUR COMPETITOR'S GROUND PRODUCT.
DALE PARSAN:
IT, IT'S PRETTY POWERFUL JAKKI AND, AND ANYBODY WHO'S BEEN LISTENING TO THE PODCAST FOR SOME TIME, THIS WON'T BE A SURPRISE, BUT I ALWAYS LIKE TO TALK ABOUT SMALL BUSINESSES, ESPECIALLY COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC. SO WHAT I'M HEARING HERE IS THIS IS GONNA BE BENEFICIAL TO EVERYBODY, BUT SPECIFICALLY I SEE IT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, RIGHT? WITH THEM TRYING TO COMPETE WITH THESE LARGER COMPETITORS WHO CAN GUARANTEE THINGS LIKE THREE DAY, TWO DAY OVERNIGHT, SOMETIME ONE HOUR DELIVERIES, RIGHT? HOW DO I AS A CANDLE MAKER DELIVER AND COMPETE?
JAKKI:
AND THAT'S A GREAT POINT CUZ REALLY FOR SMALL AND MID-SIZE BUSINESSES, A LOT OF THEM, THEIR CUSTOMER BASE IS IN A PRETTY TIGHT GEOGRAPHY. IT MIGHT BE 150, 200 MILES AROUND THE TOWN THAT THEY'RE IN THAT THEIR REPUTATION'S BEEN BUILT AND THEIR BRAND HAS BEEN BUILT. AND THAT'S WHERE, YEAH, USPS GROUND ADVANTAGE NUMBER ONE, SUPER AFFORDABLE. NUMBER TWO, ACCESS IS EASY. YOU CAN INDUCT THIS VOLUME IN YOUR LOCAL POST OFFICE OR IF YOU WANT, YOU CAN SCHEDULE THE CARRIER TO PICK IT UP ON HER ROUTE AS SHE'S OUT DELIVERING YOUR MAIL. SHE'LL PICK THAT PACKAGE UP, BRING IT BACK TO THE POST OFFICE, WE'LL INDUCT IT INTO THE NETWORK. AND AGAIN, SINCE A LOT OF SMALL AND MID-SIZE BUSINESSES, IF THEIR CUSTOMERS ARE WITHIN A HUNDRED AND 150 MILES OF THE TOWN IN WHICH THEY LIVE, THEN YOU'RE NOT LOOKING AT A FIVE DAY STANDARD, YOU'RE PROBABLY LOOKING AT A TWO DAY STANDARD.
JAKKI:
BUT IF I DO HAVE A CUSTOMER THAT'S CLEAR ON THE OTHER SIDE OF, YOU KNOW, THE COUNTRY, ABSOLUTELY WE'VE GOT A VERY AFFORDABLE SERVICE, RELIABLE PRODUCT FOR THEM TO REACH. AND FOR A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESSES, MONEY'S MONEY'S TIGHT. THEY DON'T HAVE THE BACKING THAT THE BIGGER COMPANIES HAVE. SO BEING ABLE TO SAVE, YOU KNOW, PENNIES PER BOX, DIMES PER BOX TO SHIP IT, IT ADDS UP AND IT ADDS UP QUICKLY. ABSOLUTELY. THE PICKUP'S HUGE CUZ I THINK A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESSES, THEY DON'T HAVE THE STAFF TO RUN TO THE POST OFFICE OR RUN TO THE COMPETITORS AND THEN, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, THE COMPETITORS CAN CHARGE EXTRA FEES FOR DOING THE PICKUP. IF IT'S IN LINE OF TRAVEL OF OUR CARRIER, WE'LL SWING BY AND PICK IT UP, JUST SCHEDULE IT UP FRONT WITH THE CARRIER AND WE'LL PICK IT UP AT NO EXTRA COST. WE'RE GONNA
KARLA KIRBY:
BE THERE ANYWAYS. RIGHT. ABSOLUTELY.
JAKKI:
IT'S OUR FIRST MILE AND OUR LAST MILE. SAME THING. YEP.
