What is a major benefit of barcodes in mail handling?

Barcodes play a crucial role in improving tracking accuracy within mail handling processes. When barcodes are applied to packages, they allow for systematic data collection at various checkpoints throughout the shipping and delivery stages. This automation minimizes human error, enabling workers to quickly and accurately scan items, leading to reliable and consistent tracking information. Customers and postal employees alike benefit from knowing the precise location and status of a mailed item, providing peace of mind and transparency in the service being rendered.

While reducing postage costs, enhancing customer service, and increasing delivery speed are valuable aspects of mail handling, they are not direct benefits of barcodes like tracking accuracy is. Barcodes enable more precise localization and monitoring of packages, which in turn can influence overall efficiency and customer satisfaction indirectly, but their primary impact is seen in the enhancement of tracking capabilities.