Compare/Update AAM %

About AAM Percentages

AAM reporting is done by Town of 25 and Zip code. Because home delivery routes may cross AAM zone, Town of 25 or Zip code boundaries, it is necessary to know what percentage of a route’s draw lies in each area. The percentages are set up with the route (see Distribution Point in the Setup Manual), and when the publishing run ends (or returns or adjustments are entered) the percentages are used to update AAM history. The AAM reports are based on this history.

Note: Business Rules determine whether AAM history is kept by Zip code.

For example, let’s say route 12 was 75% in Zip code 55107 and 25% in Zip code 55110. On a given day, the publishing run calculated a draw of 80 for this route. The draw would be broken down for AAM history: 60 would be allocated to Zip code 55107, and the remaining 20 to Zip code 55110.

As time passes and circulation patterns (and route boundaries) change, these percentages lose their accuracy—perhaps after a while only 50% of route 12’s subscribers live in Zip code 55107. But the same percentages are still being used for AAM reports, so 55107 figures are inflated, while 55110 figures are deflated.

You can use Compare/Update AAM % to update Town of 25 and Zip code percentages so that they reflect the current circulation. The utility will look at all subscribers on a route and, based on address information, recalculate the percentages. A report listing the new percentages is created as part of the process, and you have the option to run the utility just as a report (with no updating).

Updating AAM Percentages

You should update AAM percentages once a month, or whenever there is a change (such as mass rerouting) that could affect the percentages. For performance reasons, AAM percentages are not updated automatically with the publishing run. Also, you may elect to print the report only in order to review the changes that will be made before updating the percentages. Always print a copy of this report for AAM audit purposes.

To update Town of 25 and/or Zip code percentages for routes:

• Select Compare/Update AAM% from the Account menu to display the Compare AAM Percent Report screen.

• Select Add and complete the following fields.

Field	Type	What to enter
PRODUCT	setup	Enter the product for which to update AAM percentages (enter “*” to multi-select products).
ROUTE TYPE	predefined	Indicate which route type should have AAM percentages updated. Route types are user-defined categories (see Route Type in the Setup Manual).
PRINT REPORT	yes/no	Indicate whether the Compare AAM Percent Report should be created.
UPDATE METHOD	predefined	Specify whether to update AAM percentages for Town of 25, Zip code, both, or neither (enter neither if you are creating the report only).

• Select Continue to update percentages and produce the report.

Example—Compare AAM Percent Report