Boosting Address Precision to Prevent Undeliverable Mail

As you know, inaccurate addresses are killing your margins. They steal money secretly, leading to unhappy consumers, returns, and delayed undeliverable mail. Just imagine this: a single address error, and it's done. Your profit margin has just taken another hit, your customer is furious, and that package is still in suspense. Now, see the reality check: About 20% of mail packages are not delivered on the first try. Not only do failed deliveries cost retailers billions of dollars yearly, but they also destroy customer satisfaction and damage your ambitious brand. This is where address verification comes in. It serves as a barrier of defense against costly shipping mishaps. This guide will show you how to verify addresses at checkout, which can eliminate costly shipping errors, simplify operations, and boost customer satisfaction. 

Address Verification: What is it?

Address verification is an excellent security process of verifying customer addresses at checkout to ensure they are legal and deliverable. Let's see how it works: 

Address Verification Services (AVS): An address verification service is a system that verifies that the delivery address given by the customer is on file with the major shipping companies. When the consumer submits their address into the address sections on the checkout page, the system compares it to official address systems to confirm the entered address. Address Verification Services help businesses confirm that the address is valid, delivered by the carrier service provider, and matches the extra customer data entered.

A perfect address precision solution should include the following essential steps:

Address Normalization: This is the process of converting an address into a standard structure to be easily compared and matched with other addresses.  

Address Verification: This method involves confirming the address's accuracy against a database of addresses to ensure its legitimacy. 

Address Correction: The process involves fixing any mistakes in the address format, such as typos or incorrect abbreviated forms, to ensure that it meets the standards established by the relevant postal authorities. 

The Reasons Behind Inaccurate Shipments

A mail package goes through various stages in the shipping process before it is delivered to a customer's door. Now, we will cover the top four leading causes of inaccurate shipping: 

Human Error In Receiving Procedure

Various products come into the warehouse, so stock management is a major challenge. Human mistakes are guaranteed during the receiving phase, leading to misplaced products, incorrect inventory counts, and faulty labeling. 

Improper or Non-existent Procedures for Auditing or Verifying

An auditor should verify each order carefully after mail packages are initially picked. If you use a warehouse management system (WMS), you might also try weight verification to ensure the selected product lines match the order description. Mail packages can get mixed up before reaching their destination without a process for auditing your warehouse. 

No Automatic Picking System

Automated systems are essential for large-scale e-commerce fulfillment. Your warehouse pickers will receive a pick ticket for each order that contains the necessary information, such as the SKU and location.

Poor Route Design and Mistakes Made by Drivers

On the delivery time, wrong delivery route planning, inaccurate mapping from digital tools, and human errors can result in delays, even packages being delivered to the wrong destination. 

Why eCommerce Retailers need to Address Verification

An address verification tool is essential for progressive online retailers for the reasons listed below:

Cutting Expenses from Undeliverable Packages: Are customer service, returns, and reshipping wasting time correcting avoidable mistakes? This is a major waste of resources. Address verification maintains your logistics lean, mean, and money-making. 

No More Delivery Delays or Shipping Errors: Inaccurate addresses equal irritated customers and wasted money. It is simple logic. Your customer will shop elsewhere because of every lost package or delayed shipment. Prevent expensive shipping errors by handling problems before they become more serious for your business. 

Eliminating Chargebacks and Fraud: Fraudsters prefer fake addresses. Don't let them get close. Verify every address and avoid additional fees and chargebacks from carriers.

Critical Benefits of Address Accuracy

Seamless Checkout Process: Fast and correct address registered to lessen delivery rejection. It also helps customers make their purchases without problems.  

Increased Accuracy in Shipping: Make sure the delivery address is correct every time to save your staff time fixing mistakes and manual entry. 

Lower Operating Expenses: Fewer returns, fewer support measures, and lower reshipping expenses result in a smaller, more effective operation.

The Bottom Line

We hope you understand that address accuracy is vital for eCommerce businesses focused on cost management and customer satisfaction. In addition to giving your consumers a better experience, address precision increases delivery accuracy, lowers expensive shipping errors, prevents undeliverable mail, and safeguards your profit margins. Looking for an additional source of revenue? Connect with Buy Unclaimed Mail, a trusted source to buy unclaimed mail packages, customer returns, and an Amazon mystery box!