Computer Aided Post through EDI (CAPE) harnesses the potential of EDI by combining the information stored in the IPC centralised data hub with in-house operational and technical expertise to deliver a unique reporting solution to the global postal industry. CAPE leverages EDI to provide an extensive suite of enhanced reports useful to the various business functions involved in cross-border postal traffic. CAPE users have access to more than 100 management reports supporting operations, transportation, customer service, finance and accounting, and quality control.

How does it work?

CAPE is a web-based reporting application that makes use of the EDI messages relating to cross-border postal traffic exchanged post-post and post-airline. The EDI messages are stored in the IPC database, providing the source data for a wide variety of reports.

The wider CAPE universe includes additional reporting tools: ATAT (Advanced Tracking and Analysis Tool), ITMATT reporting in the IPC BI platform, and sub-applications for equipment pools inventory management, Sprinter network management, the Mail Registration Device (MRD) Management Platform, and the Paper-free application supporting paperless consignments.

CAPE reports are organized by reporting category, based on whether the primary focus of the report deals with:
• Items, receptacles, dispatches, or consignments
• PREDES, RESDES, PRECON, RESCON, CARDIT, RESDIT, MRD POD/POC, or EMSEVT messages
• EDI compliance, EDI messaging, EDI exchange, Monitoring, Irregularities, KPIs, IPC Certification, Equipment, MRD, Carrier, Handler, Handover, or Paper-free activities

Hyperlinks in CAPE reports link to ATAT for detailed tracking information on specific items, receptacles, dispatches, and consignments. Users can also navigate directly to ATAT where track and trace searches can be performed directly on item IDs,
receptacle IDs, dispatch IDs, and consignment IDs.

Through the CAPE system, IPC provides essential performance and operational analysis reports for all international postal products, and for tracked product networks such as INTERCONNECT, KPG, and PRIME. CAPE is updated in real time as it receives the EDI messages which record the handling and processing events at all points in the international mail pipeline. The EDI messages are securely stored, and controlled user access accounts mean users see data
related only to their organisation.

Some key reporting provided in the 100+ CAPE reports includes:

• Numerous different detailed views for dispatches and consignments information
• Comprehensive item-level data including confirmation on whether ITMATT was provided, date and time of all EMSEVT events provided as well as all other EDI message types for the item, several other details about the item, and a link to the ATAT item record for tracking/tracing/EDI messaging
• Handover and transport exceptions reports identifying where in the pipeline delays occurred, with indications of responsibility
• Compliance with EDI message standards and timeliness requirements, including agreed industry best practice
• Full visibility into EDI message types and versions exchanged between posts, and between posts and airlines, down to the EDI mailbox address level – also useful for identifying links where message version needs to be upgraded
• KPIs relating to exchange office performance, transmission of required message types, and item handover data
• Irregularities pertaining to handling and actual vs planned transport
• Analysis of required EDI messages relating to the sending and receipt of IPC equipment in the IPC tray, bag, and pallet box pools
• Mail Registration Device (MRD) operational utilisation and registration compliance by airlines and ground handlers
• Detailed airline performance on multiple aspects of Leg 2 activities

Some key usability features provided in CAPE include:

• Criteria selection by any combination of operator level and/or IMPC level
• Criteria selection by any combination of mail category and mail sub-class
• Criteria selection by any date range within last 26 months
• In-report filtering for each column
• Report sorting based on a single column or multiple columns
• Easy-to-use export to Excel and csv file format, allowing for further data manipulation and analysis
• Generate very large report results in the background with notification by email when the report is ready
• Link to in-app user guide available on every page

Benefits

• Enhanced operational management of inbound and outbound mail processing at International Mail Processing Centres (IMPCs) including operational resource planning
• Improved transport service performance by monitoring and analysing performance levels for international mail transported by air, road, rail, and sea
• Robust asset management for the IPC Tray, IPC Bag, and IPC Pallet Box Pools as well as post-owned equipment throughout the postal network
• Efficient network oversight and control through the operation of the IPC Sprinter Network for road transport of priority mail
• Analysis of mail movement through the network and end-to-end transit times

 

 

More information

To find out more about CAPE, please contact [email protected].