AusPost Address Validation

The Notifiable Data Breaches Report states that 54% of data breaches resulted from human error, where personal information was sent to incorrect recipients. This number indicates that businesses must put more effort into securing their client details and ensuring their mailpieces only reach the correct delivery addresses. 

However, it can be challenging for companies to store updated, valid, and accurate delivery addresses. The reasons can vary from collecting data from multiple sources to customers making mistakes while entering their addresses into your websites.

Thus, you need a solid solution to check the validity of your mailing addresses before shipping anything to them. One such tool is AusPost address validation, which allows you to enter a location to check whether the postal services recognize it and can deliver mail to it.

AusPost address validation helps businesses in many ways, like cross-verifying addresses, ensuring deliverability, and formatting mailing data correctly. However, you must know how to use it and which tools can help you get the specific data points you need. 

This blog discusses AusPost address validation, its meaning, how it works, limitations, alternatives, and more. Let us get to it!

Key Takeaways:

• AusPost address validation helps businesses validate and cleanse address data for improved accuracy.
• It offers many benefits to businesses, like improved deliverability, reduced return mail, and enhanced customer experience.
• You can use this solution in real-time, batch, and bureau services for address validation.
• Though AusPot address validation is helpful to many businesses, it might not provide the flexibility, automation, and integrations you require.
• PostGrid’s address verification API is a solid alternative that provides enhanced address standardization and validation capabilities with more comprehensive features.

Australia Post lets users validate client mailing addresses in real-time, batch, and bureau. However, all these solutions require you to connect your system with a third-party provider. These providers are AMAS-certified, which means they have received certification under the postal service’s Address Matching Approval System.*

Real-Time Address Validation

This option allows you to verify delivery addresses the moment you enter them into your system, which could be your website, CRM, or another tool like HubSpot or Zapier. Australia Post says it is the best solution for businesses, with customers regularly entering their mailing details into their websites. It also works well for companies with call center operators because they can collect customer data on the phone and immediately capture the correct delivery addresses. 

Batch Address Validation

This method suits businesses wanting to cleanse and verify their address lists in batches, such as hundreds or thousands. AusPost states that companies can leverage batch address validation to check mailing lists for a massive campaign, such as sending annual reports, invoices, marketing direct mail, etc. Additionally, it works well for you if you receive orders numbering in the thousands daily or weekly and need a reliable mechanism to validate addresses at scale 

Bureau Address Validation 

You can select this method if you don’t want to invest in an address validation software program or platform. Instead of working on a third-party tool, you can outsource the process. Send your mailing lists to a provider that can cleanse and verify the addresses and send you the final results. 

AusPost does not have an exclusive tool on its website that you can visit whenever needed, type the delivery addresses, and get validated results. As discussed above, you can use third-party tools to cleanse addresses or outsource the process entirely (which can be expensive if you use it regularly). However, another way to access the PAF database is to buy the raw address file from the postal service. 

You can get this file in its raw format, which you can then integrate into your CRM or manipulate and use in any way needed. It allows you to gather analytics for location-based marketing. For example, imagine you want to open a new store in Newcastle, NSW. You would like a list of all delivery addresses in the area where you plan to open your branch. 

Having the raw address file in your system will enable you to contact potential customers in the area and promote your upcoming store. You can easily send non-personalized, addressed direct mail materials, like postcards, letters, or flyers. Other benefits of buying the AusPost raw address file are:

1. Target all households in specific localities or neighborhoods for maximum outreach. It ensures high brand awareness and sales. 
2. Modify the address database according to your needs. AusPost sends you the list as a flat text file. Hence, manipulating and integrating it into your existing systems is simple. 
3. You can rest assured that the addresses are precise and updated by the Post Office. Use the file to send orders to any postal address across Australia without delivery issues. 

However, please note that the file might become outdated in a few months since the addresses change frequently. According to HomeMove, 15% of Australians move annually, and 40% change their addresses once every five years. 

