This is really a knock-on idea from the Anthrax scare.
If I was running any high-profile company I would be looking at the following:
a) Have mail handled off-site at a separate facility
b) Incinerate any of the following:
(i) Junk mail, catalogs, magazines (can access on-line)
(ii) Mail or parcels addressed to a recipient no longer an active employee or with no valid return address (should be checked in the mailroom)
c) Open and scan the remaining mail - and send electronically to the employee in question. If employee acknowledges, send on physical document if needed.
d) Notify the employee of parcel awaiting them and ask to verify that it was expected. Send digital image of contents of package. Send on physical package as required.
e) Scientific sampling of packages and letters to test for any risks. Perhaps immunize mail-room workers against common bio-hazards.
This is all actually handled very easily with modern technology. Automated letter opening and scanning is old hat - been done for at least a decade. Employee look-up and communication via email are even simpler.
I doubt that the USPS will be able to respond fast enough to this - I see a business opportunity for people willing to take this one on. As I said, it's all existing technology - and on a high-volume basis would probably be fairly cost-effective.
I'll certainly be watching the stocks of document management companies and also those companies that provide electronic catalogs / commerce over the internet. This could be a breath of life for them.
Patrick
If I was running any high-profile company I would be looking at the following:
a) Have mail handled off-site at a separate facility
b) Incinerate any of the following:
(i) Junk mail, catalogs, magazines (can access on-line)
(ii) Mail or parcels addressed to a recipient no longer an active employee or with no valid return address (should be checked in the mailroom)
c) Open and scan the remaining mail - and send electronically to the employee in question. If employee acknowledges, send on physical document if needed.
d) Notify the employee of parcel awaiting them and ask to verify that it was expected. Send digital image of contents of package. Send on physical package as required.
e) Scientific sampling of packages and letters to test for any risks. Perhaps immunize mail-room workers against common bio-hazards.
This is all actually handled very easily with modern technology. Automated letter opening and scanning is old hat - been done for at least a decade. Employee look-up and communication via email are even simpler.
I doubt that the USPS will be able to respond fast enough to this - I see a business opportunity for people willing to take this one on. As I said, it's all existing technology - and on a high-volume basis would probably be fairly cost-effective.
I'll certainly be watching the stocks of document management companies and also those companies that provide electronic catalogs / commerce over the internet. This could be a breath of life for them.
Patrick