KARLA KIRBY:
SO WHEN WE, WE LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT ADVANTAGES THAT YOU OUTLINED, IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S SOMETHING FOR EVERY BUSINESS FROM THE SMALL BUSINESS THAT'S DOING LOCAL WORK TO THOSE THAT ARE GOING NATIONWIDE. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT, IS THERE A PARTICULAR THING THAT YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT THE GROUND ADVANTAGE PRODUCT?
JAKKI:
I THINK THE SIMPLICITY AND THE AFFORDABILITY ARE THE TWO THINGS. AND WHEN I'M TALKING TO CUSTOMERS, THOSE ARE REALLY WHAT'S, ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW, THAT'S OF WHAT'S OF MOST IMPORTANCE TO EVERYBODY RIGHT NOW. AND THEN I THINK THE ADDED ADVANTAGE OF KNOWING THE PRICING UPFRONT AND NO SURPRISES AT THE END. CUZ IF YOU'RE A SMALL BUSINESS OR A HUGE BUSINESS, YOU'VE GOT YOUR BUDGET AND YOU NEED TO LIVE WITHIN THAT BUDGET. AND IF YOU GET HIT WITH UNEXPECTED FEES AT THE END OF THE DAY OR AT THE END OF THE MONTH, IT, IT CAN BE VERY TROUBLING AND ESPECIALLY IN THESE ECONOMIC TIMES. SO I THINK THOSE ARE THE, THE KEY KEY FEATURES THAT ARE EXCITING. I THINK ALSO WHEN I TALK TO CUSTOMERS, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY JUST FOR USPS GROUND ADVANTAGE, IT'S THE BENEFITS OF WORKING WITH THE POSTAL SERVICE. SO WHEN I LOOK AT U S PS GROUND ADVANTAGE AND WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED IS WE'VE COLLAPSED A NETWORK.
JAKKI:
SO WE HAD AN NDC NETWORK WITH NDC TRANSPORTATION, WE'VE COLLAPSED THAT INTO OUR MAIL AND OTHER PACKAGE NETWORK. SO WE'VE ELIMINATED ALL THAT CARBON, ALL THOSE EMPTY TRIPS OR CUZ THEY'RE NOT USED ANYMORE. SO THEY WEREN'T EMPTY BEFORE. BUT WE'VE ELIMINATED TRIPS BETWEEN THE NDCS THAT WE DON'T NEED ANYMORE AND WE'VE MOVED AS WHOLE GROUND NETWORK. SO LEVERAGING THE EXISTING NETWORK IS SUSTAINABLY THE RIGHT THING TO DO. SO BY USING OUR NETWORK TO GET YOUR PRODUCT IN-HOME TO YOUR CUSTOMER, AGAIN A SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION, YOU'RE NOT PUTTING ANOTHER TRUCK ON THE ROAD TO GO TO YOUR MAILBOX. AND THEN THE OTHER BIG ADVANTAGE WHEN TALKING TO CUSTOMERS IS OUR BRAND. WE'VE GOT A VERY, VERY POWERFUL BRAND AND PEOPLE KNOW WHEN THEY TRUST THEIR CARRIER. SO OUR BRAND DELIVERING FOR YOUR BRAND, WE'RE A GREAT EXTENSION OF YOUR BRAND AND YOUR CARRIER KNOWS YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY KNOW THE PEOPLE, THEY KNOW THE BUSINESSES AND THERE'S THAT TRUST THERE. SO DO I WANT SOMEBODY I KNOW AND TRUST BRINGING MY PACKAGE TO ME? ABSOLUTELY. THAT WOULD BE MY PREFERENCE. SO THAT'S A LOT OF WHAT I HEAR FROM CUSTOMERS IS KIND OF, I'LL SAY THE ADDED BENEFITS OF LEVERAGING THIS PRODUCT OR ANY POSTAL PRODUCTS IS THAT TRUSTED RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CARRIER TO SERVE THEIR CUSTOMERS AND EXTENDING THEIR BRAND FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS.
