mail sorting

Mail sorting is the process of organizing mail for efficient delivery. The core function of postal services is to transform individual mail items into a format that can be processed in bulk, while ensuring they regain their individual status for final delivery. This involves collecting and sorting mail, often using local transport and sorting offices, some of which handle millions of items daily.1

While human labor remains crucial for bulk materials handling, automation has been a focus since the 1950s. This includes developing machines for coding and sorting, often using postal codes impressed in special inks that can be read by sensing units on sorting machines. Items of different sizes, like newspapers or large envelopes, must be segregated from standard letters for mechanical handling. Despite technological advancements, implementation can be slow due to capital investment controls and the need for standardized procedures like address codes.234