Imagine ordering groceries and having them delivered to a mailbox that signs for them, monitors and controls temperature to prevent spoilage, and alerts you that your food has been safely delivered.
Meet the connected mailbox.
People aren’t dying like they used to. Thanks to medical advances and better lifestyle choices, Americans are living a lot longer. In fact, those who are 65 or older account for 14.1 percent of the U.S. population, or about 45 million people — the highest percentage ever, according to the Administration on Aging. By 2020, seniors will account for 16.1 percent.
As the number of older Americans increases, so do their needs. Not all of those needs are being met. But the U.S. Postal Service could change that.
More than half of people on this planet do not have an address, according to a Universal Postal Union (UPU) report. Without an official address, they have difficulty applying for government services, social benefits, or, in some cases, even obtaining a train pass. They cannot open bank accounts and may not be able to get health care.
One small upside to losing 26 percent of mail volume and relaxing delivery service standards over the past decade is that the U.S. Postal Service should experience a significant decline in its costs as well. Except that hasn’t happened for transportation costs.
In fact, Postal Service...
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Regular readers of “Pushing the Envelope” know this OIG is a firm believer in the power of data. We use data analytics to identify the root causes of problems or inefficiencies, and then develop solutions that get to the heart of the issue.
Data analytics include data mining, risk...
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In a recent blog, we noted how we organize our work. Our blogs tend to feature our audit work because it allows us to seek input and feedback that can shape ongoing or future work.
That doesn’t mean it’s quiet in the Office of Investigations. In fact, there’s always a lot going on there....
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The mission of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service is to support and protect the Postal Service and its employees, infrastructure, and customers; enforce the laws that defend the nation’s mail system from illegal or dangerous use; and ensure public trust in the mail.
Postal inspectors are...
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The Postal Service hires non-career employees and temporary employees to supplement its regular workforce to help reduce staffing costs. The non-career employees earn lower wages than full time staff. The turnover rate of non-career employees is higher than the Postal Service wants. Reducing non...
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The Postal Service uses mail transport equipment (MTE) -- containers, sacks, trays, flat tubs, sleeves, and pallets -- during processing or to transport mail between USPS facilities, customers, or contractors. The mail transport equipment service center (MTESC) network comprises 14 independent...
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