National Postal Forum 2025 Insights

Last week, I had the pleasure of joining a record number of attendees (over 5,000 people by some counts!) at the National Postal Forum held at the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, TN. This is the annual “Super Bowl” of the postal world, where we learn all the latest trends from the USPS and connect with our favorite people in the industry. This year was slightly different as there has been so much uncertainty surrounding the post office in the past few months, and indeed right from the top down, with Postmaster General Louis DeJoy recently resigning. One of the annual highlights of the National Postal Forum is always the direct engagement with top USPS executives, who provide invaluable insights into current policies, future projections, and strategic initiatives. These sessions were particularly beneficial for non-profits looking to optimize their mailing strategies.

Key USPS Insights:

1. Delivering for America (DFA) Plan: The DFA Plan is reshaping the future of USPS, focusing on operational precision, service reliability, and long-term sustainability. Sessions led directly by USPS personnel were eager to hype the enhancements made over the past year and announce the exciting updates planned for the future. This plan aims to drive efficiency and profitability, ensuring that USPS remains a reliable partner for industry partners in their mailing efforts. Of course, there has to be a grain of salt taken with these proclamations, as the industry perception isn’t nearly as rosy.
2. Mailing Promotions and Incentives: USPS introduced various mailing promotions designed to increase engagement and response rates for mailers. These promotions offer non-profits opportunities to leverage high-value mailpieces, enhancing their fundraising campaigns and donor communications (and of course taking some much-needed postage discounts). Strategic incentives were discussed, providing benefits and advantages tailored to the needs of non-profit and for-profit organizations. Much attention was drawn to the new Continuous Contact promotion (which PS clients are taking early and often advantage of!) and the announcement of the intent to roll out a new Catalog-focused promotion starting in October 2025 (with PRC approval). Unfortunately, while the keynote address highlighted the significant savings from the 2024 Promotions and Mail Growth Incentives, they also declined to call out the significant increase in the upcoming rate change due to the increase in rate authority provided by such savings given back to the industry.
3. Policy Updates and Regulatory Changes: Attendees gained insights into recent policy updates and regulatory changes that impact the mailing and shipping industries. Understanding these changes is crucial for non-profits to ensure compliance and optimize their mailing strategies. USPS executives and industry leaders provided detailed explanations and guidance on navigating these regulations effectively. What I found most interesting was the lack of discussion on the new service standards (at least from USPS personnel). These standards seek to change mail collection times and increase delivery times, especially in rural areas. However, mail near the new RPDCs (Regional Processing and Distribution Centers) should move slightly faster.
4. Infrastructure and Technology Enhancements: USPS is investing in cutting-edge technology to rebuild infrastructure and improve service responsiveness. We learned about the latest technological advancements that can streamline their mailing processes and enhance efficiency. These enhancements are part of USPS’s broader strategy to support American commerce and better serve the public, but unfortunately, we know the rollout of the DFA plan hasn’t been all sunshine. Additionally, there was a lot of talk about new technologies that can enhance our mailings through the use of AI or even quantum computing someday.

Overall, the insights gained and connections made in Nashville were worth the draw, as always. National Postal Forum 2025 provided us with a comprehensive understanding of the USPS’s strategic direction, at least until the new PMG steps in, which it sounds like should be announced soon. I’m looking forward to next year in Phoenix!