The National Retail Federation is predicting an increase in the number of people seeking out deals online for Cyber Monday. Last year, NRF estimates 197 million sales were carried out online during the five-day stretch from Thanksgiving to the following Monday; this year, NRF predicts that number to reach 202.9 million
In Dallas, the U.S. Postal Service is now using new equipment to allow employees to move packages to their destination quicker. The "multi induct matrix sorter" allows workers to process packages more quickly.
Billy Mayes, plant manager of the Dallas Regional Transfer Hub, says the "MIMS" will increase the plant's capacity by 500%, allowing workers to process about 70,000 packages an hour. He says the sorter will help reduce costs by improving efficiency.
"This sorts packages, which is very labor intensive," he says. "This allows us to sort 700 pieces per person. The old way, with the old machinery, we were doing about 250."
Mayes says the hub is now able to unload a mail truck and get packages processed in seven minutes. He says that can get mail sorted and moving onto individual stations for delivery more quickly.
"That's a huge improvement," he says. "Just getting the mail in and out faster has allowed us to give better service. If we get the mail into other plants earlier, they have an opportunity to get it to stations earlier so the carriers have it earlier."
Instead of workers placing each package on the machine and lining it up so the destination address is facing the right direction, Mayes says the MIMS uses 360 degree cameras that can read the address in any position. He says the use of technology can move packages to the correct facility more quickly while putting less stress on workers' bodies.
The U.S. Postal Service says the MIMS will allow the Dallas Regional Transfer Hub to process 1.5 million packages a day. Mayes says the use of technology will help make shipping more efficient while also helping USPS plan for increased demand as the populations of the Metroplex and Texas grow.
USPS has launched a ten year modernization strategy, saying it has committed $19.8 billion so far, and it plans a total of $40 billion "in strategic investments that are enhancing efficiency and providing speedier, more dependable service for Americans everywhere."
Mayes, the manager of the Dallas hub, says the use of new technology is helping USPS during the holiday rush.
"It's Christmas time for the Postal Service. I've been doing this for 25 years now; it's kind of our Super Bowl. That's what we work for all year, what we prepare for all year," he says. "The Postal Service is now more than ever better suited and ready to go. We're the least expensive way to ship your packages."
The U.S. Postal Service expects to handle 88 million packages every day throughout its system this holiday season, an increase from 60 million packages last season.