KEY TAKEAWAYS: 

• Some of this year’s USPS^® postage discounts are increasing, helping to ease the pinch of hikes in postage rates and material costs
• Informed Delivery and Sustainability return as discount add-ons and upgrades
• The Mail Growth Incentive (MGI) program is still open for 2025 to help high-volume mailers reduce postage costs

MAIN TAKEAWAYS: 

• The future of AI in print means faster and more efficient pre-production processes
• AI can produce hyperpersonalized print using large sets of customer data
• AI in print can help extend the lifespan of equipment by proactive maintenance
• AI in print means more precise, detailed quality control

It would be a stretch to say that AI is revolutionizing the commercial print space. Rather than upending what’s been proven to work, this new technology will enhance and accelerate print processes — and the customer experience by extension — in ways that many of us print industry veterans have wanted for some time. 

• Optimizing direct mailers for insurance marketers comes down to reducing mailing costs and cost per acquisition (CPA).
• Data-driven, triggered mailers that incorporate digital integrations can be effective in driving increased response rates and reducing CPA.
• The USPS^® offers a variety of postage discounts for mailers that meet certain criteria. 

• SOC 2 and HIPAA are the standards for the protection and use of sensitive customer data in the healthcare and insurance industry. 
• SOC 2 certification requires a printer service provider (PSP) to undergo regular audits.
• Printers who work with patient data or records are subject to the same HIPAA standards as healthcare and insurance providers. 

For heavily regulated industries like healthcare and financial services, safeguarding sensitive consumer information is a must-have for building consumer confidence and trust. Protecting this type of data is also mission-critical in reducing the likelihood of data breaches and the sky-high legal costs that often come with such breaches.

• Personalized, targeted print materials can be effectively in helping insurance create a more satisfying customer experience built on trust
• Print gives insurance companies a more human communication touchpoint that today’s consumers still want and value 
• Improving the customer experience through print opens up avenues for insurance companies to cros-sell or upsell related products and services

The recent increase in chief experience officer (CXO) roles paints a clear picture about the importance companies are putting on customer experience — this is especially critical for insurance brands, as a human element across all touchpoints is key in creating a positive customer experience based on care and trust.

Health and wellness brands leverage direct mail marketing for a range of purposes, from promoting new programs or services to more transactional mailers in the form invoices, account statements, or explanations of benefits (EOBs). The volume of direct mail these brands produce annually makes cost reduction and boosting ROI essential in helping health and wellness companies be as agile and competitive as possible in a crowded market. 

B2B companies are increasingly reconsidering their digital-first mentality for sales and marketing campaigns in favor of the tactile appeal of direct mail marketing. The challenge for many brands with incorporating direct mail into a larger marketing strategy is knowing how to measure the success of their campaigns. 

Maintaining control over a diverse catalog of marketing materials — brochures, postcards, signage, business cards, and direct mail — is a challenge. Without centralized oversight, brands risk costly reprints due to brand inconsistencies, outdated information, or off-brand customization. These inefficiencies often go unnoticed until budgets are exceeded and campaign timelines are missed.