# Presentation: 303033

***Standardize:***
**The Foundation of Your Address Quality Process**
**National Postal Forum**
**Washington DC**
**March 27, 2007**** **

- Cynthia Harrelson, BellSouth
- Ruth Jones, U.S. Postal Service®

## This session qualifies as one of the two sessions needed for the Address Quality Specialist Certificate!

***This session qualifies as one of the two sessions needed for the****** Address Quality Specialist Certificate!***

## Standardize

**AN ADDRESS QUALITY PROCESS**

**Standardize**

**Validate**

**Update**

## Standardize

**CASS Certified****TM**** Software**

**LACS****LinkTM**

**DPV****TM**

**AEC / AEC II****TM**

**NCOA****LinkTM**

**ANK****LinkTM**

**ACS****TM**

**Standardize**

**Validate**

**Update**

**AN ADDRESS QUALITY PROCESS**

## DEFINING A QUALITY ADDRESS

**A Quality Address Is Defined By USPS As:**
*“**A Quality Address Contains Complete and Correct Elements that Comply with USPS**®** Address Management System Standards and Allows Automated Sortation to the Intended Delivery Point for Delivery To the Specified Recipient Without Requiring the Use of Delivery Force Knowledge**TM** to Complete.”*

## CAN YOU RECOGNIZE A BAD ADDRESS?

-  NIXIE                                      4910   1                02       04/20/04
- RETURN TO SENDER
- NO SUCH NUMBER
- UNABLE TO FORWARD

**Barbara L. Wilson**
**612 King Ridge Cv.**
**Collierville TN  38017-1714**

## Validate

**Update**

**Standardize**

**CASS Certified****TM Software**

**LACS****LinkTM**

**DPV****TM**

**AEC / AEC II****TM**

**NCOA****LinkTM**

**ANK****LinkTM**

**ACS****TM**

**Validate**

**Update**

**PRODUCTS TO USE TO ACHIEVE QUALITY ADDRESSING**

## WHAT IS A STANDARDIZED ADDRESS?

- A Standardized Address Is Defined As:
- All necessary elements correct and complete...

- Primary address number
- Pre-directional
- Street name
- Street suffix
- Post-directional

- Secondary identifier
- Secondary number
- City
- State
- ZIP + 4® Code

## WHAT IS A STANDARDIZED ADDRESS?

- A standardized address can have elements that are:
- Fully spelled out
- Abbreviated using USPS® standard abbreviations
- As shown in USPS ZIP + 4® file

***OR***

## EXAMPLES OF STANDARDIZED ADDRESSES

_**Acceptable**_
- NORTH EAST MAIN ST
- BAY AVE SOUTHWEST
- NORTH SOUTH OAK ST
- MAPLE CT EAST WEST

_**Preferred**_
- NE MAIN ST
- BAY AVE SW
- N SOUTH OAK ST
- MAPLE COURT EAST W

## WHAT IS A STANDARDIZED ADDRESS?

- 	Address Elements are Printed on Envelope In Standard Format:
- Format all lines of the address with a uniform left margin
- Uppercase letters are preferred on all lines of the address block

## POINTS TO REMEMBER

- 	Prepare for Unique Address Formats
- Post Office Boxes
- Dual Addresses
- Military Addresses
- College/University Addresses
- Rural Route / Highway Contract Addresses
- Private Mail Box Addresses
- Puerto Rico Addresses
- Primary/Secondary Numbers with Leading Zeroes
- USPS®
- International Addresses

## WHY?

- 	Benefits of standardized addressing...
- Reduces undeliverable as address (UAA) mail
- Enhances processing and delivery of mail
- Enhanced merge/purge operations
- Improved aesthetic presentation on mail
- Increases customer perception of your quality
- Cost reduction through improved efficiencies
- Increase deliverability

## PHYSICAL ADDRESS UAA

**Common Address Quality Problems**

**PHYSICAL ADDRESS UAA**

**Missing Apt or Ste Number**

**Incorrect Number**

**Incorrect Recipient**

**Missing Number**

**Missing RR or Box Number**

**Incorrect Street Name**

- CARL SHULER
- 1414 LAKE ST  APT
- CHICAGO IL  60614-1905

- CARL SHULER
**1914 **LAKE ST APT 3A
- CHICAGO IL  60614-1910

- CARL **BROWN**
- 1414 LAKE ST APT
- CHICAGO IL  60614-1910

- CARL SHULER
**         **LAKE ST APT 3A
- CHICAGO IL  60614-1910

- CARL SHULER
- PO BOX
- CHICAGO IL  60614-1910

- CARL SHULER
- 1414 **LARK **ST APT 3A
- CHICAGO IL  60614-1910

**398**

**226**

**134**

**56**

**48**

**47**

**Millions of Pieces**

## WHAT TOOLS ARE AVAILABLE TO HELP?

- 	Use CASS CertifiedTM software enabled with DPVTM and LACSLinkTM to standardize the address information before storing
- Standardize street name information
- Standardize city name
- Assign correct ZIP + 4® code with
- Validate your address is deliverable

## HOW?

- 	Collection of Information
- Forms / Web / Data Entry
- Properly designed processes to capture all necessary address information
- Apartment/suite numbers
- City names
- Check and maintain accuracy

## HOW?

- 	Storage of information
- Addressing database logically designed
- Allocate sufficient space
- Separate fields for address elements
- Store all address elements
- Accommodate separate shipping / billing address fields
- UPDATE WITH RESULTS FROM CASS PROCESSING!

## SUMMARY

**	**

- The quality of your address data directly affects the deliverability of your mail
- USPS® provides an extensive suite of existing address quality products and services
- The USPS is committed to continuous address hygiene improvements to enhance the value of mail
*Small efforts can reap big results!*

## AchieveTotal Address Quality

**Standardize**

**Achieve****Total Address Quality**

**Validate**

**Update**

## Additional Address Quality Workshops

**	**

- _Sunday – Room 202A_	_Time__	_
- 	Quality Mailpiece Design & Understanding Barcodes	10:30 am – 11:30 am
- 	6 Sigma Addressing Practices I	1:15 pm – 2:15 pm
- 	6 Sigma Addressing Practices II	3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
- _Monday – Room 202A_	_Time__	_
- 	Fundamentals of Quality Addressing	2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
- 	Addressing & Your Bottom Line	3:15 pm – 4:15 pm
- 	The ABC’s of File Hygiene	4:30 pm – 5:30 pm
- _Tuesday – Room 202A_	_Time__	_
- 	Standardize: The Foundation of Your Address	10:00 am – 11:00 am	Quality Processes
- 	Validate: Make the Most of Your Standardized	11:15 am – 12:15 pm	Address
- 	Update: Maintain Contact With Your Moving	2:00 pm – 3:00 pm	Customers with OneCode ACSTM
- 	Response Optimization Guide	3:15 pm – 4:15 pm
- 	Change of Address & Potential COA Breaches	3:15 pm – 4:15 pm
- 	New CASSTM Requirements and How They	4:30 pm – 5:30 pm	Affect You
- _Wednesday – Room 202A_	_Time__	_
- 	Stump the Experts With Your Uncodable UAA Mail	8:00 am – 9:00 am

## FOR MORE INFORMATION

***www.usps.com/ncsc***

***www.ribbs.usps.gov***

**Customer Support**

**1-800-238-3150**