The term "PLANET" stands for PostaL Alpha Numeric Encoding Technology. "POSTNET" stands for POSTal Numeric Encoding Technique.

Planet Code

The Planet Code is a 11-digit code assigned by the USPS. This code helps make up the Planet Barcode which when scanned (along with the postal barcode) the date, time and location of the scan.

Example PLANET Code: 222081012345*
*check digit

Planet Barcode

The Planet Barcode prints on the first and last piece of each tray and the seeds. It prints above the address block and must have proper clearance.

The barcode lines are the same size as those in a postal barcode but long is short and short is long.

Ensure It's in the Mail

• Audit:
• - US
• - The U.S. Postal Service
• - Transporter in Drop Shipments
• - Lock box companies
• Predict response rates earlier
• Forecast cash flow
• Accelerate cash flow on remittance.
• Pinpoint actual in-home dates and percentages
• Know who's dropped a check in the mail
• Save money by suppressing cross-in-the-mails.
• Have better control staffing levels by predicting incoming mail volume to fulfillment centers
• Get Better reassurance on Seeds

Northwest Mailing Service's online Planet Barcode Tracking allows you to track your United States Postal Service mail by utilizing USPS Confirm® Service.

To accomplish this, Northwest will print a Planet Code barcode along with the regular Postal barcode on the first and last mail pieces in each tray (and seeds). These barcodes consists of 12 digits that become a unique identifier. With a Northwest Mailing Service Planet Track account, you get 24-7-365 access to live reports on activity on your mailing's progress. Just indicate when asking for a quote that you request Planet Barcode Tracking.

Planet Barcoded pieces are scanned as they pass through the different USPS distribution centers. These scans are then reported back to the USPS CONFIRM Service Center. When this happens, several reports are generated that will help approximate with a high level of accuracy the location of your mailpieces in the USPS system. You will have access the following reports through the secure login at www.nwmail.com:

• Results by Date
• Results by State
• Results by SCF
• A map of results
• Advanced Shipping Notice (ASN) history -- only multiple drop locations

Also, you may email the following reports (as csv attachments):

• Results by Date
• Results by State
• Results by SCF

Along with these reports, you may look up a single piece. With a single-piece lookup you use the 11-digit postnet and all results are retrieved. If you are checking for two seeds who have the same postnet (lets say they are in the same office) then the lookup will retrieve all results sent to that address. If you do not know the postnet there is a form that will calculate this for you.