Post Office to Launch Barcode Tracking

The next time you tell someone "the check is in the mail," they might be able to check whether it actually is, thanks to a new letter tracking system the US Postal Service is ramping up.

This month, the USPS is piloting a barcode tracking system for first-class letters. The Postal Service has used barcodes for years, but they are not standardized; the new system will provide a single barcoding standard. Among the most eager customers for this service are businesses, who can add barcodes to the return envelopes that come with your monthly bills. The USPS hopes to barcode all letter mail by the end of the year.

Currently, mail is tracked only at its beginning and end points. But with the new tracking system, mail can be tracked at multiple points along its journey, and customers will be able to check the status of mail through the USPS portal.

Source: Baseline