Post Office goes to A to B Concept

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kasey Zickmund
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  Kadena's Post Office has a new system to speed up the process of receiving mail, tracking packages and in the future the system will be able to send out e-mail notifications to customers about picking up their packages.

This new system is called the A to B Concept was installed Sept. 28 and consists of two programs called United Postal Service Track Pad and Air Force Print.

"This concept has streamlined the process for delivering parcels to our customers," said Staff Sgt. Matthew Robbins, 18th Communications Squadron postal clerk. "It is going to be extremely helpful especially with the holidays approaching."

The U.P.S. Track Pad is the heart of the whole system.
"It generates tracking numbers, prints out the initial labels that go on the boxes, and the notices," said Senior Airman Garrett, 18th Communications Squadron postal clerk. "It allows postal employees to input data on a package like customer information, and whether it has been picked-up, returned, or is on hold. Air Force Print software generates the second and final notices on Postal Service Form 3907s (yellow package notification cards). It will also print the first notice cards with the information downloaded from scanners."

This system will also cut down on lost packages. When a new package arrives, it is scanned into the system and the recipient is given a 3907. If the package can't be found on the shelves, then it can be looked up in the automated system to see if it has already been picked up, returned, or is somewhere in the building.

"The system so far has saved us seven man hours a week," said Master Sgt. Sebastian Staten, 18th Communications Squadron assistant postmaster. "And once things are running smoothly will be saving about 25."

The second and third notices for packages have a certain time frame for customers to pick up. The second notice is given five days after the initial, and the third notice is 10 days after the second.

One problem with the system is that it doesn't count Sundays or holidays, but regulations count those days even though the pick-up window isn't open. The system also kicks out second and third notices even if customer's mail is on hold. There is a way to input that into the system. So far, the post office hasn't had many problems that couldn't be solved with a simple restart of the program or computer.

"It's slowly getting better and we are talking with other bases in the area that have the same system," said Senior Airman Jason Garrett, 18th Communications Squadron postal clerk.