International address validation & standard formats

Communication is vital to establishing and maintaining strong relationships with customers and clients. However, the farther away they are, the harder it can be. Your customers in other countries are just as important as your domestic customers, but there can be multiple barriers that get in the way.

Unfortunately, with different address formats, languages, and information, data accuracy can start to get a little muddy. International address validation is a helpful resource to have in your toolbelt, allowing you to maintain more accurate data so you can connect with your customers, see better engagement, and experience a higher ROI.

What is international address validation?

International address validation is the process of comparing an address outside of the United States against a reliable database managed by authorities in that country. The validation process attempts to match an address with one in that database. If there is a match in the database, then the address is validated and automatically corrected to match the appropriate format.

Similar to standard address validation, the technology corrects any typos and formatting errors by placing the given address up against the entry in the database. As a result, you ensure that you have a valid mailing address that matches the listing and removes the risk of the mailing not reaching its destination. The database maintains information down to the street level, providing remarkable accuracy where information is collected.

The process of international address validation differs slightly from standard address verification, as every country has a separate postal system and authority. Since every country has its own mailing system, address data quality and reliability can vary widely from country to country. In the US, address validation tends to be more reliable because every address is backed up and documented by the United States Postal Service.

What are standard formats?

Standard formats are simply how an address is formatted in a country, including what information is contained in an address. Thanks to the diligence of the US Postal Service, every address in the US follows the same format. Each address includes a street number, a street name, city, state, and ZIP Code.

Similarly, every country has its own standardized format as well. There is no internationally adopted address format, as the postal authority in each individual country determines the proper format, leading to differences in the ways that mail is addressed. For example, other countries use provinces instead of states or use different ways to measure postal codes that are different from ZIP codes.

These international address formats are accounted for in the database, helping you match the address you have with the proper terminology and fill in any of the necessary gaps.

Why is international address validation important?

Much like address verification in general, international address verification plays an essential role in the data quality and success of a business. In general, address validation is essential for effectively communicating with your customers while saving time and money. Between returned mail and employee time spent correcting errors, invalid address data can have several unexpected business costs.

Sending packages or materials overseas is even more high stakes because of higher shipping costs and fees. Not only is mailing to an overseas address overseas more high stakes, but it is also easier to make mistakes. From improper translation to inaccurate terminology, inaccuracy is common with international address data.

When mailing in the US, you can trust that every address follows a consistent format that is verified by one large national agency. When you are shipping overseas, you do not have the same assurance. There are over 240 countries with hundreds of varying formats, which can throw you and your business for a loop. However, by using international address validation, you can bring yourself much closer to that point of assurance.

This assurance gives you a higher sense of security in reaching your customers abroad, allowing you to maintain consistent communication, offer promotional opportunities, and get orders to their doorstep. Your ability to reach customers improves their trust in your business, binds the line of communication, and offers a greater return on investment.