The video addresses why different Coding Accuracy Support System (CASS) engines may produce varying results. Adam explains the following key points:
-
- Consistency with Quality Data: When provided with full, complete, and well-maintained addresses, all CASS engines should theoretically return the same results.
- Reasons for Discrepancies: Differences arise primarily when dealing with “bad” or problematic addresses involving issues like spelling or spacing. Engines vary in their effectiveness at fixing specific types of address problems, with some performing better for rural addresses and others for urban addresses.
- Industry Practices: Because mail service providers (MSPs) rely on CASS coding to achieve maximum mailing discounts, many utilize multiple CASS engines. They process data through one engine and then run the failed records through a second engine to gain an “uplift” in coded records.
- Evaluation and Testing: While major CASS vendors generally provide similar statistical results (e.g., all might code 97% of a list), they will not code the exact same records. The speaker recommends that organizations test different vendors or periodically send failed records to an external service that uses a different manufacturer’s engine to see if improvements can be made.
- Caution Regarding Modifications: Users should evaluate engines carefully, as some may make excessive or incorrect modifications to an address just to achieve a CASS-coded status. While this might be acceptable for some marketing mailings, it is concerning if the goal is ensuring mail actually reaches the intended recipient.
