Address Validation and Presorting in Mailing

Address validation helps organizations improve the accuracy and formatting of address data, while presorting reduces the amount of handling USPS employees need to perform on mailpieces before mailing.

Both processes speed up delivery times and help organizations qualify for discounts.

Address Validation and Presorting in Mailing

Address validation helps organizations improve the accuracy and formatting of address data, while presorting reduces the amount of handling USPS employees need to perform on mailpieces before mailing.

Both processes speed up delivery times and help organizations qualify for discounts.

What is Address Validation?

Address validation is the process of checking and correcting mailing lists against the USPS’s address database. It uses standards like CASS (Coding Accuracy Support System) to confirm that every address is real, deliverable, and formatted correctly.

Validated addresses are:

  • Standardized to USPS-preferred spellings and abbreviations.

  • Verified for deliverability, such as via the addition and correction of ZIP+4 and delivery point codes.

  • Cleansed of common errors such as misspellings and missing components.

What is Address Validation?

Address validation is the process of checking and correcting mailing lists against the USPS’s address database. It uses standards like CASS (Coding Accuracy Support System) to confirm that every address is real, deliverable, and formatted correctly.

Validated addresses are:

  • Standardized to USPS-preferred spellings and abbreviations.

  • Verified for deliverability, such as via the addition and correction of ZIP+4 and delivery point codes.

  • Cleansed of common errors such as misspellings and missing components.

Icon of a list with a check mark in the bottom right corner, representing easy document access capabilities with D4's document portal.

How Address Validation Works in Practice

At D4 Solutions, we offer address validation via CASS-certified software. Here’s how it works:

  1. Addresses Are Verified and Corrected: Misspellings of street names, cities, and states, along with incorrect zip codes, are flagged.

  2. Information Is Added: Missing apartment numbers, zip codes, and other data points are identified.

  3. Deliverability Is Improved: Delivery point codes and carrier route data are added, which helps the USPS process and deliver mail faster and more accurately.

  4. Formatting Is Adjusted: Street names, abbreviations, capitalization, and other address components are brought in line with USPS standards.

  5. Files Are Returned: After the process is completed, clients receive their original, unedited files, along with a list of all adjustments the CASS software recommends. The client then makes updates to their records.

How Address Validation Works in Practice

At D4 Solutions, we offer address validation via CASS-certified software. Here’s how it works:

  1. Addresses Are Verified and Corrected: Misspellings of street names, cities, and states, along with incorrect zip codes, are flagged.

  2. Information Is Added: Missing apartment numbers, zip codes, and other data points are identified.

  3. Deliverability Is Improved: Delivery point codes and carrier route data are added, which helps the USPS process and deliver mail faster and more accurately.

  4. Formatting Is Adjusted: Street names, abbreviations, capitalization, and other address components are brought in line with USPS standards.

  5. Files Are Returned: After the process is completed, clients receive their original, unedited files, along with a list of all adjustments the CASS software recommends. The client then makes updates to their records.
Icon of a list with a check mark in the bottom right corner, representing easy document access capabilities with D4's document portal.

Why Address Validation Matters in Mailing Workflows

Here’s our list of 3 reasons why address validation makes the mailing process more efficient:

1. Standardized Formatting: Standardization removes inconsistencies that can confuse USPS sorting and delivery equipment, helping the postal service process your mail faster.

2. Lower Postage and Processing Costs: Address validation via CASS is a prerequisite for certain USPS discounts.

3. Fewer Undeliverables: Catching problems with mailing lists early can reduce the chances of envelopes being marked undeliverable.

Why Address Validation Matters in Mailing Workflows

Here’s our list of 3 reasons why address validation makes the mailing process more efficient:

1. Standardized Formatting: Standardization removes inconsistencies that can confuse USPS sorting and delivery equipment, helping the postal service process your mail faster.

2. Lower Postage and Processing Costs: Address validation via CASS is a prerequisite for certain USPS discounts.

3. Fewer Undeliverables: Catching problems with mailing lists early can reduce the chances of envelopes being marked undeliverable.

Icon of three envelopes that will be mailed out to customers, representing mail presorting with D4 Solutions.

What Is Presorting?

Presorting is the process of organizing envelopes by address before delivering them to a USPS facility.

Mailpieces that are going to the same place are grouped together.

This reduces the amount of handling that USPS employees need to complete.

It’s also a necessary step to obtaining presort discounts.

What Is Presorting?

Presorting is the process of organizing envelopes by address before delivering them to a USPS facility.

Mailpieces that are going to the same place are grouped together.

This reduces the amount of handling that USPS employees need to complete.

It’s also a necessary step to obtaining presort discounts.

Icon of three envelopes that will be mailed out to customers, representing mail presorting with D4 Solutions.

Who Benefits from Address Validation and Presorting?

Address validation and presorting help get documents delivered reliably and cost-efficiently.

These tools are particularly useful for organizations in highly-regulated industries, for whom missing a deadline or sending mail to an incorrect address could result in a compliance violation.

Here are some examples of documents whose mailing workflows may feature these systems:

  • Financial statements, disclosures, and notices that need to be delivered on time.

  • EOBs and patient statements that must be received by the right clients.

  • Utility bills, service notices, and regulatory communications that need to go to the correct households.

  • Tax notices, ballots, and official government correspondences that need to be mailed by certain deadlines.

  • Promotional mail and loyalty communications that need to reach the correct customers.

  • Any type of document that needs to be in the hands of the right clients at the right times.

Who Benefits from Address Validation and Presorting?

Address validation and presorting help get documents delivered reliably and cost-efficiently.

These tools are particularly useful for organizations in highly-regulated industries, for whom missing a deadline or sending mail to an incorrect address could result in a compliance violation.

Here are some examples of documents whose mailing workflows may feature these systems:

  • Financial statements, disclosures, and notices that need to be delivered on time.

  • EOBs and patient statements that must be received by the right clients.

  • Utility bills, service notices, and regulatory communications that need to go to the correct households.

  • Tax notices, ballots, and official government correspondences that need to be mailed by certain deadlines.

  • Promotional mail and loyalty communications that need to reach the correct customers.

  • Any type of document that needs to be in the hands of the right clients at the right times.

See How Address Validation Can Work for You.


See How Address Validation Can Work for You.