New Document Factory Control & Reporting Capability Aids High Volume Mailers.

DANBURY, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 11, 1998--

"New PMSS Software Helps Mailers Achieve `Factory Control': Track

Jobs, Determine Costs, Boost Productivity"

The Production Mail and Software Systems Division of Pitney Bowes Inc. (NYSE:PBI) has introduced a new Document Factory control and reporting capability, called pb.control, that enables high volume mailers to dramatically boost the quality and productivity of print and mail finishing operations.

Part of Pitney Bowes pb.commander, a suite of comprehensive products and services to design and implement document factories, the control and reporting software enables mailers to synthesize the fragmented print/mail finish process by monitoring the status of jobs in progress, and recording data accurately to measure the performance of equipment and operators, as well as determine per piece cost of mailing applications.

"One of the obstacles between requirements and capabilities in document factories has been the absence of automated collection and reporting of job data of each phase of the print/finish process," says Karl Schumacher, Vice President and General Manager, Pitney Bowes Document Factory Solutions. "pb.control products eliminate those problems by giving managers instant access to the details of every job and every system as mailing applications are being processed enabling managers to make fast, on-the-spot decisions regarding the use of resources and to maximize productivity."

According to Schumacher, the flexibility of the pb.control allows Pitney Bowes to extend data collection beyond its own products and integrate other manufacturer's products into the enterprise as one system. pb.control collects data automatically from print spools, print servers, printers, inserting systems and other connected devices "We have gained significant experience in this complex area from our large base of networked finishing equipment, automatically collecting and reporting on operations in the US and internationally," he added.

pb.control products present the data on all equipment in operation and jobs in progress in an easy to understand graphic form, allowing managers to "see" the entire print and finishing operation and to take corrective actions.

According to Schumacher, the new software can also be used to help mailers monitor job progress against service level agreements, develop accurate per piece cost information, and assure the processing and integrity of every mailpiece.

pb.commander offers "the full array of design and implementation tools needed to establish a well-integrated output strategy encompassing document production, delivery and remittance," according to Schumacher.

About Pitney Bowes

Production Mail and Software Systems (PMSS) is a division of Pitney Bowes that serves the high volume mailer (over 100,000 mail pieces per month), providing automated high speed mail finishing hardware and software to Fortune 1000 companies and government agencies. The Document Factory Solutions Division of PMSS offers pb.commander, a comprehensive suite of hardware and software products and services -including professional services, systems integration, digital delivery and remittance, financing options and facilities management - that help high volume mailers design and implement Document Factories.

Pitney Bowes Inc. is a $4.1 billion provider of informed mail and message management. For more information visit www.pitneybowes.com