The provision of workshare discounts anticipates the savings of USPS® processing steps in exchange for the discount provided. When an address cannot be delivery point validated at a minimum to the primary number, the USPS has to manually sort this mail for delivery. Extending discounts on mailpieces that require additional handling is contradictory to the purpose of this service.

Mailers with any decline in primary number DPV™ confirmation should evaluate the “cleanliness” of their address lists to determine where the addressing errors are originating. The overall objective is to reduce the cost of UAA mail to the mailer and the Postal Service. If the addresses are not corrected, mailers run the risk of losing customer acquisition and the lifetime value of the customer.

Keep in mind, every mailer’s situation will be different, simply because the amount of reduction is going to be based on the quality of their mailing list. Mailing lists are sold, rented, and exchanged, and some addresses that may appear to be legitimate are not. Mailers processing addresses through DPV will be able to determine whether the address exists and is deliverable. 

Don’t wait — you can start reaping the benefits of DPV right now!

Issue 2: The Postal Service will require matching the primary number to DPV before ZIP + 4® assignments. What happens to address records when processed through ZIP + 4/DPV that indicate missing or unconfirmed secondary information?

All addresses in a list with correct primary numbers (i.e., street number) will be DPV-confirmed and will be assigned with the appropriate ZIP + 4 Code regardless of the existence or display of secondary information (e.g., apartment, suit number).

Under this new requirement, missing or incorrect secondary address information will not prevent the assignment of the appropriate ZIP+4 Code provided the primary number is correct and validated by DPV.

Mailers are encouraged to make the best effort to keep their lists as accurate as possible, including any secondary information. There are a number of address quality tools designed to help improve secondary number assignments such as SuiteLink™ or AEC/AEC II™. Using these tools will help mailers achieve the highest levels of worksharing discounts, improve service, and keep in touch with their customers. A Win-Win for both mailers and the USPS!

Issue 3: Will NCOALink™ processing see a drop in matches when DPV is integrated?

When there is an inability to validate an address and assign the appropriate ZIP+4 Code, there will be a corresponding impact on the ability to match records against the National Change of Address (NCOA) file through the use of NCOALink. This will result in undeliverable mail when addressed to the old address. 

Therefore, it is extremely important that primary street numbers are accurate. Failure to correct the primary street numbers and achieve matches against the ZIP + 4/DPV process will prevent matching against the NCOA file.

Issue 4: Is it true that DPV will have a negative effect on data processing system performance when running address lists against ZIP + 4 CASS certified address matching software?

DPV users have reported some decreases in processing throughput ranging from 0 to 20 percent (Mainframe users are the high end). The affect on processing with DPV is a function of computer system resources and software efficiency. The net impact of DPV is not as dramatic as one may think, as long as appropriate system resources are made available and software implementation of DPV is optimized.

To facilitate the varied nature of the mailing industry’s computer configurations, the USPS has provided multiple DPV™ product configurations that offer options to individual mailers. As an example, the recently introduced Direct DPV methodology will have a positive effect on successive job runs by reducing redundant processing through ZIP + 4® CASS™ /DPV. The USPS remains committed to helping the software industry in their continuous improvement of DPV efficiency.

Issue 5: How will I benefit from using LACS^Link ?

LACS^Link  is a data product provided by the Postal Service to allow addresses that have been converted due to USPS changes or for 911 emergency systems to be linked with their new address. By incorporating LACS^Link  into the ZIP + 4 CASS process, mailers can automatically update their addresses with new, locatable, city-style addresses in areas that are conducting E-911 emergency response address conversions to avoid mail sent to the old address becoming UAA.

Bottom Line: Don’t wait until this new requirement becomes effective in August 2007—get started improving your address lists now! The time is right to fix UAA addresses by using ZIP + 4 CASS/LACS^Link /DPV certified address-matching software to correct the lists today! Another quick and easy solution is to send those address records that were not matched through ZIP + 4 CASS certified address-matching software to the AEC program at the USPS National Customer Support Center located in Memphis, Tennessee, for correction.

This informational article is one of many on this subject which will be featured over the next year. Our goal is to provide you with detailed information on new requirements, how they will affect your business, and the benefits of ZIP + 4 and DPV compatible addressing.