DALE PARSAN:
LET'S, LET'S TALK PACKAGING SUPPLIES, RIGHT? MM-HMM
JAKKI:
SO FOR GROUND ADVANTAGE, WE'RE GONNA DO SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT CAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP THIS PRODUCT REALLY, REALLY AFFORDABLE. SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS FOR OUR BIGGER CUSTOMERS SIGNING CONTRACT WITH US, IF THEY ARE INTERESTED IN US PROVIDING THE USPS GROUND ADVANTAGE, WE ARE PROVIDING PACKAGING FOR THEM. SO YOU WON'T FIND IT IN OUR RETAIL LOBBIES, BUT IF YOU WANNA SHIP WITH US AND YOU WANT IT INTO YOUR CONTRACT, WE WILL ABSOLUTELY DO IT FOR YOU.
DALE PARSAN:
WONDERFUL. AND ALL THAT INFORMATION ON USPS.COM OR HOW DID THEY GO ABOUT
JAKKI:
YES. ALL THAT'LL BE OUT THERE ON U OR IF YOU WANNA TALK TO A SALES REP,
KARLA KIRBY:
SO WE WOULD BE REMISS OF COURSE IF WE DIDN'T ASK ABOUT HOW GROUND ADVANTAGE FITS INTO DELIVERING FOR AMERICA AND OUR TENURE PLAN. CAN YOU GIVE US A LITTLE INSIGHT ON THAT? I
JAKKI:
CAN. YOU KNOW, NUMBER ONE IS WITHIN THE DELIVERING FOR AMERICA PLAN, THERE'S A TALL ORDER IN THERE. IT'S GROW THE BUSINESS BY 24 BILLION OVER THE PERIOD. SO THE ONLY WAY WE CAN GROW THE BUSINESS EFFECTIVELY IS BY HAVING THE RIGHT PRODUCTS WITH THE RIGHT SERVICE AT THE RIGHT PRICE. SO THAT IS, YOU KNOW, USPS GROUND ADVANTAGE, WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH USPS CONNECT, IT'S ALL GOING TO TOWARDS WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO GROW THE BUSINESS. NOW GRANTED THAT'S THE SHIPPING SIDE, BUT WHAT A GREAT WAY TO GET SHIPPING AND TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS AND TO GROW. YOU KNOW, COMMERCE IN GENERAL IS MAIL MARKETING MAIL IS VERY, VERY POWERFUL. AND WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH INFORMED DELIVERY JUST TO REALLY ACCENTUATE MAIL AND THEN TIE IT INTO INFORMED DELIVERY FOR PACKAGES, IS JUST THIS GREAT, GREAT POWERFUL OFFERING THAT ONLY THE POSTAL SERVICE CAN PROVIDE.
JAKKI:
SO THAT'S HUGE. SO THAT 24 BILLION, YES, WE'RE GOING AFTER SHIPPING, MY TEAM AND I HYPER-FOCUSED ON SHIPPING, BUT WE KNOW THAT MAIL WILL HELP PEOPLE GROW THEIR BUSINESS, WHICH HELPS US GROW PACKAGES. SO THAT'S NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO, MY TEAM AND I CANNOT DO ANYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING WITHOUT THE REST OF THE ORGANIZATION AND US SUPPORTING THE EXECUTION OF THE REST OF DELIVERING FOR AMERICA. SO FIRST AND FOREMOST WE GOT THE LEGISLATION, WHICH IS AWESOME. SO THAT GIVES US THE, THE MANDATE FOR THIS INTEGRATED NETWORK, WHICH IS HUGE. THEN WE'VE GOT ALL THE WORK THAT OUR COLLEAGUES ARE DOING TO MAKE OUR NETWORK MORE EFFICIENT AND THAT ALLOWS US TO KEEP OUR PRICES AFFORDABLE. SO EVERYTHING THAT OUR DELIVERY AND RETAIL AND OUR LOGISTICS PARTNERS AS WELL AS OUR PLANT PARTNERS ARE DOING TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY, THAT HELPS US. THEN WE'VE GOT EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON IN THE NETWORK, NETWORK REDESIGN TO IMPROVE THE SERVICE RELIABILITY THAT IS THE FOUNDATION FROM WHICH WE'RE BUILDING AND WHAT WE'RE OUT THERE SELLING.
