FAQ: USPS® CASS™ Cycle O

This FAQ will outline what you need to know about USPS CASS Cycle O and how this enhances Experian’s Address Validation.

1.  What is USPS CASS Cycle O?
2. What does the USPS CASS Cycle O include?
3. What Experian Data Quality (EDQ) products are certified?
4. What action do I need to take?
5. What are the benefits of using upgraded products?
6. What happens if my organization does not migrate?
7. What other resources can Experian provide?

What is USPS CASS Cycle O?

CASS stands for Coding Accuracy Support System. CASS is a certification program developed by USPS which establishes accuracy standards for address validation software products. These standards are enforced via periodic implementation of progressively more complex matching rules and re-testing all software products against the new benchmarks, referred to as “CASS cycles”. A cycle refresh occurs when the USPS determines that the standards need to be applied across the entire mailing industry. Since 2011, the USPS has operated on CASS Cycle N. In August 2023, the new CASS Cycle O will begin.

What does the USPS CASS Cycle O include? 

The official USPS executive summary details the Cycle O improvements, and at Experian, we are recognizing all of these changes and see them as a positive upgrade to our products. 

1. PO Box™ Only Delivery Zones – According to the USPS executive summary, the purpose of this is to “Identify cities that have only PO Boxes and no other form of mail delivery available.” In other words, this will enable any company that sends packages or direct mail with confidence to cities with only PO Box delivery addresses, knowing that the address is properly formatted. 

2. Delivery Point Validation (DPV®) Flags – With this release, there are several sub-enhancements, listed below. According to the USPS executive summary, the purpose of these flags are to “indicate characteristics associated with an address should be considered when deciding to mail.” Essentially, this will make delivering mail or a package clearer, enabling decision-making and customer satisfaction. 

• DNA = Door Not Accessible
• NSL = No Secure Location
• NDD = Non-Delivery Days
• PO Box Throwback
• No Stat Reason Code

3. Other Cycle O enhancements include:

• 5-Digit ZIP Validation
• Deliverable Street/Highrise Default
• R777/R779 Phantom Route Matching 
• PBSA – PO Box Street Address Identifier
• CMRA – PMB Identifier & DPV Confirmation
• Single Trailing Alpha on a Primary Number
• TotalDPS
• Military Addressing
• Informed Addressing
• Cross State Addresses
• SuiteLink® Requirements 

What Experian Data Quality (EDQ) products are being certified?

On Premise Address Validation Products:

• Batch
• CorrectAddress

What other products are impacted?

Several other products that offer delivery point validation for US addresses will have new and extended capabilities as the result of our re-certification. These include:

• Pro
• Global Intuitive
• Address Validate SOAP
• Experian Address Validation

What action do I need to take?

Our Address Validation product suite has been certified by the USPS CASS Cycle for the last 20 years and, with the new upcoming round, we will be up to date with our certification.

EDQ utilizes USPS data in our Address Validation products. The specific actions needed will vary depending on the product in use.

On Premise Address Validation Products: QAS Pro with DPV data, QAS Batch, and CorrectAddress

• These products will require a new version of the product library to be installed, in addition to the latest vintage of the USA and DPV/CASS Address data.

Hosted Address Validation Products: Experian Address Validation, Global Intuitive, Address Validate SOAP

• These product upgrades will be managed by EDQ.

In addition to the installation, the output data will need to be reviewed to determine whether any integration changes need to be made.

What are the benefits of using the upgraded products?

USPS CASS Cycle O has been highly anticipated for ten years. The mailing industry and its partners believe that these improvements will target seamless operations and a clearer delivery system. This level of insight into postal addresses across the United States will facilitate decision-making and increase customer satisfaction with precise delivery. A critical element in today’s digital shopping landscape.

Upgrading to the latest CASS Cycle standards will provide several benefits:

• Increased address quality
• Reduce Undeliverable As Addressed (UAA) mail
• Reduced undeliverable mail costs

What happens if my organization does not migrate?

The solution will unlikely stop working if you do not upgrade. However, with significant data changes from Cycle O, you could risk backend incompatibility and missed opportunity.

What other resources can Experian provide?

As USPS partners, please feel free to connect with your Experian account manager or visit us at edq.com.

USPS has also provided extensive details on this release.

Please find their executive summary and FAQ