Data Processing
While InfoSend's data processing service can be provided as a stand-alone service it is normally provided as part of the turnkey Data Processing, Print & Mail solution. It can also be provided to clients that do not utilize printing or mailing services but use one of the bill-centric eBusiness offerings such as Online BillPay.
InfoSend is adept at both flat file (e.g. CSV or XML) and PDF processing. The input file type is selected based on your Organization's specific requirements and estimated volumes. One data processing platform creates the output files for both the print and electronic channels.
- Data processing produces final output that is printed and mailed and/or used in one or more of the eBusiness offerings.
- Transmit data electronically to InfoSend and can receive free PDF samples of the final output (if needed) before it is printed or delivered online.
Data processing can be used as a stand-alone service for disaster recovery purposes. For example some clients send data files to InfoSend to automatically process and output to print-ready PDF files in case the client experiences equipment failure or a natural disaster.
In most cases data processing is set up when one (or both) of the following solutions are implemented:
- Turnkey Data Processing, Print & Mail Solution
- Online BillPay (EBPP) Solution
Data Processing Input File Options:
Option 1 - Express PDF Implementation
This innovative option gives billers the ability to use InfoSend's Print & Mail platform at the lowest possible price
point. It's also useful if you are mostly satisfied with your existing bill format or it is not cost effective for
InfoSend to create a hosted software application to process your data and format the documents for you
(e.g. if you already have hundreds or thousands of unique document templates set up in your system). InfoSend has a
unique solution that can modify the addresses in your PDF print files to use CASS certified address validation and
presorting. Postal barcodes are added to your documents and the files are printed in presort order. With this option
you control the formatting of your documents and do not pay maintenance fees.
InfoSend's Express PDF Implementation is unique in that it's a hybrid solution that combines client-provided print files with InfoSend's data import and processing capabilities. We do not simply print image files; we will merge processed data from our system with your output to create a complete finished product. This is ideal for clients who are legally required to maintain the exact document look and feel.
Option 2 - Data-Only Files (e.g., flat files, XML
InfoSend creates a custom program that reads the raw billing data from your system and inputs it to InfoSend's database
for processing. Common export formats are XML, CSV, tab or pipe delimited, or SDF. Our programmers will adapt to your
export file format instead of asking you to conform to a predefined template (a true export file format must be used,
your data file will be analyzed before programming begins and you will be informed if it is unusable). InfoSend has
successfully accepted data originating from more than 50 different billing systems – including licensed and homegrown
platforms. If you change platforms we can adapt to the new file structure while keeping your bill design the same.
When this option is selected InfoSend hosts and maintains an application to generate your bills. We will assist you in redesigning the bills and will be responsible for later changing the bill format if needed. Please note that data manipulations are not part of the standard offering. If there are issues with your data export format that you would like InfoSend to create hard-coded workarounds for, your requirements can be analyzed and additional fees apply.