JAKKI:
AND THEN AS THE ENTIRE TEAM IS IMPLEMENTING AND EXECUTING ON THE FUTURE STATE NETWORK WITH OUR RPCS LPCS AND S NDCS, THAT JUST ALLOWS NEW ACCESS POINTS FOR OUR CUSTOMERS TO REACH US AND TO DO BUSINESS WITH US. AND IT EXTENDS OUR REACH SO THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO GET FURTHER AND REACH MORE POPULATION IN FEWER NUMBER OF DAYS AS WE IMPLEMENT THE NEW NETWORK DESIGN. SO ALL OF THAT IS A TON THAT'S HELPING US BE SUCCESSFUL AND REALLY OFFER WHAT WE NEED TO OFFER FOR SOLUTIONS FOR OUR CUSTOMERS. AND THEN I HAVE TO TALK TO ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THE EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT CUZ IT'S HUGE. SO I, YOU KNOW, EARLIER I TALKED ABOUT THAT RELATIONSHIP THAT THE CARRIER HAS ON HER ROUTE OR HIS ROUTE WITH THE CUSTOMERS OUT THERE SO THEY KNOW THE RESIDENTS AND THEY ALSO KNOW THE BUSINESSES.
JAKKI:
SO THE, THE MORE STABLE WORKFORCE, THE MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE WORKFORCE, THE MORE EMPOWERED WE HAVE OF A WORKFORCE, IT JUST HELPS US EXECUTE BETTER FOR OUR SHIPPING CUSTOMERS. THEY GET THAT TRUSTED DELIVERY FROM THEIR TRUSTED CARRIER AND THEY GET THE SERVICE RELIABILITY TO THEIR END CONSUMER. SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS YOU KNOW, THE BENEFITS OF ALL THE WORK THAT'S GOING ON IN THE ORGANIZATION THAT MY TEAM AND I GET TO SELL ON TOP OF THE GREAT WORK THAT EVERYBODY'S DOING. SO THAT 24 BILLION WILL BE EASY BECAUSE OUR COLLEAGUES ARE JUST DOING SUCH AN AWESOME JOB OF SETTING US UP FOR SUCCESS TO REALLY OFFER, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE CUSTOMER NEED, AN AFFORDABLE PRICE SERVICE RELIABILITY. AND THEN AS THINGS EVOLVE YOU KNOW, WHAT NEW SOLUTIONS CAN MY TEAM AND I CREATE? SO, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE DO AN SNDC AND WE ARE GOING TO MOVE CARRIERS INTO A MASSIVE DELIVERY UNIT, WHAT OPPORTUNITY DOES THAT CREATE AND TALKING TO OUR CUSTOMERS ABOUT, OKAY, IF I HAPPEN TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, X AMOUNT OF SQUARE FOOTAGE IN THAT BUILDING, IS THERE A WAY THAT WE COULD LEVERAGE THAT SPACE TO GROW MORE PACKAGE BUSINESS?
