Delivery Point Barcode
A barcode printed on a mail piece that encodes the ZIP+4 code plus a 2-digit delivery point suffix, enabling automated sorting to the individual delivery location.
The Delivery Point Barcode (DPBC), also known as the POSTNET barcode in its older form, encodes 11 digits: the 5-digit ZIP code, the 4-digit add-on, and a 2-digit delivery point suffix that uniquely identifies the mailbox. This allows sorting equipment to arrange mail in the exact sequence a carrier will encounter addresses on the route (walk sequence).
POSTNET barcodes, which used tall and short bars, were phased out in January 2013 in favor of the Intelligent Mail barcode (IMb), which encodes the delivery point along with additional tracking and service information. However, the underlying delivery point coding concept remains the same.
Mailers who print delivery point barcodes on their mail qualify for the deepest automation postage discounts, as it eliminates the need for USPS equipment to read and apply the barcode.