New USPS offering places major focus on next-day business delivery

The United States Postal Service (USPS) announced today it has rolled out a new offering geared towards leveraging ongoing network improvements, new equipment, new pricing, and also operating precision, with an eye on meeting shippers needs.

Entitled USPS Connect, USPS said that this offering is comprised a four separate offerings that offer various options to help shippers meet high consumer demand “for affordable, fast local, regional and national deliveries, and returns, including:

USPS Connect Local, a new way for local businesses to affordably and quickly reach local customers being launched in select locations effective today. USPS Connect Local offers affordable next-day service in all locations, with same-day delivery, Sunday delivery and pickup options in select locations. It also includes USPS Connect Local Mail, an affordable First-Class Mail option for documents up to 13 ounces. Businesses can enter USPS Connect Local packages and mail at the receiving dock of the designated postal facility or take advantage of free en-route pickup when their carrier delivers their mail. Free flat-rate bags, boxes and envelopes are available via Click-N-Ship;

USPS Connect Regional provides next-day regional entry and delivery of Parcel Select packages and Parcel Select Lightweight packages. Businesses should consult with USPS representatives to identify the entry points and options that work best for them. Most packages will be delivered the next day within a broad specified region;

USPS Connect National provides delivery solutions for businesses of all sizes. They can benefit from the Postal Service’s new mail processing equipment and reconfigured network to receive reliable delivery of packages through First-Class Package Service, Parcel Select Ground and Retail Ground; and

USPS Connect Returns is a service for businesses to offer their customers convenient returns, with free en-route pickup by their carrier or drop-off at a nearby Post Office location

“USPS Connect provides businesses of all sizes what they have been asking for — an affordable way to meet consumer demand for fast delivery,” said Louis DeJoy, Postmaster General and CEO, in a statement. “A pivotal point in our Delivering for America plan, it positions us to more fully leverage our network capacity to increase volume and revenue so we can continue to serve the American people with affordable, reliable mail and package delivery.”

In a media briefing, Steve Monteith, USPS Chief Customer and Marketing Officer & EVP, explained that the impetus for USPS Connect is to meet its customer demands and needs.

“It is no secret that customer package growth exploded in 2020 and even though we have seen a bit of a tail off, it is still much higher than what we saw in 2019,” he said. “We expect that to continue to grow. One of the things that the consumer has required is faster delivery, a lot of focus and attention on that one-to-two-day delivery. With USPS Connect, it is our approach to help shippers meet their consumers needs. USPS Connect builds on our unapparelled last-mile delivery network to provide solutions to shippers and their customers.”

Jakki Krage Strako, USPS Chief Commerce and Business Solutions Officer & EVP, said on the media briefing that a key element of USPS Connect is all about providing access to the organization’s unrivaled network, with 30,000 post offices, and the USPS reaches 163 million addresses six days a week and seven days a week in some locations.

“Our access to our network and to those carrier routes is crucial for our success,” she said. “USPS Connect Local is a new way for micro and small businesses to access that next-day and same-day delivery for their business. Businesses with a customer base in their zip code or a zip code served by their Post Office will find this solution extremely beneficial. Through [USPS Connect Local], a business can have a package ready and its carrier will pick it up on their normal delivery route. A business can also opt to drop a package at the local Post Office near the end of the day to get next-day delivery or can drop off between 5-7 AM to get same-day delivery.

She added USPS has had this offering in the past for its large customers, and it is now providing the same offering with an attractive price point to micro and small customers, which is beneficial for businesses.

“We have consumer demand for next-day delivery that can be fulfilled very affordably,” she said. “It is great for consumers who want to shop local and still receive their purchase the next day.”