The Direct Marketing Advisory Board is a standing group with active membership and participation from private companies and industry associations. It comprises designated operators of UPU member countries and private-sector companies and associations. It functions under the auspices of the Postal Operations Council and is self financed.
Mission
To foster the growth of direct marketing through the Post by positioning designated operators as important direct marketing channels and contributing to economic and market expansion by increasing market knowledge and developing the expertise of stakeholders at all levels.
Participate in the discussions on the LinkedIn UPU - Postal Direct Marketing group.
Latest news
DMAB Assembly meeting 2022
On May 9, 2021 the DMAB held a hybrid General Assembly.
The presentation from Poste Italiane can be downloaded here
UPU DMAB report on COVID-19 and direct marketing
This DMAB report provides a global overview and analysis of the pandemic’s impact on the direct marketing market and postal offering. It also provides insight into the way forward and the opportunities for direct marketing in a post-COVID context. The report focuses on country cases that illustrate the way postal operators, the private sector and the data-driven marketing industry have reacted to the pandemic and risen to the challenges.
Download the Report - (click on the picture)
Activities
Innovation Talk series 2020-2021 (1-7)
The UPU DMAB Innovation Talk 8 was held on Monday, 6 December 2021 from 16.00 to 17.00 CET.
The theme : Online OR offline, online AND offline, what is the winning formula?
Guest speaker: Prof. Dr. Ralf Kreutzer, Professor of Marketing at Berlin School of Economics and Law
The session addressed three questions:
- Online advertising has taken off but why?
- What could help convince our customers to invest in offline media?
- KPIs show us, that online only is not enough.
DMAB survey on direct and digital marketing products and services
The Direct Marketing Advisory Board (DMAB) is conducting its 2021 survey on direct and digital marketing products and services provided by designated operators.
To access survey monkey in the different languages - (coming soon)
Virtual workshop "Direct marketing in a disrupted world"
The DMAB hosted an online virtual workshop entitled “Direct marketing in a disrupted world”.
With its series of five virtual sessions, the purpose of the workshop was to focus on how to build an omni-channel strategy for direct marketing, and the main success factors in doing so, as well as how to apply direct marketing techniques as part of Posts’ digital transformation in marketing their services.
Artificial intelligence, data revolution, cultural changes, offline and online integration were among the topics addressed during the virtual workshop.
The impact of the pandemic on direct marketing was also at the core of the discussion.
Two guest speakers, Jonathan Margulies ( Winterberry Group) and Mark Brauch (Payback) recognized leaders and experts in the marketing industry, delivered insightful views on how direct marketers can position themselves and deal with the challenges they face in the post-COVID-19 world.
Download the UPU DMAB Executive Summary Report
The DMAB held a series of five virtual workshops, entitled “Direct marketing in a disrupted world”, in June 2020.
Click on the photos below for the five sessions
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Direct Marketing Postal Platform (DMapp) Project
The Direct Marketing Postal Platform (DMapp) project aims to develop a technical and operational solution to facilitate customized offers and services for cross-border direct mail.
The main purpose of DMapp is to act as an online marketplace where requests and offers for cross-border direct marketing campaigns can converge and cross-border transactions can be carried out between the platform’s participants.
Download the DMapp brochure
DMAB membership
The DMAB membership is open to all designated operators in UPU member countries, as well as companies and associations in the wider direct marketing industry.
As a member, you will have access to detailed, relevant and up-to-date information on direct mail markets worldwide, and will have the chance to network and benchmark with fellow members, who are key direct marketing industry players and postal executives.
You will have privileged insight into direct mail practices and have the opportunity to exchange up-todate information on new developments in the industry. You may also benefit from exciting new business opportunities: vital for Posts and for the direct mail industry.
Additionally, Direct Marketing Markets Development Workshops are conducted worldwide in DMAB member countries. The workshops are a very effective educational tool aimed at promoting the importance of direct mail marketing and developing the market, both domestically and internationally.
The first step to becoming a member of the DMAB is to fill out an application form. The membership fees are shown on the form. Upon approval by the DMAB Assembly, and payment of the joining fee and membership fee for the first year, the new member can participate in all DMAB activities.
Joining form
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04.02.2020Form to join the DMAB.
Members
Key Documents
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30.11.2021Updated in November 2021
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06.12.2019Business Plan 2017–2020.
Conferences
The DMAB conferences are designed to educate, inform, and provide benchmarking and networking opportunities for participants. One main theme, with an educational content, is chosen for each conference.
Members present different aspects of their direct marketing programmes, and related UPU groups are invited to make presentations. Stakeholders in the direct marketing industry share their expertise and confer on pertinent issues that impact the industry.
Discussions are programmed into each conference, providing DMAB members with an invaluable opportunity to discuss subjects of interest in an interactive environment.
Since 1995, the DMAB has held its conferences biannually at UPU headquarters in Berne.
DMAB Assembly meeting 2020
In 2020 there was a DMAB Assembly meeting held on 19 February 2020 in Berne. The presentation from the meeting was based on Direct marketing best practices/innovation and Outlook 2020: Mail and the New Marketing Economy. (presentations are below)
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12.03.2020Mr. Jonathan Margulies, Managing Director, Winterberry Group, gave the keynote presentation, “Outlook 2020: Mail and the New Marketing Economy”, which focused on three key aspects: the state of marketing mail; the obstacles ahead; and opportunities to be unlocked.
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12.03.2020By Barid Media.
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12.03.2020By European Federation of Envelope Manufacturers (FEPE).
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12.03.2020By Ratans LLC.
Support for members
Training
The UPU also organizes training workshops for the direct marketing managers of designated operators. These expert-led workshops aim to provide access to insights from global experts and business leaders on trends and innovations, take an in-depth look at the success factors and essential aspects of constructing an omnichannel strategy, and provide an opportunity for participants to exchange their experiences and knowledge.
Trainpost course
A complete training package on direct marketing is also available on the Trainpost platform.
DMAB Publications
Direct and Digital Marketing Guide for Developing and Least Developed Countries
The Direct and Digital Marketing Guide for Developing and Least Developed Countries is designed to help designated operators of UPU member countries develop their direct and digital marketing services. These services can be powerful tools for boosting mail volumes and e-commerce.
The latest version of the guide provides designated operators an introduction to current direct and digital marketing trends, as well as teaching them about online and offline direct marketing techniques and integrating direct mail as part of an omni-channel marketing campaign. Case studies from industrialized and developing countries provide Posts with different models to implement or use as a benchmark.

UPU Direct Marketing Advisory Board (DMAB) report on COVID-19 and direct marketing
This DMAB report provides a global overview and analysis of the pandemic’s impact on the direct marketing market and postal offering. It also provides insight into the way forward and the opportunities for direct marketing in a post-COVID context. The report focuses on country cases that illustrate the way postal operators, the private sector and the data-driven marketing industry have reacted to the pandemic and risen to the challenges.
Direct and Digital Marketing Guide for Developing and Least Developed Countries
Contact
International Bureau
Direct Marketing Advisory Board
Weltpostrasse 4
3015 BERNE
SWITZERLAND