JAKKI:
SO JUST REALLY LOOKING AS WE MOVE THROUGH OUR NETWORK CHANGES WHAT OPPORTUNITIES AND WHAT SOLUTIONS ARE ON THE HORIZON. AND I THINK THE PERFECT EXAMPLE IS WHAT WE DID WITH, AS AN ORGANIZATION WITH COVID TEST KITS. SO WHERE WE DID THOSE COVID TEST KITS THAT WAS IN, YOU KNOW, 45 PLUS OF OUR ANNEXES THAT WE GOT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO SO THAT WE COULD BUILD OUT OUR CAPACITY FOR OUR NETWORK. SO IT WOULD HELP US AS WE WERE MAKING THIS TRANSITION AND WE WERE ABLE TO LEVERAGE THAT REAL ESTATE ASSET TO SERVE THE PURPOSE OF, OF GETTING THE COVID TEST KITS OUT. SO THAT'S WHAT MY TEAM AND I'LL BE DOING, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF MOVING FORWARD IS HOW DO WE LEVERAGE, WHETHER IT'S TRANSPORTATION, BUILDINGS, OUR EQUIPMENT, HOW DO WE LEVERAGE IT TO CREATE SOLUTIONS FOR CUSTOMERS?
DALE PARSAN:
SO I I WANNA CIRCLE BACK A LITTLE BIT TO MORE OF THAT CONSUMER PERSPECTIVE, RIGHT? SO ME AS AN INDIVIDUAL, NOT A BUSINESS OWNER, NOT SOMEBODY WHO SHIPS OUT A WHOLE HECK OF A LOT, RIGHT? I'M, I'M VERY EXCITED FOR THIS. IT SEEMS VERY SIMPLISTIC. LIKE TO YOUR POINT, I'M, I'M EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO, TO USE IT FOR MY SHIPPING NEEDS. BUT LET'S SAY I WAS THAT SMALL BUSINESS, RIGHT? THAT ENTITY THAT SHIPS OUT QUITE OFTEN AND I'VE BECOME VERY USED TO, LET'S CALL THEM LEGACY GROUND TRANSPORTATION PRODUCTS, RIGHT? BECAUSE IT AFFORDABLE WHATEVER WE WANNA REFER TO IT AS. BUT LET'S JUST SAY LEGACY FOR NOW. HOW IS THAT TRANSITION GOING TO AFFECT ME AND WHERE CAN I GO TO GET MORE INFORMATION ON IT?
JAKKI:
YOU CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE, USPS.COM. YOU COULD ALSO ASK THE CARRIER ON YOUR ROUTE, OR YOU COULD ASK AT YOUR LOCAL POST OFFICE AND THEY'LL HAVE INFORMATION AS WELL. OR IF YOU WANTED TO GET INTO A MORE DEPTH CONVERSATION, WE CAN CONNECT YOU WITH ONE OF OUR SALES PROFESSIONALS. SO THAT WOULD BE WHERE I WOULD START. THEN WE'VE GOT OUR AWESOME, AND I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYBODY KNOWS ABOUT IT, WE'VE GOT THIS AWESOME TOOL THAT ANYBODY CAN USE. NO SOFTWARE REQUIRED NOTHING. IT'S CALLED CLICK-N-SHIP . SO YOU CAN GO, YOU KNOW, USPS.COM, GO ON, CLICK-N-SHIP AND IF YOU DALE WANTED TO SHIP 20 PACKAGES A DAY, 75 PACKAGES A DAY, WE'VE GOT A GREAT TOOL FOR YOU. SO YOU CAN LOG ONTO THIS TOOL AND YOU CAN LET US, YOU CAN DOWNLOAD, YOU KNOW WHO, YOU KNOW, WHO YOU NEED TO SHIP TO THAT DAY.
JAKKI:
WE CAN GET THE LABELS CREATED FOR YOU, YOU CAN PAY FOR YOUR POSTAGE AND BOOM, YOU'RE DONE. SO IT'S ONE STOP SHOPPING FOR YOU. LABELS CAN BE PRINTED RIGHT THERE. IF YOU DON'T HAPPEN TO HAVE A PRINTER AT HOME, LIKE A LOT OF FOLKS YOUR AGE DON'T HAVE PRINTERS AT HOME
DALE PARSAN:
IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'VE GUYS HAVE REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT THIS FROM ALL ANGLES AND I'M SURE IT'S APPRECIATED BY THE COMMUNITY.
