What is Address Verification?

What is address verification?

Address verification is a software solution used to verify address information of customers. The technology can help businesses save time and money while ensuring they do not lose out on potential customers due to invalid addresses.

Address validation works by cross-checking the customer’s address against multiple data sources including:

Public records, such as

• Postal information
• Property tax records
• Voter registration

Third-party providers, such as

• Credit bureaus
• Marketing companies
• Mobile apps

Direct consumer interactions, such as

• Where consumers shop
• Addresses added to receipts
• Addresses used for shipping

What is the difference between address verification and address validation?

Address verification and address validation are two words used to describe technological processes that guarantee the accuracy of customer address inputs and location information.

Despite being similar, address verification goes beyond validating that an address exists. Address verification confirms whether or not an address is correct and deliverable by comparing it against third party reference data. It will often correct addresses when necessary--improving the operation of location services.

Why is address verification important?

Address verification is essential for correctly fulfilling services and increasing customer satisfaction. It helps location services return the most accurate address information for any given search.

A customer’s address must be correct in order for a business to accurately process an order. It’s also one of the most likely pieces of information to be entered incorrectly. This is where the need for address verification comes in.

Address verification solutions can help businesses reduce their rates of returned packages and increase customer satisfaction by ensuring that orders are delivered to the right place, at the right time. No more wrong addresses mean no more missing packages for customers.

Address verification also helps a business run smoothly by helping to prevent fraud, which can lead to expensive lawsuits and loss of revenue. If suspicious address information is entered, validation technology is another line of defense that can detect duplicity.

What are the elements of address verification?

There are two steps in the location services process in which address verification can occur: upfront, or referential.

Sometimes, an address is verified “upfront”, as a customer inputs location information in a website’s search field. While the customer is searching, address validation technology fixes any mistakes with incorrect inputs or missing information. It also prevents mistakes with address autofill suggestions, like Mapbox’s autofill feature.

The other way address verification occurs is in retroactive, “referential” applications of validation tech. These happen after an address is entered, while a company cross-references data against postal information databases. Referential applications can take the form of standardization, cleansing, or supplementing:

Standardization - Address verification ensures that address information is formatted in the correct order with the appropriate abbreviations.

Cleansing - Validation technology corrects any typos or incorrect address information.

Supplementing - Address verification supplies any missing elements in the address information entered by a user.

What role do APIs play in address verification?

“API” is the software terminology abbreviation for Application Programming Interfaces. Basically, APIs are software programs that allow a service to communicate information to the user, conducting complex sequences of coding in just a few moments. The APIs run the tedious data programs while the user sits back and waits for the easy-to-use results.

With address verification, APIs are used to accurately and efficiently provide geolocation information. They enable address auto-complete features, comb address databases, and keep track of points of interest on a map. Much of the standardization, cleansing, and supplementing technology that goes into the address verification process relies on APIs.

APIs allow address verification to run smoothly every time. They help customers input correct addresses and ensure companies can verify location information against postal databases, keeping customers happy and shippers confident.

Mapbox’s search service relies on two APIs:

The Mapbox Geocoding API allows the translation of text to coordinates and vice versa.

The Mapbox Search API allows for an interactive search experience, suggesting past data and auto-fill address suggestions.

Combined, these APIs provide Mapbox users with the fastest and most accurate data.

What are the benefits of address verification?

Address verification has many benefits for people running a fulfillment business. Some of these benefits include:

Reduced shipping costs: Using address verification can help reduce the amount of time spent on addressing packages, which will save money on postage and other expenses. This is especially important if a business has a large number of deliveries each day.

Increased accuracy: Address verification makes it easier for employees to get orders right the first time around, which will improve customer satisfaction and help a company look more professional.

Improved customer service: When customers receive their packages quickly and accurately, they are more likely to come back to a business again in the future. Location accuracy leads to happy customers, which leads to return business.

How does Mapbox use address validation?

Mapbox is a leader in address verification technology. Their APIs and location information databases allow users to rapidly validate address information and efficiently fulfill services. Mapbox has the tools to provide the accuracy needed in today’s location services.

Mapbox’s address search cross-references with over 160 data sources to ensure accuracy. We’ve recently added support for 44 new European countries, and improved accuracy in 7 existing countries. 

Mapbox’s location intelligence technology automatically validates address information to ensure addresses are correct, properly communicated, and fully understood by all parties involved. Any site that utilizes Mapbox’s tech is sure to produce air-tight location information.

Navigate location services with confidence using address verification solutions like Mapbox.