Mail sorting

To handle rapidly growing mail volumes, the United States Postal Service installed its first semiautomatic sorting machine, a Transorma 5/300 distributed by Pitney Bowes, on April 10, 1957.

In 1965, the postal service put the first high-speed optical character reader into operation that could handle a preliminary sort automatically[citation needed].

The first computer-driven single-line optical character reader—which reads the mailpiece destination address then prints a barcode on the envelope that could be used to automate mail sorting from start to finish—was employed in 1982.

[2] Video coding is a crucial process for parcel and postal logistics providers, as 3–7% of all shipments require manual data entry.

allow for mixed mail sorting—providing for postal discounts on letters, small parcels, flat mailers, irregularly shaped pieces, padded envelopes and even polywrap sheets.

In 2007, the USPS introduced shape-based pricing which offered more significant postal discounts for mailers who sorted flat-sized mailpieces.

internet of things-based automation systems are installed with the mail sorters which send automatic notifications in case of any failure of equipment.