JAKKI:
I HOPE SO. IT'S COOL. YEAH, SO DEFINITELY TRY CLICK-N-SHIP AND DEFINITELY INFORM DELIVERY WHEN YOU'RE OUT THERE LOOKING AT AT CLICK-N-SHIP . SIGN UP FOR INFORM DELIVERY AS WELL.
KARLA KIRBY:
ABSOLUTELY. I LOOK AT MINE EVERY MORNING.
JAKKI:
AWESOME. GOOD TO HEAR.
DALE PARSAN:
JAKKI, BOTTOM LINE, IT SOUNDS LIKE USPS ADVANTAGE IS A WIN-WIN FOR BOTH THE POSTAL SERVICE AND OUR CUSTOMERS.
JAKKI:
WE DEFINITELY BELIEVE SO. WE ARE VERY, VERY EXCITED TO BRING THIS PRODUCT OFFERING TO OUR CUSTOMERS. AS I SAID, BETWEEN THE TWO AND FIVE DAY SERVICE STANDARD, AGAIN, FROM FIVE DAY WOULD BE THE TIP OF FLORIDA TO WASHINGTON STATE CLOSER, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A TWO DAY SERVICE STANDARD. SO I THINK WE'VE GOT WHAT PEOPLE NEED, THE SERVICE RELIABILITY AND IT'S ABSOLUTELY GONNA BE AFFORDABLE AS WELL AS PRICE, SIMPLICITY, NO SURPRISES AT THE END OF THE MONTH. DALE, NO SURPRISES.
DALE PARSAN:
JAKKI, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING YOU BACK FOR OUR THIRD INSTALLMENT WHEN YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE UP YOUR SLEEVE.
JAKKI:
AWESOME. I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING HERE WITH EXCITING NEW SOLUTIONS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE US POSTAL SERVICE,
KARLA KIRBY:
ABSOLUTELY WAITING FOR THAT NEXT PRODUCT ROLLOUT.
JAKKI:
GREAT, THANKS, YOU TOO.
KARLA KIRBY:
NOW IT'S TIME FOR THIS EPISODE'S. DID YOU KNOW A SEGMENT WE'LL USE TO TALK ABOUT FUN AND INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE POSTAL SERVICE? I'LL GET THINGS STARTED. ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR SERVICES THE POSTAL SERVICE HAS OFFERED OVER TIME IS THE MONEY ORDER. DID YOU KNOW THAT THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT BEGAN OFFERING MONEY ORDERS IN 1864 AND THAT THEY WERE ORIGINALLY POPULAR AMONGST CIVIL WAR SOLDIERS AS A WAY OF SENDING AND RECEIVING FUNDS WHILE AWAY FROM HOME? THEY SOON BECAME POPULAR WITH THE GROWING IMMIGRANT POPULATION WHEN THE SERVICE WAS EXTENDED TO FOREIGN MONEY ORDERS IN 1869.
DALE PARSAN:
HARD TO BELIEVE THAT SENDING MONEY ORDERS WAS EVER A NEW CONCEPT.
KARLA KIRBY:
OF COURSE, THERE ARE LOTS OF WAYS TO SEND AND RECEIVE MONEY THESE DAYS FROM YOUR SMARTPHONE, BUT YEARS AGO YOU HAD A LOT FEWER OPTIONS. YOU COULD SEND CASH OR PERSONAL CHECK, BUT NEITHER WAS AS SECURE AS THE MONEY ORDER ONCE IT WAS INTRODUCED. IT WORKS THIS WAY. YOU BUY A MONEY ORDER FROM A POST OFFICE, BANK OR GROCERY STORE FOR WHATEVER AMOUNT YOU WANT, PLUS PHENOMENAL FEE. THE RECIPIENT IS GUARANTEED PAYMENT AT THE LOCATION THE SENDER SPECIFIES. AS LONG AS THE RECIPIENT HAS A FORM OF ID AND THE SENDER CAN PROVE THEY ACTUALLY SENT THE MONEY ORDER BY PRODUCING THEIR RECEIPT.
