Systems and methods which provide for exposing alternate shipping service provider services in shipping management systems are described. Embodiments provide a generic alternate carrier component used to configure configured alternate carrier components of carrier support logic for exposing corresponding alternate shipping service providers for selection and use by users of a shipping management system. A generic alternate carrier component may be configured for a respective alternate shipping service provider for interfacing selected carrier shipping services offerings supported by the alternate shipping service provider with a shipping management platform of a shipping management system. Carrier support modules may be provided for each shipping service provider of a plurality of shipping service providers, wherein the carrier support modules may be configured to interface services logic for a corresponding shipping service provider with a shipping management platform using one or more configured alternate carrier components.

Systems and methods which provide postage indicia using mobile communication handsets are shown. According to embodiments, users are enabled to introduce mail pieces into a mail delivery stream which are accepted as having activated, value comprising postage indicia associated therewith without the use of traditional metering systems, processor-based postage generation and printing systems, or even printers. Instead, a token comprising substantially unique identification information identifying a mail piece is activated as an activated token having postage value associated therewith using mobile communication handsets, such as a smart phone, network enabled personal digital assistant, etc. according to embodiments of the invention.

System and methods for preventing the coverage or fill of ineffective medications are provided. Genetic efficacy testing results are received at a pharmacy benefits manager (“PBM”) system from a laboratory information system. Medications reported as ineffective in the testing results are flagged as an allergy in an electronic patient record. Requests for coverage of medications are received at the PBM system from a dispensing pharmacy system and electronic notifications are issued to the dispensing pharmacy system where the medication is flagged as an allergy at the PBM system to prevent the flagged medication from being filled.

Systems and methods which provide a shipping service resale platform enabling single shipper account access to multiple shipping service rate schedules are disclosed. Shipping service rate optimization is facilitated for a shipper using a single shipper account of embodiments of the invention, whereby the shipper is enabled to utilize rates available from various rate schedules, such as may include reseller negotiated rates, shipping service provider published rates, etc., according to embodiments. The shipper is enabled to establish, manage, and maintain a single shipper account for use in purchase and payment of shipping services which implicate different shipping service provider payment mechanisms, different shipping service resellers, and/or different shipping service providers.

A system for initiating a delivery by mail may include a database storing a plurality of unique codes and a barcode reader for reading a barcode from a surface of an article to be delivered, the barcode corresponding to one of the unique codes. The system may further include a server operable to update the database in response to the reading of the barcode to associate delivery information for the article with the unique code corresponding to the barcode, the delivery information including at least a delivery address of the article.

Systems and techniques are provided that allow for efficient and simple provision of reprint indicia, refund requests and refunds for erroneous or damaged indicia, and combinations thereof, without the technical and administrative overhead common to conventional postage systems.

In some embodiments, a web-based postage transaction may be facilitated. In some embodiments, an applet embedded on a web page may be provided to a client computer in response to the client computer accessing the web page. A request related to a postage transaction may be received from the client computer. In response to the request, a validation check may be performed by providing a validation token to the embedded applet at the client computer to be validated by the embedded applet. Based on a determination by the embedded applet at the client computer that the validation token is valid, the embedded applet at the client computer is configured to execute at least a part of the request.

Aspects of the technology described herein provide a pre-printed postage. As an initial step, the pre-printed postage is printed on a media, such as an envelope or sticker. Each instance of pre-printed postage comprises a unique identifier encoded in a machine-readable format. Postage is paid for through a payment process. In order to pay for an individual instance of pre-printed postage, the unique identifier encoded in the pre-printed postage needs to be provided to the payment application. At the end of the payment process, a central database is updated to associate the unique identifier with a postal value calculated during payment. When the Postal Service receives an item with pre-printed postage it validates the pre-printed postage and then indicates usage of the pre-printed postage by updating the central database.

A mailbox system includes a remote computing device and a mailbox. The remote computing device is configured to communicate with a user device and to receive and review user authorization information and transmit an authorization message indicating successful authorization. The mailbox has a mail piece receiving mechanism, a mailbox identifier, a label printer, a locking mechanism, and a microprocessor. The microprocessor is configured to communicate with a user device having received an authorization message, to control the label printer to print a mailing label corresponding to services selected by a user via the user device, to control the locking mechanism in response to communications from the user device to allow the user to place a mail piece in the mail piece receiving mechanism and to lock the mail piece receiving mechanism after the mail piece is placed therein, and to communicate with the remote computing device.

System and methods for preventing the coverage or fill of ineffective medications are provided. Genetic efficacy testing results are received at a pharmacy benefits manager (PBM) system from a laboratory information system. Medications reported as ineffective in the testing results are flagged as an allergy in an electronic patient record. Requests for coverage of medications are received at the PBM system from a dispensing pharmacy system and electronic notifications are issued to the dispensing pharmacy system where the medication is flagged as an allergy at the PBM system to prevent the flagged medication from being filled.