Abstract: Techniques for providing strategic recommendations, links to actionable tasks, performance planning, and measurements in a workflow are provided. In one technique, electronic documents pertaining to multiple items that are managed by an online digital service are received. Based on processing the electronic documents, workflow data for the items are stored. The workflow data comprises multiple workflow data items, each indicating a status of a corresponding item of the multiple items. A request for item data associated with a particular item of the multiple items is received from a computing device. In response to receiving the request, the item data is retrieved and additional data that is generated by a computer system that is separate from the apparatus is retrieved. The additional data is one of descriptive data, prescriptive data, or predictive data. The item data and the additional data are presented simultaneously on a screen of the computing device.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an apparatus comprises one or more processors and one or more memories communicatively coupled to the one or more processors and storing instructions which, when processed by the one or more processors, cause: capturing a digital image of one or more contents of the item of mail using the image capture device; extracting, by an image processing device, information from one or more of the image of the item of mail or the image of the one or more contents of the item of mail, the extracted information comprising identifying data and characteristic data; based, at least in part, on the characteristic data, determining a priority level for the item of mail; causing displaying, on a client computing device, a graphical user interface comprising the identifying data and the priority level for the item of mail.

Abstract: An approach is provided for retrieving physical mail items using Augmented Reality (A/R) technology. According to the approach, mail items are stored in a designated area of a mail item facility and users are notified that the mail items are available for pickup. The users are guided to the locations of their respective mail items in the mail item facility via A/R technology. This includes superimposing visual cues on a live image displayed on a mobile computing device to direct the users to locations of their mail items. Embodiments include dynamically updating the visual cues based upon the location and orientation of the mobile computing device, providing “out of view” assistance, and displaying information about mail items.

Abstract: Improved high-density mail services evaluate historical mail fulfillment data for a plurality of recipients and dynamically assigning mail bins for each recipient based on the historical mail fulfillment data. Subsequently, the dynamically assigned mail is automatically distributed to the plurality of recipients using a distribution mechanism, such as a robotic arm. The high-density mail services may also include determining an estimated next pick-up time period for each recipient based on the historical mail fulfillment data and dynamically assigning mail bins based, at least in part, on the estimated next pick-up time period. The high-density mail services may also include determining a bin size based, at least in part, on an estimated next pick-up time period, or an estimated next delivery time period, and dynamically assigning mail bins based, at least in part, on the bin size.

Abstract: An approach is provided for managing 3D printing processes using a 3D printing management service in a cloud-based environment. Configuration data is received corresponding to one or more available 3D printing devices which may be used to complete a 3D printing job. Build data is received corresponding to one or more 3D printing jobs requested for the one or more available 3D printing devices. The 3D printing management service utilizes the configuration data and the build data to select at least a particular 3D printing device to perform at least a particular 3D printing job based on a resourced load balancing determination. The build data is transformed to a format communicable to the particular selected 3D printer to allow it to perform the particular 3D printing job.

Abstract: An approach is provided for accessing and managing data from multiple heterogeneous data sources, processing the data to generate processing results, and providing user access to the processing results via a portal. The portal provides unified intelligent views of the processing results across the heterogeneous data sources, providing a single source of facts and trends. Embodiments include controlling user access to the views based upon user credentials.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an apparatus comprises one or more processors and one or more memories communicatively coupled to the one or more processors and storing instructions which, when processed by the one or more processors, cause: evaluating historical mail fulfillment data for a plurality of physical mail items delivered to a plurality of recipients; dynamically assigning mail bins for the plurality of recipients based, at least in part, on the historical mail fulfillment data for the plurality of recipients; and distributing mail into the dynamically assigned mail bins for the plurality of recipients using the mail distribution mechanism.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an apparatus comprises one or more processors and one or more memories communicatively coupled to the one or more processors and storing instructions which, when processed by the one or more processors, cause: providing one or more first software services to a client computing device corresponding to a particular entity profile for a particular entity; identifying data in the particular entity profile identifying one or more second software services used by the particular entity; while executing a first workflow for the one or more first software services, identifying a trigger for the one or more second software services; in response to identifying the trigger, executing a second workflow for the one or more second software services using data extracted from the first workflow.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an apparatus comprises one or more processors and one or more memories communicatively coupled to the one or more processors and storing instructions which, when processed by the one or more processors, cause: capturing a digital image of one or more contents of the item of mail using the image capture device; extracting, by an image processing device, information from one or more of the image of the item of mail or the image of the one or more contents of the item of mail, the extracted information comprising identifying data and characteristic data; based, at least in part, on the characteristic data, determining a priority level for the item of mail; causing displaying, on a client computing device, a graphical user interface comprising the identifying data and the priority level for the item of mail.

Abstract: An approach is provided for tracking and managing physical mail items using image recognition. An image is captured of a mail item and may include any information on the mail item, such as sender information, recipient information, a postmark, a cancellation, as well as artifacts of the mail item, such as seams, markings, coloration, texture, damage, etc. A unique value is generated for the image, for example, by processing the image data for the image using one or more hash functions to generate a hash value. The hash value uniquely identifies the mail item based upon the information included in the image, such as the sender and recipient information, postmark, cancellation, artifacts, etc., and is used to track and manage the mail item.