DALE PARSAN:
ALL OF THIS HAPPENS ELECTRONICALLY TODAY. BUT 160 YEARS AGO, IT MUST HAVE SEEMED LIKE A REVOLUTIONARY IDEA. MINE DID, YOU KNOW, HIGHLIGHTS A MUCH NEWER POSTAL SERVICE INNOVATION. IT'S AN INTERESTING TECHNOLOGY CALLED THE AUTOMATED PACKAGE VERIFICATION PROGRAM. AND THE POSTAL SERVICE USES IT TO AUTOMATICALLY DETECT AND COLLECT POSTAGE DUE FOR PIECES OF MAIL. TO GIVE YOU SOME SENSE OF HOW VALUABLE AUTOMATED PACKAGE VERIFICATION IS, THE TECHNOLOGY COLLECTED MORE THAN 158 MILLION IN SHORT PAID REVENUE IN FISCAL YEAR 2021.
KARLA KIRBY:
WHAT EXACTLY IS AUTOMATED PACKAGE VERIFICATION?
DALE PARSAN:
WHILE THE POSTAL SERVICE INTRODUCED AUTOMATED PACKAGE VERIFICATION OR APV BACK IN 2017 FOR DOMESTIC PACKAGES WITH A BUILT-IN TRACKING BARCODE, THE TECHNOLOGY AUTOMATICALLY CHECKS EACH PACKAGE FOR WEIGHT DIMENSIONS, MAIL CLASS, PACKAGING, ORIGIN, ZIP CODE, DESTINATION, ZIP CODE, AND POSTAGE PAID. APV ENABLES THE POSTAL SERVICE TO NOTIFY SHIPPERS THROUGH CLICK-N-SHIP OR PC POSTAGE. WHEN DIFFERENCES IN PACKAGE CHARACTERISTICS ARE DETECTED, USPS MAKES POSTAGE PAYMENT ADJUSTMENTS FOR AFFECTED ITEMS RATHER THAN SUBJECTING THOSE PIECES TO THE MANUAL POSTAGE DUE PROCESS.
KARLA KIRBY:
SO WHAT DID WE DO BEFORE A P V?
DALE PARSAN:
WELL, BEFORE APV MAIL WITH POSTAGE DISCREPANCIES WAS EITHER RETURNED TO THE SHIPPERS TO BE CORRECTED OR IT WAS DELIVERED TO ITS DESTINATION FOR THE RECIPIENT TO PAY THE POSTAGE DUE,
KARLA KIRBY:
WHICH IS NOT IDEAL. NO,
DALE PARSAN:
NO.
KARLA KIRBY:
AND THAT WRAPS UP THIS EPISODE OF DID YOU KNOW
DALE PARSAN:
KARLA, ANOTHER GREAT CONVERSATION WITH JAKKI. IT'S WONDERFUL TO HAVE HER BACK FOR A SECOND TIME. YOU KNOW, IT'S SOMETHING THAT REALLY STANDS OUT TO ME IS THE FACT THAT USPS GROUND ADVANTAGE FEELS LIKE THAT NEXT STEP, THAT NEXT PHASE WITH A COMPLIMENTING U S P PS CONNECT NATIONAL.
KARLA KIRBY:
ABSOLUTELY. IT OFFERED SO MANY ADVANTAGES FOR BUSINESS OWNERS AND WHAT STOOD OUT FOR ME IS THAT SET PRICING, NO SURPRISES. YOU CAN BUDGET FOR IT. THERE'LL BE NO EXTRA FEES AT THE END OF THE MONTH. WELL, EVERYBODY, THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EPISODE OF MAILING IT. DON'T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE TO MAILING IT WHEREVER YOU GET YOUR PODCAST TO MAKE SURE YOU DON'T MISS THE NEXT EPISODE. AND FOLLOW ALONG ON;
INSTAGRAM HTTPS://WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM/USPOSTALSERVICE/
TWITTER HTTPS://TWITTER.COM/USPS
FACEBOOK HTTPS://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/USPS/