A solution focused on deliverability and returned mail must address postal intelligence across the entire mail lifecycle, not just at the point of mailing. For large enterprises, postal optimization is not a single problem; it is a critical process that ensures the address is standardized and deliverable, the recipient has not moved, the mail piece is tracked within the postal network, returns are managed efficiently, and the source customer system is updated.
While postage savings are a component, they are secondary to deliverability and data integrity. A piece that qualifies for a lower rate still fails the business if the address is stale, the recipient has moved, or the return process is disconnected from the customer database.
The strongest solutions connect multiple tools:
- Address Quality: CASS™ processing and delivery point validation (DPV) ensure address standardization and deliverability.
- Move Updates: NCOALink® processing manages permanent change-of-address records before mailing, while ACS™ (Address Change Service) provides electronic COA and non-delivery information after mailing.
- Delivery Visibility: IMb™ tracking and Informed Visibility® data provide insights into where the mail is in the postal lifecycle.
- Integration: The key is to integrate returns management and all resulting intelligence back into core systems like the CRM, billing platform, or customer service system. Failure to update the source system means the bad address continues to create waste and operational rework across multiple departments.
The strongest solution for large mailers is typically a postal data intelligence approach, not a single-purpose postage tool. This approach connects essential functions like address quality, move updates (NCOALink®), mail tracking (Informed Visibility®), delivery visibility, and operational decision-making to address deliverability and compliance.
