5. ADDRESS MANAGEMENT
The Postal Service’s ability to automate the mail delivery process is dependent upon our ability to maintain current data on each delivery point served by the Postal Service and provide that data to Postal Service facilities and customers. The following initiatives attest to the Postal Service’s dedication to rendering the automated mail delivery process more effective and efficient:


a. Change of Address

Over 3 billion pieces of forwarded mail and nearly 44 million change-of-address cards were processed in 2002. To forward mail in a streamlined process to the 17 percent of the nation’s population that moves each year, the Postal Service uses the Computerized Forwarding System (CFS). CFS sites are located in 215 postal facilities nationwide and the CFS database provides the data for all address correction activities.

The National Change-of-Address (NCOA) provides business mailers with change-of-address information for customers on their mailing lists, thus ensuring that communications are directed to the current address of the customer. This process reduces the amount of undeliverable mail and promotes the use of automation-compatible address formats by ensuring that all addresses submitted are standardized with complete and accurate information, including ZIP+4 codes. More than 8.8 billion address corrections were provided to business mailers through the NCOA service during 2002, an increase of 2.5 percent over 2001.

In 2002, the new MoversGuide Online service made the process of moving easier for many. The MoversGuide Online, an Internet-based version of the established by-mail service, was launched in August 2001 and nationally available in November 2001. The online version allows a customer’s change-of-address orders to be accepted electronically via the Internet, with valid credit card identity validation. Offered as a convenient alternative, the electronic process does not change or affect any of the other currently acceptable change-of-address methods.


b. Undeliverable-as–Addressed Mail

As a part of its overall mission to continually improve the automation process, the Postal Service focused efforts on reducing the amount of undeliverable-as-addressed mail. The Postal Service makes products and services available to mailers that assist them in attaining — and maintaining — 100 percent deliverable address lists. For example, mailers who utilize the Address Element Correction (AEC) service are able to produce more deliverable mailpieces and gain access to worksharing discounts.

Another offering that aims to reduce the amount of undeliverable-as-addressed mail is the Delivery Point Validation (DPV) product. Made available to the commercial marketplace at the beginning of 2002, this new technology assists mailers in validating the accuracy of address information — right down to the physical delivery-point. The process is designed to work in concert with commercial address matching software. Because the address matching software references the ZIP+4 code, DPV provides the opportunity to determine if the addresses actually exist and are served by the Postal Service. By mapping the results of the match to ZIP+4 and delivery point barcode information, the DPV process can determine if the address is sufficiently complete and correct for delivery. For example, DPV can determine if an address needs apartment or suite numbers and if those numbers are correct. At that point, mailers can make a business decision as to whether mailpieces should be prepared for those addresses. Therefore, DPV will reduce processing and delivery costs for the USPS and postage expenses for mailers.


c. Other Initiatives

The Multi-line Optical Character Readers (MLOCRs) are equipped with the current National ZIP+4 Directory in its memory to assign the appropriate POSTNET barcode representing the ZIP+4. With over 1,200 commercial systems that process over 75 million pieces of mail daily, the added ability to determine quickly the origin of a POSTNET barcode significantly improves mailpiece accountability, discount eligibility, and enhances overall system-wide integrity. Multi-lines also spray the Fastforward ^™ mail identifier. During processing, this technology identifies mail pieces that carry incorrect addresses for addressees who have moved. Approximately 20 percent of the vendor community employs Fastforward technology.