4‑State Fluorescent Mail Barcode Scanning: How Smart Devices Read UPU S18 Codes

The ability to quickly and accurately scan barcodes and track posts is a necessity. Delivery companies must find a way to do this more effectively while streamlining operations and reducing costs.

Yet inefficiencies remain across the postal industry. Take the fluorescent mail code, for example.

This code – barely visible to the naked eye – has been a mainstay of postal operations for years, but has traditionally only been readable by static sorting machines. Until now.

Enter Scandit.

A fluorescent 4‑state barcode encodes mail identification using four bar types (tracker, ascender, descender, full bar). Variants include UPU S18 fluorescent ID‑tags (57 or 75 bars; formats 18C/18D) and address codes such as RM4SCC (Royal Mail) and IMb (USPS). 

UPU S18 is a 4‑state fluorescent barcode standard used by postal operators to identify items during automated processing.

How Scandit helps

We’ve updated our native Barcode Scanner SDK so it can scan sorter-printed S18 4-State fluorescent barcodes on any device. Here are just a few ways this will change workflows for postal employees and businesses:

• Support manual sorting of mail
• Quality assurance of mail delivery
• Data gathering for mail delivery chain optimization
• Ensuring compliance with mail delivery SLAs

Read on to see how.

Scandit’s Barcode Scanner SDK and Scandit Express now support fluorescent barcode scanning on smart devices.

Fluorescent UPU S18 ID‑tags enable machine‑speed capture of events as letters move through the network, improving traceability and audit.

Challenges of manual processes

Sorting letters manually is not only labor-intensive but prone to human error. This can lead to misdirected mail and inefficiencies, impacting overall service quality.

Historically, “orange” fluorescent postal codes required UV/blue illumination in sorting machines; general handhelds didn’t support this. Scandit now decodes S18 fluorescent ID‑tags on standard smartphones, enabling QA and exception handling in the field.

Scandit Barcode Scanner SDK decodes UPU S18 fluorescent barcodes on smartphones used by postal workers.

How it helps

It allows workers to quickly access and review automated routing system information. For instance, if a letter has been successfully routed employees can confirm this.

They can then manually reintegrate the letter back into the automated sorting process. This helps ensure minimal disruption.

Additionally, workers can overwrite the incorrect sorting barcode if the automated routing system has incorrectly sorted a letter. Or they manually send the letter to the right location.

A further benefit is the relatively inexpensive setup costs. RFID systems can cost millions of dollars to implement, whereas the Scandit technology (particularly Scandit Express) can be integrated with existing smart devices, without the need for investment in expensive new hardware.

Smartphone-based fluorescent barcode scanning is most useful for postal operators for quality assurance (verifying sorter decisions), exception handling (overwriting wrong routes), and field audits (SLA timing on samples). Teams can re‑inject items into automated flow or redirect them without facility‑bound machines.

Fluorescent barcode scanning brings several benefits to mail sorting operations, such as:

• Significantly reduces the manual workload
• Increases operational efficiency through time savings
• Minimizes reliance on manual sorting
• Reduces the likelihood of human error
• Ensures higher accuracy in mail delivery
• Ensures compliance with SLAs

Importance of compliance

In mail delivery, meeting Service Level Agreements (SLAs) is vital. These agreements set clear rules for on-time and accurate delivery.

Mail companies must prove they follow these SLAs. Not doing so can lead to big fines. This makes following SLAs a key part of the mail business.

And it can go wrong, resulting in fines for missing delivery targets. This includes a requirement to deliver 93% of First Class mail within one working day.

Feature functionality

Introducing fluorescent barcode scanning for smart devices can help mail companies meet these SLAs. It goes a long way toward letting them track each letter’s journey.

The feature gives detailed data on where and when mail is sorted and delivered. It helps companies make sure they are meeting their SLAs, and also reduces mail sorting errors.

Case study

CTT Improves Strict SLA Compliance With Fluorescent UPU Mail Code Scanning

Find out how

Feature capabilities

The mail delivery business operates on tight margins and often struggles with incomplete tracking information.

The lack of detailed data makes it hard to fully optimize the mail delivery chain.

Incorporating fluoro barcode scanning on any device significantly improves data capture and accuracy. It enables precise data capture on mail movement, from sorting to final delivery.

Advantages and benefits

What are the benefits of intelligent scanning of fluoro lettercodes?

First, it enables better decision-making. Mail companies can optimize their delivery chains with more accurate data.

Inefficiencies like unnecessary delivery runs or redundant processes are reduced. This optimization frees up resources, improving parcel delivery capacity and overall operational improvements.

Furthermore, accurate data capture leads to improved employee and customer satisfaction.

Simple integration

The functionality is on Scandit’s Barcode Scanner SDK and Scandit Express, our no-code app. Our Enterprise Success team can help with the integration and ensure it is simple and straightforward.

Scandit’s barcode scanning software works on various operating systems, frameworks, 3rd party systems. OEM devices include iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, Xamarin, Cordova, React Native, IBM MobileFirst, SAP Fiori, and Oracle Xstore.

Scandit can significantly reduce the manual workload and human error, bringing the precision and speed of automated systems into the hands of your employees.

It ensures strict compliance with Service Level Agreements, avoiding potential fines and enhancing the quality of mail delivery.

Moreover, Scandit’s Smart Data Capture offers additional capabilities like autonomous counting or finding.

Discover how Scandit can enhance and optimize your mail delivery processes and give superpowers to your workers.

Do fluorescent 4‑state codes require special illumination?

Yes - traditionally these orange codes were read under UV/blue illumination by sorting machines. Scandit enables decoding on standard smartphones.

How does fluorescent barcode scanning reduce the manual workload in mail sorting?

It improves the process of checking and verifying automated routing system information. Allowing employees to quickly and easily scan and redirect mail if necessary reduces the time and effort spent manually doing the same task.

Which postal barcode symbologies can Scandit scan in fluorescent ink?

Scandit’s barcode scanning SDK is able to scan a range of 4-state mail codes in black and white and fluoro, including:

• UPU S18
• Indexation 4SC
• RM4SCC

Is Scandit designed for easy integration with existing systems, ensuring a smooth transition and minimal disruption to current operations?

Yes. Our Enterprise-Level Success Team will partner with you all the way from evaluation to day-to-day operations – with trials, solution design, integration and customer success support included.

Can this improve customer satisfaction in mail delivery?

By providing reliable and efficient delivery services, along with accurate tracking information, giving workers the ability to scan fluorescent 4-State barcodes can improve the overall customer experience and build trust in your mail services.