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Pitney Bowes Introduces Expedited Mail and Package Management

Press release from the issuing company

STAMFORD, Conn., Oct. 2 -- Pitney Bowes Inc. has introduced Expedited Mail and Package Management (EMPM), a new solution that enables large corporations to save up to 20% on the costs associated with overnight mail and package shipping. Part of Pitney Bowes Management Services (PBMS) Mail Center Management suite of products, EMPM is specifically tailored to meet the needs of large businesses that ship in excess of 50 overnight packages per day. This solution combines the expertise of PBMS mail professionals with state-of-the-art software powered by Pitney Bowes Distribution Solutions technology including its DeliverAbility(TM), Desktop Express(TM), and Ascent software products. EMPM can be utilized by all departments across an enterprise including Enterprise Shipping Managers, Procurement executives, and Finance or Accounts Payable departments to make informed shipping decisions, based on cost and arrival date, so they can shop for the best price across carriers and services. "In today's business climate, corporations must maximize the resources that support critical business processes," noted Judy Eckert, product director, Pitney Bowes Management Services. "Whereas individual carriers offer software to drive their own revenue, EMPM gives businesses the power to quickly and easily compare services and costs among company approved carriers. It provides shippers with flexible delivery options and access to all package tracking information from the desktop. When combined with prudent mail service management, this solution has an immediate return on investment for our customers." In 2002, three billion expedited shipments resulted in nearly $40 billion in corporate expenses. Whether hosted by the client or by Pitney Bowes, users select value-added services, create ship requests, and arrange for optional mail center pickup right from their desktops. Another valuable feature is the ability to verify addresses through Street Smart(TM), which can help reduce delayed and incorrectly addressed items through accurate routing. Given that some carriers charge an extra fee of $10-$15 per returned item, this functionality can result in tangible savings for a company. With a presence in virtually all of the Fortune 500, Pitney Bowes is an industry leader in developing world-class best practices in mail and shipping management. EMPM will aid companies in achieving costs savings by enabling best practices including: * Shifting expedited deliveries to later in the day or the next day * Limiting access to morning deliveries if needed * Shifting inter-office deliveries from external carriers to interoffice mail * Analyzing enterprise shipment data to pinpoint cost savings * More accurately allocating costs for best accounting * Reducing the proliferation of multiple accounts for each carrier for streamlined billing * Shopping service offerings within carriers to get the best rate.