CASS CYCLE L REQUIREMENTS IMPROVE DELIVERABILITY

Decisions made about address quality affect a mailer's ability to reach valued customers. Implementing a total address quality process within their mailing operation allows mailers to improve deliverability, maintain contact with customers and manage postage budgets. The fundamental tools for mailers to use are readily available and include CASS Certified address-matching software and the DPV and LACS^Link products.

• Current CASS Certified software
A mandatory requirement for automation discounts, CASS Certified software standardizes an address using standard abbreviations, correct spelling and proper format. The software then assigns a ZIP + 4 Code, from the USPS ZIP + 4 database, to any standardized address within a known block range. As an example, the USPS database may have record of addresses from 101 to 199 Main Street. In this situation, a ZIP+ 4 Code would be applied for any numeric address, such as 121, 123 or 125 that falls within the numeric range on Main Street even though "123 Main Street" does not exist.

• DPV
The DPV product helps to identify inaccurate, incomplete or erroneous addresses and validate accurate delivery point address information contained in mailer address files. DPV is a validation process, not a correction process. DPV does not append any missing data or correct any address elements.

• LACS^Link
The LACS^Link product provides mailers an automated method to update rural route addresses that have undergone a 911 conversion to street style addresses (example: RR 101 to 141 Morrison Ave.) and other addresses that have changed.

To further the positive impact of CASS Certified software, effective Aug. 1, 2007, CASS Cycle L requires Certified ZIP + 4 address-matching software to use both DPV and LACS^Link before adding a ZIP + 4 Code to an address. This new requirement will ensure that prepared mail is deliverable to a known delivery point from the USPS database. Only those addresses that have confirmable primary number information, as in the example above, "121 Main Street" and "125 Main Street," will be assigned the proper ZIP + 4 Code. Any addresses that do not have a valid primary number, "123 Main Street," will not receive a ZIP + 4 Code and will be identified so that corrective actions can be taken by the mailer.

The new software will significantly improve the quality of addressing by providing current address information for matches made to the LACS^Link file, address matching and validation of delivery point in one inclusive software product. Cycle L CASS Certified software will provide mailers the confidence to reach more intended recipients and avoid lost opportunities with customers due to undeliverable mail.

A guide for mailers wanting to learn more about CASS Certified software requirements is available at http://ribbs.usps.gov/doc/cmg.html. CASS Certification Requirements - A Mailer's Guide was created to assist mailers in understanding the CASS requirements effective Aug. 1. Frequently asked questions, best known practices and other information will be shared through this site and updated periodically. If you have additional questions, please contact the National Customer Support Center CASS Certification department at 800-642-2914 or send an e-mail to: cassman.ncsc@usps.gov.

MailPro
News for Mailing Professionals

Each letter carrier delivers an average of nearly 2,900 pieces of mail a day to more than 500 addresses.