Abstract: An approach is provided for managing 3D printing processes using a 3D printing management service in a cloud-based environment. Configuration data is received corresponding to one or more available 3D printing devices which may be used to complete a 3D printing job. Build data is received corresponding to one or more 3D printing jobs requested for the one or more available 3D printing devices. The 3D printing management service utilizes the configuration data and the build data to select at least a particular 3D printing device to perform at least a particular 3D printing job based on a resourced load balancing determination. The build data is transformed to a format communicable to the particular selected 3D printer to allow it to perform the particular 3D printing job.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an apparatus comprises one or more processors and one or more memories communicatively coupled to the one or more processors and storing instructions which, when processed by the one or more processors, cause: receiving a digital image of a particular item of mail and storing the digital image; causing data to be extracted from the digital image using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) or by processing encoded data; based on the extracted data, matching the particular item of mail to particular mailing data from the data stream; determining, based, at least in part, on the extracted data and the particular mailing data, one or more actions to take with respect to the particular item of mail and, in response, causing performance of the one or more actions.

Abstract: An approach is provided for performing sorting of physical mail items using Augmented Reality (A/R) glasses. A/R glasses acquire an image of a physical mail item to be sorted and generate image data that represents the image. A unique value is generated for the image, for example, by processing the image data for the image using one or more hash functions to generate a hash value. The hash value is used to obtain sorting information for the mail item from a mail item manager. The A/R glasses use the sorting information to assist the user in sorting the mail item by displaying the name of a sort location for the mail item, visually distinguishing the sort location from other sort locations, displaying information about the mail item, providing “out of view” assistance, etc. The A/R glasses may allow the user to override the sort location specified for the mail item and override information is sent to the mail item manager.

Abstract: An approach is provided for retrieving physical mail items using Augmented Reality (A/R) technology. According to the approach, mail items are stored in a designated area of a mail item facility and users are notified that the mail items are available for pickup. The users are guided to the locations of their respective mail items in the mail item facility via A/R technology. This includes superimposing visual cues on a live image displayed on a mobile computing device to direct the users to locations of their mail items. Embodiments include dynamically updating the visual cues based upon the location and orientation of the mobile computing device, providing “out of view” assistance, and displaying information about mail items.

Abstract: An approach is provided for accessing and managing data from multiple heterogeneous data sources, processing the data to generate processing results, and providing user access to the processing results via a portal. The portal provides unified intelligent views of the processing results across the heterogeneous data sources, providing a single source of facts and trends. Embodiments include controlling user access to the views based upon user credentials.

Abstract: An approach is provided for tracking and managing physical mail items using image recognition. An image is captured of a mail item and may include any information on the mail item, such as sender information, recipient information, a postmark, a cancellation, as well as artifacts of the mail item, such as seams, markings, coloration, texture, damage, etc. A unique value is generated for the image, for example, by processing the image data for the image using one or more hash functions to generate a hash value. The hash value uniquely identifies the mail item based upon the information included in the image, such as the sender and recipient information, postmark, cancellation, artifacts, etc., and is used to track and manage the mail item.

Abstract: An approach is provided for performing sorting of physical mail items using Augmented Reality (A/R) glasses. A/R glasses acquire an image of a physical mail item to be sorted and generate image data that represents the image. A unique value is generated for the image, for example, by processing the image data for the image using one or more hash functions to generate a hash value. The hash value is used to obtain sorting information for the mail item from a mail item manager. The A/R glasses use the sorting information to assist the user in sorting the mail item by displaying the name of a sort location for the mail item, visually distinguishing the sort location from other sort locations, displaying information about the mail item, providing “out of view” assistance, etc. The A/R glasses may allow the user to override the sort location specified for the mail item and override information is sent to the mail item manager.

Abstract: Improved high-density mail services evaluate historical mail fulfillment data for a plurality of recipients and dynamically assigning mail bins for each recipient based on the historical mail fulfillment data. Subsequently, the dynamically assigned mail is automatically distributed to the plurality of recipients using a distribution mechanism, such as a robotic arm. The high-density mail services may also include determining an estimated next pick-up time period for each recipient based on the historical mail fulfillment data and dynamically assigning mail bins based, at least in part, on the estimated next pick-up time period. The high-density mail services may also include determining a bin size based, at least in part, on an estimated next pick-up time period, or an estimated next delivery time period, and dynamically assigning mail bins based, at least in part, on the bin size.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an apparatus comprises one or more processors and one or more memories communicatively coupled to the one or more processors and storing instructions which, when processed by the one or more processors, cause: receiving a digital image of undeliverable mail and storing the digital image in a first database; causing data to be extracted from the digital image using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) or by processing encoded data; causing additional data to be requested from a second database based on the data extracted from the digital image; automatically generating one or more options for the undeliverable mail based on the data from the first database and the additional data from the second database; and causing the digital image, the data, the additional data, and the one or more options for the undeliverable mail to be displayed using a graphical user interface.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an apparatus comprises one or more processors and one or more memories communicatively coupled to the one or more processors and storing instructions which, when processed by the one or more processors, cause: evaluating historical mail fulfillment data for a plurality of physical mail items delivered to a plurality of recipients; dynamically assigning mail bins for the plurality of recipients based, at least in part, on the historical mail fulfillment data for the plurality of recipients; and distributing mail into the dynamically assigned mail bins for the plurality of recipients using the mail distribution mechanism.