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From April 27-30, I joined over 4,000 industry professionals at the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville for the National Postal Forum (NPF). The diverse mix of mailers, service providers, vendors, and end buyers created an engaging environment for knowledge exchange. This year’s forum marked the highest attendance in over 15 years and featured more than 50 new exhibitors on the show floor.
A Clear Strategic Shift
The event highlighted a notable pivot in USPS priorities. Interim Postmaster General Doug Tolino—who took the helm following Louis DeJoy's April retirement—emphasized operational execution, process discipline, and service consistency throughout the event.
The messaging across presentations consistently focused on improving internal processes rather than structural overhaul. Multiple USPS leaders emphasized that sustainable transformation depends on consistency, accountability, and clearly defined performance standards. Throughout the sessions, speakers candidly acknowledged that some implementation efforts have taken longer than expected, reinforcing the need for disciplined execution across all operational levels.
During networking breaks, many attendees I spoke with appreciated this renewed focus on practical execution rather than ambitious announcements.
Note: Shortly after the forum concluded, USPS announced that David Steiner has been selected as the next Postmaster General, marking another significant leadership transition for the organization.
Highlights from the Exhibition Floor
The exhibition hall showcased innovations from numerous vendors in the print and mailing space. USPS maintained a substantial presence with its expansive booth, providing hands-on demonstrations of their latest offerings.
BlueCrest showcased its Element inserter designed for efficient, low-volume jobs alongside cloud-based Strata workflow software. The company also highlighted product integration with RISO, as well as the capabilities of BCC Software (a BlueCrest company), whose Mail Manager platform supports end-to-end mailing workflow optimization.
Quadient presented a full suite of mailing and shipping automation tools including the iX-Series mailing systems with S.M.A.R.T. software, DS-77 iQ folder inserter, and MACH 7 envelope printer. The company also highlighted their Impress document workflow platform and Parcel Pending smart locker solutions, emphasizing efficiency, compliance, and digital transformation.
FP Mailing Solutions displayed its latest innovations in mailroom automation, featuring the PostBase Vision series of postage meters and the FPi 700 folder inserter designed to enhance efficiency for businesses of all sizes.
RISO’s high-speed inkjet solutions demonstrated its combination of speed and versatility for transactional documents, along with innovative integration with BlueCrest to target large and small environments with a modular approach for mailers.
Workshop Insights
The forum offered over 120 workshops that covered a range of topics. Many sessions focused on artificial intelligence (AI) applications within the postal and mailing industry, demonstrating how this technology is being integrated into various aspects of mail operations. I attended several AI-focused workshops that showcased practical implementations for enhancing efficiency, improving accuracy, and creating new opportunities for mailers.
The range of AI adoption across organizations revealed varied maturity levels. During panel discussions, some participants indicated they were just beginning to explore potential use cases, while others shared experiences from more advanced implementations spanning multiple months. This diversity generated substantive discussions during networking breaks.
The AI Mail Promotion Worth Noting
A topic of interest at the forum was the USPS’s Integrated Technology Promotion, which was originally announced on September 11, 2024. This program offers a 3% postage discount for incorporating AI-generated content into mailings, with eligibility criteria requiring either AI-generated text (at least one sentence) or imagery in mail piece design.
Sessions at NPF provided additional details about the verification process for this promotion. Mailers must submit their mail piece for pre-approval through the USPS Mailing Promotions Portal, including an unedited digital file showing both the AI-generated content and the original prompt used to create it. Additionally, participants must provide a description of how the AI tool was utilized and clarify any modifications made to the AI output. Interestingly, there’s no requirement to disclose on the mail piece itself that AI was used in its creation.
The promotion allows for stacking additional discounts—another 1% for Informed Delivery integration and 1% for sustainable materials. These combined savings could make experimental campaigns more financially viable for mailers exploring AI integration in their mail designs. USPS is also using AI technologies themselves to assist in verifying that mail pieces meet the promotion’s criteria through automated compliance checks and enhanced tracking systems.
Keypoint Intelligence Opinion
After three days of sessions, conversations, and exhibition exploration, the evidence points to a maturing approach in USPS strategy. The move toward execution over transformation represents a significant shift in organizational priorities that could deliver more consistent service outcomes.
The strong attendance at this year’s forum—the highest in 15 years, according to organizers—indicates sustained industry interest despite ongoing challenges. Conversations with service providers, mailers, and technology vendors throughout the event revealed cautious but positive expectations about the focus on process discipline and operational consistency. While implementation timelines have sometimes exceeded initial projections, the emphasis on accountability and performance standards provides a foundation for measurable improvement.
This year’s event delivered actionable insights that organizations can apply immediately to their mailing strategies. As the USPS continues its transformation under new leadership, the industry appears prepared to adapt to evolving requirements while maintaining a focus on efficiency and service quality.
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