Tasks 1 + 2 · the SOW’s common-vs-rare question, computed
Capability matrix
The SOW asks which digital offerings are common and which reflect emerging trends. Here that is a computed fact rather than an assertion. The domestic view runs the fifteen-capability comparison against UPS, FedEx, Amazon, the intermediary layer, and regional carriers. The foreign view is retained from our pre-amendment research: each row shows how many of the fifteen operators provide the capability, which is how the commonality method was validated before Amendment 0002 moved Task 1 to domestic entities.
| Capability | USPS | UPS | FedEx | Amazon | 3P platforms | Regionals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buy a label online (consumer) | Click-N-Ship | Sellers only (Buy Shipping) | Cheaper than usps.com retail | |||
| Locate retail / drop-off point | Links out | |||||
| Schedule a pickup | Free with carrier route | On-demand fees | Seller flows | Via carrier | ||
| Tracking + proactive notifications | Aggregated | |||||
| Photo proof of deliveryrare | Not productized | Free, no login (2022) | Standard since 2018 | Veho yes | ||
| Delivery preferences / redirect / hold | Hold mail, redelivery; free | My Choice Premium $19.99/yr | Per-use fees from ~$5.55 | Free, in-app | ||
| Digital mailbox / mail imagingrare | Informed Delivery, 72.9M users; category-unique | Store mailbox = notification only | ||||
| Box-free, label-free returns with instant refundrare | Label Broker is label-free only | Happy Returns, 10,000 locations | fdx branded returns | 10,000+ points | Label generation | |
| Embedded rates in SMB platforms | Via resellers, unbranded | DAP, >$4B revenue 2025 | fdx integrations | Buy Shipping | They are the channel | |
| Public developer APIs | API-first | |||||
| Notary servicesrare | In-store | Online 24/7 via Proof | ||||
| Passport photos / servicesrare | Acceptance facility; photos at some POs | + online expediting | ||||
| Print services with online orderingrare | ||||||
| Consumer subscription monetizationrare | $19.99/yr | Per-use instead | $139/yr Prime wrapper | SaaS tiers | ||
| Locker / counter network | gopost, minimal | 21K+ Access Points | ~17K OnSite | ~20K Lockers/Counters |
Preliminary open-source review · August 2026Under the engagement every cell carries its source document and capture date; the deliverable notes reproduce this matrix as an attachment, which the SOW allows beyond the 5-page limit.