Where in the End-to-End Should Address Standardization and Correction Happen?

April 5, 2012 Off By Melissa Team

By David Loshin

In my last post, I shared a story about how rampant address validation actually can transform accurate (if not 100% standardized) addresses into inaccurate ones. My client actually noted that with some of the tools they have seen, addresses that have been submitted to the product and standardized are then re-submitted to the product, which then reports their own corrected address as being invalid! Huh?

Here are a few reflections:

1) Siloed application development has led to multiple iterations of
address correction, often using different tools, or if using the same tool,
using different sets of rules, which is probably not the best scenario since
it will lead to inconsistencies.

2) Address standardization tools have to be maintained – the rules
may change, locations may change, the standards may evolve.

3) The criticality of precision and standardization/validation has to
be assessed in the context of how the address (or location) is being used.
For example, for delivery purposes accuracy should trump “validity” if a
validated address is no longer correct.

4) Find a single tool solution for address standardization and
validation instead of using multiple products.

5) Have a single team responsible for managing the solicitation of
requirements, definition of rules, and provision of address validation and
correction services.

One last thought: push address correction and validation to the earliest
point in the business process. If your application solicits an address from
the customer, validate it right away and have the corrected address verified
directly by the customer. And trust the customer to give you accurate
address data – they probably have some experience in ensuring they get their
mailings!

Tagsaddress correction address standardization tools corrected address correction services inaccurate addresses melissa data validated address