Also, as Australia Post suggests, you must contact a third-party service provider to purchase this raw address data file, which can be expensive and less reliable. However, if you need it for a one-time use and want a solution quickly, you can do so.

Getting their hands on Australia Post’s postcodes is simple because this data is available for download. The Post Office maintains a comprehensive postcode address file, the country’s most updated and accurate postcode information. You can find every registered postcode with their state or territory and suburb or locality information. 

If you want the postcode address file for commercial use, you must apply and get a license from Australia Post. You will get the raw data in CSV format, easily integrated into any tool or platform. There are four types of postcode files you can avail yourself of:

Standard Postcode File

This database includes postcodes and suburbs with associated categories, like delivery areas. Businesses can purchase and use this file to leverage address cleansing and validation or assist them in providing customers with products or services. Australia Post states that users can also use this file to cross-verify internal information they might need to provide to other parties as required by regulation, law, or industry code. 

Organizations cannot use the standard postcode file for

• Reproducing, republishing, and copying AusPost’s postal address information. 
• Disassembling or reverse-engineering the data. 
• Using the postcode information for a third party’s advantage. 
• Renting, transferring, or sublicensing. 
• Creating similar but derivative files to send to other companies or individuals. 
• Using the postcode file in a way that causes loss to the postal services in any way. 

You can purchase the standard postcode file at a one-time price of $77. Or you can buy it with quarterly or monthly updates, costing you $141 and $310, respectively. Please remember that you agree to AusPost’s 12-month term-of-use policy when buying the standard postcode file. All prices include the GST charges. 

Bordering Postcode File

It comprises a list of postcodes and localities in the Standard Postcode File with the identified bordering localities. This database is a step up from the standard one. 

The file only consists of the individual bordering localities that the Post Office has verified and declared correct. Additionally, it might contain some Large Volume Receive (LVR) information. However, AusPost suggests users refer to the Sortplan or Standard files if they need LVR postcodes. 

All postcode files purchased from AusPost have the same permitted and prohibited uses. The bordering postcode file has only one pricing option: $253 for quarterly updates and 12-month use. 

Sortplan Postcode File

This postcode file for AusPost address validation comprises a list of postcodes and localities with related categories and sort plan information. Businesses can use this data to sort their mailpieces quickly and become eligible to get bulk discounts. 

Furthermore, they can use this information to identify areas or localities to gain business insights and make marketing or shipping decisions. You can purchase the Sortplan Postcode File in these ways:

• One-off buy: $77
• Quarterly updates: $141
• Monthly updates: $310

You can use the file for no more than 12 months from the date of purchase. You can renew your subscription by paying the charges at the end of this term. 

Geocoded Postcode File

It is the most expensive postcode data file by Australia Post, starting at $108. Companies purchasing this database get a list of postcodes and localities with the related categories, longitudes, and latitudes. It is best for businesses that want to conduct address data mapping for different reasons, like promotions and market research. 

The geocoded records only contain the geographical coordinates of places where AusPost has identified valid physical locations. Some geocodes may be approximate based on available data. A valid physical place is a gazetted locality with officially registered suburb boundaries. 

This database might also have some LVR information like the Bordering Postcode File. However, it is recommended that you use the Sortplan or Standard file for LVR postcodes. 

The one-time purchase price is $108, and the quarterly and monthly update charges are $253 and $561, respectively. The file has the same 12-month term of use. 

Australia Post requires individuals and organizations to apply for mail redirection if they want the post office to send their mail to a different address for a specific period. They can pay the fee and redirect all incoming items without changing their registered postal address. This is excellent for those who want to travel and receive mail elsewhere.

This service allows Australia Post to maintain a database containing information on all movers. It claims that 84% of Australians who move use its Mail Redirection solution. The data extracted from it can enable businesses to create new strategies to reach their target audiences, like:

• Researchers: to collect data on migration patterns.
• Enterprises: to enhance marketing campaigns. 
• Government entities: to facilitate resource allocation and planning. 
• Property developers: to identify areas that face high and low growth. 

You can download the people movement data in Standard and Enhanced. 

