By
Lob
Direct mail is a marketing method where businesses send physical mailpieces like postcards, letters, or self-mailers to customers or prospects. When campaigns involve thousands or even millions of pieces, delivery logistics become more complex.
One way to manage this complexity is through a nationwide print delivery network. These networks use multiple print facilities located across the country to produce and send mail closer to where recipients live.
This article explains what a nationwide print delivery network is, how it works, and what it means for businesses running large-scale direct mail campaigns.
A print delivery network refers to the system of facilities that print and prepare direct mail for delivery. In a nationwide network, this system includes multiple commercial print partners located in different regions across the United States.
This differs from using a single print facility. A single facility prints and ships all mailpieces from one location regardless of where recipients live. In contrast, a nationwide network distributes print jobs to different facilities based on geographic location and production capacity.
Nationwide print delivery networks use software and integrations to automate this distribution. The goal is to reduce delivery distance, production bottlenecks, and reliance on any one facility.
Nationwide coverage means mail can be printed and distributed from multiple regions across the United States. This includes facilities on the East Coast, West Coast, Midwest, South, and other key areas.
The goal of geographic distribution is to ensure that mail can be produced near the recipient's location. This reduces transit time and potential delays caused by regional disruptions or weather.
In practice, a nationwide network often includes printers strategically located near major metropolitan areas and USPS distribution centers. These locations act as regional hubs that support faster and more consistent delivery.
Routing mail to the closest printer involves automated decision-making based on recipient addresses. Software uses routing algorithms to analyze each recipient's zip code and determine which print facility is best positioned to produce and send the mailpiece.
This decision process factors in:
The software automatically assigns production tasks to the appropriate printer without requiring manual coordination.
Routing logic is often built into the direct mail platform or integrated via APIs with customer data systems. Once a campaign is launched, the platform processes the data, segments the recipients, and routes the mail accordingly.
When mail is printed closer to its destination, it enters the USPS system at a later stage in the delivery process. This is known as zone skipping.
Zone skipping reduces the number of postal zones the mail must travel through. Fewer zones mean lower postage costs and shorter delivery windows.
Key benefits:
Distributed printing refers to the use of multiple print facilities across different geographic locations. For high-volume direct mail campaigns, these networks offer clear advantages over centralized printing.
When mail is printed at a facility closer to the recipient, it does not need to travel long distances. This reduces overall transit time in several ways:
Direct mail marketing companies with nationwide networks can typically deliver mail 2 to 4 days faster than single facility operations. This speed advantage becomes even more significant during high-volume mailing seasons like holidays.
One concern with distributed printing is maintaining uniform quality across different facilities. Leading direct mail platforms address this through:
These quality control measures ensure that your brand colors, images, and overall presentation remain consistent regardless of which facility prints your mail.
Printing mail locally reduces environmental impact in multiple ways:
For businesses with sustainability goals, distributed printing offers a more environmentally friendly approach to large-scale mail campaigns.
Instead of comparing different providers, it is more useful to look at how Lob’s Print Delivery Network stacks up against single facility printing.
This comparison highlights why distributed networks are the gold standard for high-volume direct mail campaigns.
Lob’s nationwide print delivery network uses automation, quality control, and real-time data to maintain consistency throughout the mailing process.
Lob automatically selects the optimal print facility for each mailpiece based on:
This routing happens instantly without manual intervention, allowing campaigns to scale efficiently while maintaining delivery speed.
Lob requires all network printers to meet G7 certification standards, ensuring consistent color reproduction across facilities. Daily quality checks using Chromachecker verify that output meets color accuracy standards.
Regular audits examine samples from each facility to confirm adherence to print specifications, including:
Lob’s platform includes a dashboard that displays delivery status for each mailpiece. Each piece receives a unique Intelligent Mail barcode (IMb) that enables tracking from production through final delivery.
The dashboard shows:
This data helps you measure campaign performance, identify delivery patterns, and optimize future mailings.
Start by documenting your existing process:
Identify the systems that contain customer data relevant to your mail campaigns. Determine which customer actions or events could trigger automated mail.
Before transitioning your entire mail program, run a test campaign with a defined audience segment. Compare results to previous methods.
Once your pilot shows promising results, expand to additional segments while implementing testing to refine your approach.
Lob offers personalized demonstrations of our nationwide print delivery network for large-scale campaigns. During the demo, we will show you how our platform automates the entire direct mail process from creation to delivery tracking.
To schedule a consultation, visit https://www.lob.com/sales and select a time that works for you.
What compliance certifications should a nationwide direct mail provider carry?
Look for SOC 2 Type II certification for secure data handling, HIPAA compliance for healthcare-related mail, and CASS certification for address accuracy. These certifications ensure your customer data remains protected and your mail reaches its destination reliably.
How are make ready costs eliminated with on-demand digital printing?
On-demand printing does not require metal plates or manual setup, eliminating traditional make ready expenses. Each piece is printed directly from digital files, allowing for cost-effective small runs and personalized content without setup fees.
Can you keep using existing creative templates without re-engineering them?
Most modern direct mail platforms accept standard design formats like PDF and HTML with minimal adjustments. Your existing templates typically require only minor modifications to work with automated systems, saving time and design resources.
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