Front-end address verification

Rapid addressing is the process through which addresses are verified at the front end, before they are entered into the company's database. Without a rapid addressing tool in place, address data is entered into a database in varying formats with an unknown degree of accuracy.

The end result is that a company's database is a mixture of accurate addresses, inaccurate but fixable addresses, and completely unfixable addresses (see Figure 1 below). The only way to prevent this from occurring is to use an address verification tool at the point of entry. This will ensure that all addresses entering your customer database are verified against the USPS® database and are input in a consistent, standard format.

Database	Addresses	Definitions
		All information present and in the correct field
		The address is incorrect, but can be fixed with a batch product
		The address is incorrect and cannot be corrected by a batch product due to lack of information

Figure 1. Cross section of average company database

Benefits

Through the use of rapid addressing a company will be able to realize the following benefits:

• Achieve the highest level of address data quality possible
• Significantly reduce returned mail due to invalid address information
• Increase operator efficiency and capacity through a reduction in data entry time
• Acquire ZIP + 4™ and USPS barcode data for maximum postage discounts on all mail
• Improved customer service and perception
• Enter verified addresses in typically 15 keystrokes or less

Their database will be transformed from containing a mixture of accurate/inaccurate addresses to one containing more accurate and verified addresses.

Figure 2. Diagram showing the state of a company database before and after rapid addressing has been implemented at the point of address entry

Examples

Without a rapid addressing tool in place, an address can be entered any number of ways into your database. The way an address is entered depends entirely on the person who enters it, as the following table illustrates: