Abstract: A method and system are provided for distributed processing of hybrid mail. There are gateways, that collect and store variable data. There are also system management sites, having storage for fixed data. Also provided are mail production sites. The gateways may be dedicated or shared among customers, and collect variable data for mailings from the customers. The gateways group the data by geographic location, and transmit the variable data to one of the appropriate geographically located mail production facilities. The mail production facility sends a transmission to the system management site, responsive to receiving variable data from the gateway, requesting and receiving the corresponding fixed data. The mail production sites produce mail pieces, including said fixed data and the corresponding variable data. The finished mail pieces are further sorted and produced so as to take advantage of, for example, geographically grouped mailings.

Abstract: A plurality of hybrid mail jobs from one or more sources are received at a hybrid mail facility in the form of sets of variable data. The variable data are merged with designated fixed data to produce a plurality of individual print files containing page images to be printed. The individual print files are electronically commingled to produce a single commingled print file containing multiple mail jobs. Presorting is performed to order the commingled print file in accordance with sorting criteria. Before production of the finished mail pieces, the commingled print file, if necessary, is divided into a plurality of divided print files corresponding to different classes requiring different printer and/or automated inserter set-ups.