What is RDI?
RDI is a data product that helps customers reduce shipping costs by verifying whether a delivery type is classified as residential or business. The sole purpose of the RDI Product is to determine parcel shipping rate information or provide analysis of parcel shipping patterns and costs. Since some shipping companies charge a higher price for residential delivery, the RDI Product allows customers to make informed shipping decisions.

What are the benefits of using RDI?
The benefits of RDI include:

• Reducing residential delivery surcharges by validating delivery type status for the purpose of choosing parcel shipping suppliers.
• Providing analysis of parcel shipping patterns and costs for the purpose of improving mailers’ parcel shipping processes.
• Lowering shipping charges by providing rate-shopping services to clients, which will allow them to compare parcel shipping rates for input addresses.
• Reducing returns due to incorrect addresses by using RDI in conjunction with CASS™[1] software.
• Enhancing Customer Relationship Management (CRM) by demonstrating efficient and accurate shipping practices. Identifying shipping patterns to improve operational efficiency.
• Providing online rate-shopping services for others.

How do I apply for a RDI license?
The prerequisites for obtaining an RDI license are:

• Applicant must be in the business of shipping parcels, consolidating parcel shipments, analyzing parcel operations, providing parcel rate-shopping software approved with USPS® CASS certification as a software provider for RDI coding.
• If the applicant is not in the business of shipping parcels or consolidating parcels, applicant must publicly offer parcel rate-shopping analysis services.

RDI is available from the Postal Service for an annual licensing fee, which includes monthly updates. ZIP + 4®[2] products require no less than bi-monthly updates, but may be obtained monthly. For optimal results, the product releases for RDI and ZIP + 4 should be synchronized. CASS Certified™ software is required to access the RDI data product.

For more information on the RDI Product, visit the RIBBS Web site at www.ribbs.usps.gov[3], or call the National Customer Support Center at 800-589-5766.

1. http://www.usps.com/ncsc/addressservices/certprograms/cass.htm
2. http://www.usps.com/ncsc/addressinfo/zip4.htm
3. http://www.usps.com/common/transparent_exit_page.htm?url=http://www.ribbs.usps.gov&title=www.ribbs.usps.gov