Audit Report – MI-AR-15-002 – 03/13/2015
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What the OIG Found
Functionality issues delayed completion of the pilot. In addition, management stopped RSS deployment in December 2014 because of an unrelated temporary national freeze on information technology deployment. RSS was deployed at only 396 of the 700 planned pilot sites as of December 2014.
The Postal Service now plans to deploy RSS at 17,219 sites between February and December 2015. In January 2015, 1 month before deployment begins, management plans a 50 site test of the Office Data Import tool, which converts point-of service data for import into RSS. Management does not know if Office Data Import tooI testing will be successful or if it will affect the start of the national deployment.
During our 16 site visits we found an average of three functionality issues per site that required a workaround process. These issues included screen freezes, money order transaction errors, processing surcharges, and a lack of application for international mail restrictions concerning height and weight and currency conversion. The RSS help desk also needs improvement. Inadequate functionality and help desk support can adversely affect the customer experience, the national deployment timetable, and users’ confidence in RSS.
The current deployment schedule is aggressive, making successful deployment in 2015 challenging. In addition, existing and future functionality issues may require more funding, which would further reduce the expected return on investment.
What the OIG Recommended
We recommended management complete the RSS pilot in retail offices, demonstrate self-service kiosk functionality, correct user-related functionality issues before initiating a national deployment, and evaluate and establish metrics to ensure the RSS help desk is adequately staffed with knowledgeable personnel and is able to support national deployment.
via Office of Inspector General | United States Postal Service.