Method and system for embedding mailer specified mailing instructions on a mail piece to automate mail processing

A method for a mail processing machine to process a mail piece prepared by a sender, the mail piece including a marking indicating desired delivery options requested by the sender, the method comprising:

• reading, by the mail processing machine, the marking on the mail piece;
• interpreting, by the mail processing machine, the marking read from the mail piece to determine an identification of the sender and delivery options for the mail piece desired by the sender;
• obtaining, by the mail processing machine, an image of the mail piece and storing the image of the mail piece in association with the identification of the sender;
• determining, by the mail processing machine based on the interpretation of the marking read from the mail piece, at least one carrier and associated carrier service level that meets the delivery options desired by the sender;
• determining, by the mail processing machine, a rate for the mail piece for delivering the mail piece by each of the at least one carrier and associated carrier service level that meets the desired delivery options;
• selecting, by the mail processing machine, a carrier and associated carrier service level from the at least one carrier and associated carrier service level based on the determined rates and predefined business rules for carrier selection;
• accounting, by the mail processing machine, for the determined rate for the selected carrier and associated carrier service level;
• generating, by the mail processing machine, an indicium for the mail piece based on the determined rate;
• and
• printing, by the mail processing machine, the generated indicium for the mail piece.