Five key areas for development emerged as a result of the review of the PPA's Mail Distribution Accreditation Scheme (MDAS), with each designed to maintain and enhance service levels for publishing customers.
1. Changes to the audit process, including the introduction of compliance spot checks on accredited companies, and also the inclusion of transit testing as part of the audit
2. Development of a mandatory Code of Conduct supported by both MDAS and the accredited companies
3. Changes to the annual customer satisfaction survey, including an increase in the number of customers surveyed
4. Potential expansion of the scheme
5. Strengthening the marketing of the scheme
The review was based on consultation between the PPA, the MDAS Advisory Panel and MDAS-accredited companies.
Scheme Manager David Robottom said: “MDAS has continued to prosper in difficult economic times. These new developments make it even more important for publishers to ask their mailing and distribution supplier whether they are MDAS-accredited – and if not, why not.”
The most recent MDAS Customer Satisfaction Survey showed that 63% of publishers are more likely to use an MDAS-accredited company for international mail consolidation/distribution services in the future – a year-on-year increase of 8%.
About MDAS
The PPA says: “The Mail Distribution Accreditation Scheme (MDAS) is a quality standard, specifically developed to test the procedures and processes of international and national mail distribution. The MDAS Customer Satisfaction Survey questions publishers on the services provided by MDAS-accredited mail consolidators and distributors. The scheme was originally known as the International Mail Distribution Accreditation Scheme (IMDAS).”
About PPA
The PPA says: “The PPA promotes and protects the interests of print and online publishers of consumer and business media in the UK. The PPA has around 200 publishing companies in its membership, which collectively produce more than 2,500 consumer and business magazines and journals as well as digital media, data products and events.”