Standard Movers Statistics

It allows you to access five years of aggregated information about the past moves registered with Royal Mail. You can download the data by state, postcode, and frequency per your requirements. The one-time purchase price for this data for the country starts at $17,341. You can purchase the data for specific postcodes and states if it is too expensive 

Enhanced Movers Statistics

Under AusPost address validation, you can access enhanced movers’ data dating back up to five years. However, you also get additional fields to assist businesses with cross-data analysis, granular segmentation, and behavioral trend identification. 

As discussed above, the mover’s data lets you get information from AusPost’s Mail Redirection service. But what if you want data on people who have permanently moved to a different address? Which AusPost address validation tool should you use for getting these details?

You can access the Post Office’s National Change of Address (NCOA) database, helping you maximize your reach, register as a data partner with brands, and enhance customer retention. Imagine this: you want to re-engage past buyers who purchased a product from you around four years ago, but you don’t know their updated addresses. You can rely on the NCOA file to contact them and promote your latest products or services. 

AusPost lets you access NCOA data in two ways:

1. Download AusPost NCOA software: Install the software on your device to validate the AusPost addresses. If any of your customers have moved and registered their new shipping details, the software adds the updated addresses to your data files. You also receive deceased notifications and identify inactive addresses (where people choose to keep their new addresses private). 
2. Access information via data partners: You can select from Australia Post’s data partners to purchase the NCOA data from, which is generally a less reliable option.

No Metadata

When using AusPost for address validation, only the basic address details are returned without additional metadata. Metadata includes information such as address type, delivery points, and geocodes. Hence, businesses using AusPost to cleanse and verify addresses lack insights that could help with targeted marketing and other analyses. 

No Geocoding Facilities

The Post Office does not provide geocoding, keeping you from converting addresses into geographic coordinates, like latitudes and longitudes. Thus, businesses cannot map customer locations accurately, which impacts logistics, planning, and location-based services. 

High Costs

AusPost address validation can be expensive, especially for businesses that require frequent or large-scale address checks. Pricing is often based on usage, meaning costs can escalate quickly for businesses processing thousands of addresses. The high costs make it less suitable for small businesses or startups with limited budgets. 

Can Only Lookup Postcodes

The AusPost address validation system primarily focuses on postcode verification and does not comprehensively validate full address details. Errors in street names, unit numbers, or other address components may not be detected. This can lead to incorrect deliveries and returned mail, impacting customer satisfaction and operational efficiency. 

Reliability on Manual Inputs

The Australia Post tools rely on manually entering address data accurately. If an address is entered incorrectly, the system may not detect or correct errors, leading to invalid addresses being processed. Manual entry increases the risk of typos, omissions, and formatting mistakes, which can result in delivery failures. 

Cannot Check Global Delivery Addresses

AusPost address validation is limited to Australian addresses and does not support global address verification. Businesses operating internationally cannot validate customer addresses outside Australia using this service. To verify international addresses, businesses must invest in additional services, leading to higher costs and more complex workflows. 

AusPost’s address verification tools have many limitations, making them expensive and less valuable to businesses. Hence, looking into other solutions, like PostGrid’s API or dashboard, is better. 

It offers address autocomplete, standardization, and verification together, helping businesses get the most updated and correct results. It is also AMAS-certified, which means it can help you access Australia Post’s PAF, NCOA, and other data files in one place without paying hefty prices. Why download several files and pay charges when you can validate addresses on demand and at scale using PostGrid?

Validate 1 million addresses in one go in a few minutes. Businesses can use PostGrid to cleanse, enrich, and validate their delivery addresses at reasonable costs. Also, there are no long-term contracts, minimum volume requirements, or other terms. You can check your mailing lists in any volume and whenever needed. 

Furthermore, you can access several features, such as address autocomplete, metadata, geocoding, delivery point codes, and NCOA files. Select any pricing plan that suits your requirements and budget, and get started.

 Click here for a demo to learn how PostGrid validates your mailing addresses and cleanses your databases!