To be eligible for mailing at an automation price, what requirement must all flats meet?

To qualify for mailing at an automation price, all flats must meet AFSM requirements, which stands for Automated Flats Sorting Machine requirements. This designation indicates that the mail must be designed in such a way that it can be processed efficiently by automated sorting machines used by postal services. These requirements specify dimensions, weight, and other characteristics that ensure that flats can be sorted automatically without any additional manual intervention.

Meeting AFSM requirements helps streamline the sorting process and reduces handling costs for the postal service, which is why these items qualify for lower postage rates associated with automation. In contrast, while standard shape requirements, postage rate requirements, and delivery time standards are important considerations in the mailing of flats, they do not directly address the qualifications needed specifically for automation pricing.