LANHAM, Md., May 22, 2007 - Group 1 Software, Inc., a Pitney Bowes Company (NYSE:PBI), today announced that MMI Direct, LLC, a Maryland-based provider of high quality data processing and related services to the direct marketing industry, has chosen Group 1 Software’s Address Quality Hub™ software solution to improve mail deliverability and maximize postal discounts in preparation for more stringent postage discount rules scheduled for implementation on August 1, 2007.
Under the new delivery point requirements, only addresses that include verified primary number (or delivery point) information, such as street, PO Box numbers, and Rural Route Box numbers, will be eligible for postal discounts. Group 1 Software estimates that this could lead to a two-to-five percent reduction in the number of mail pieces eligible for postal discounts. Combined with higher postage rates scheduled for implementation on May 14, 2007, this could mean significant cost increases for large-volume mailers.
“As a recognized expert in address quality, Group 1 Software helped us quantify the impact of the upcoming postal requirement changes on our mailing costs – and it was significant,” said Marvin Dawson, vice president with MMI Direct. “By implementing the Address Quality Hub, we will be able to lessen that impact and ensure that we are achieving maximum postal discounts under the new rules.”
The Address Quality Hub from Group 1 Software enables mailers to address the upcoming postal requirement changes in two ways. First, the Address Quality Hub’s Coding Uplift Module employs advanced algorithms and programming logic to cleanse and code up to 35 percent of address records that would have previously been rejected by coding software during address processing – resulting in higher postal discounts and a reduction in undeliverable mail.
Second, the Address Quality Hub’s Delivery Point Correction Module provides the industry’s first solution to correct the primary house number required for automation discounts by automatically matching name against street address, and correcting bad addresses. This patent-pending address correction and validation technology allows mailers to verify that U.S. street addresses actually exist and are truly confirmed delivery points for mailing, enabling mailers to reduce undeliverable mail and maximize postal savings, while meeting the new postal requirements.
“MMI Direct is one of a growing number of Group 1 Software customers who have recognized the need to address the Postal Services’ August 1 delivery point requirements before the impact is felt on the bottom-line,” said Christopher Baker, president of Group 1 Software. “Our Mailing Efficiency experts are available to work with mailers to explain and quantify the upcoming changes, and to demonstrate the benefit of the Address Quality Hub in the new environment.”
The Address Quality Hub and associated modules are 100 percent compatible with Group 1 Software’s CODE-1 Plus® and Finalist® products, requiring no changes to existing applications or APIs, and no extensions or changes to return codes. The modular design of the Address Quality Hub also enables the implementation of additional modules to address future postal requirement changes.
More information on the Postal Services’ August 1 address validation requirement changes, and the Address Quality Hub, are available online at www.g1.com by typing “Address Quality Hub” into the search box.
About Group 1 Software
Group 1 Software (www.g1.com) turns data into results, providing innovative software solutions that enable our clients to better understand and connect with their millions of customers, prospects, and partners. Group 1 Software helps over 3,000 organizations maximize the value of customer data to improve profitability, increase effectiveness, and strengthen customer relationships, through consolidating, cleansing and enriching corporate data, and generating personalized business documents for multi-channel delivery, customer care and efficient business processing. Our comprehensive Customer Communications Management (CCM) solutions span from database to delivery, adding value to every aspect of communication and allowing clients to integrate intelligence throughout their mailstream. As part of Pitney Bowes (NYSE:PBI), a $5.6 billion company, Group 1 Software’s solutions are utilized by leaders in the insurance, financial services/banking, GIS/mapping, government, mail services, retail, telecommunications, utility, and other industries, including Entergy, ING, L.L. Bean, MapQuest, Microsoft, Safeco Insurance, Wal-Mart and Wells Fargo.
Address Quality Hub, CODE-1 Plus, Finalist,, Group 1, Group 1 Software, and the Group 1 logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Group 1 Software, Inc. Pitney Bowes and the Pitney Bowes Process Bar Design are trademarks or registered trademarks of Pitney Bowes, Inc. All other brand names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.