What is a 9 digital zip code?
A 9-digit zip code, also referred to as ZIP+4®, is used to simplify the delivery of letters and packages to addresses with increased accuracy. An additional 4 digits are appended to the end of the traditional 5-digit zip code to notify the postal carrier of the geographical segment within a designated zip code delivery area.
How do I find my ZIP+4 code?
Experian Data Validation Solutions automatically add the ZIP + 4® to every address that’s verified. These comprehensive data quality solutions allow businesses to discover accurate and detailed addresses in nearly every instance for convenient and complete address collection.
What is the purpose of address validation?
Manual data entry always leaves room for error. Whether a customer mistypes their address on a form after ordering a product on your site, or a call center representative mishears a client's address and incorrectly enters it into your database, typos in key customer data entering your CRM is more common than you think.
Address validation software is a necessary component in catching and correcting any potential invalid address information before it enters your database. The purpose of address validation is to prevent simple mistakes from interfering with mail and package delivery by ensuring you always have the correct and most up-to-date address information for your clients.
How do I verify an address?
The best way to verify an address is deliverable is by using address validation software. Experian’s USPS® address validation tool allows you to verify addresses in batch for both US-based and international addresses. Additionally, address validation API is available for direct connection to your website, application, or various other forms of technology to verify addresses in real-time.
How to verify an address with USPS®
Whether you’re not sure if your addresses are formatted the right way or you want to ensure that an address is verifiable and can receive mail, the easiest option is to use a USPS® address validation tool to ensure accuracy. Simply enter the address in question, and the USPS address validation tool will verify this information against the most recent USPS® data and international mailing services to determine proper formatting, the existence of the address, whether the address can receive mail, and more.
How does an address verification system work?
Experian uses data sets containing various pieces of address information to standardize and verify addresses. We take all the pieces of an address- the data elements- and treat them like search terms. Then, we send this key information to our server to see if there is a match. The results from the database are returned to the customer and provide answers to questions such as: Is the address valid i.e. does it exist? Is the address spelled correctly? Can this address receive mail? And much more.
The tool can be tailored in multiple ways depending on the use case:
- Real-time: Our real-time address validation web services can easily integrate into your existing platforms to speed up the entry of address data, while increasing accuracy using geolocation data and USPS address correction. By ensuring you collect only accurate data, our real-time address validation tools help you increase efficiency and accuracy as data enters your system.
- Automated batch hygiene: With batch address validation services, you can process existing address files for accuracy with your current list of customer addresses checked in one sitting.
What is geolocation?
Geolocation data refers to the data utilized to identity a user’s geographical location. The use of geolocation data such as geocoordinates, which are the latitude and longitude points for every location in the world, with a real-time address validation solution is the starting point to tackling some of the challenges typically associated with address delivery services.
What is CASS Certification?
Coding Accuracy Support System (CASS) is a certification process used by USPS® to evaluate the accuracy of address correction/matching software. With our CASS™-certified solution, we ensure your address data follows formatting and standardization requirements set by the USPS®.
What is Delivery Point Validation (DPV)?
Delivery Point Validation, or DPV®, surpasses the standard procedure of validating an address’s formatting by verifying that a specific address can receive mail and be delivered to. How does it work? DPV® leverages the most recent USPS data to confirm deliverable addresses with a unique 11-digit code, which consists of a ZIP+4 coding system plus an additional two digits that can narrow a location down to the delivery point. Many businesses find that this added information increases the likelihood of deliverability for packages and mail.
How to get better address data
Having the right address data equates to enhanced customer service, stronger reputability and branding and ultimately, profit growth. To improve your address data, the first step is ensuring your business has access to clean, up-to-date and accurate customer data. See the benefits for yourself by signing up for a free address verification trial today.
