"Address accuracy has become a critical issue with volume mailers worldwide. According to a U.S. Postal Service study, 23% of all mail contains address errors that result in misdirected and undeliverable mail. On top of that, 17% of Americans move every year. With postage rates going up, more organizations will seriously need to consider the cost of undeliverable and misdirected mail and its detrimental impact on their marketing objectives."
- source MelissaData Nov 2005
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How can I take advantage of CASS and DPV in my mailings?
When building a Query or Watch in Catapult, simply click in the CASS and/or DPV boxes located in the Omissions filters. By clicking in the box, the results will only return records for buyers that meet the criteria specified. EDA recommends that the user always choose DPV when building a Query or Watch that will be used for mailings. This will improve your deliverability and minimize the associated cost of undeliverable mailers (if DPV is selected, it will supercede CASS, thus CASS would not need to be selected).
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CASS - Coding Accuracy Support System
The United States Postal Service, in cooperation with the mailing industry, has developed a process of evaluating address-matching software known as Coding Accuracy Support System (CASS). This process provides software and hardware manufacturers, service bureaus, and commercial mailers a common platform to measure the quality of address-matching software. The purpose of CASS is to continually improve the accuracy of 5-digit ZIP, delivery point, and carrier route codes applied to mail. All address lists used to produce mailings for automation rates must be matched and coded to current USPS directories using CASS-certified software.

EDA runs each new UCC filing against the CASS software prior to making the new data available on Catapult. If the software identifies an address modification that will improve deliverability, EDA will update the buyer address information to the CASS conventions. EDA flags all buyers that have passed CASS in Catapult and makes this an available query parameter.

DPV - Delivery Point Validation
While CASS matches the address to a street range, DPV verifies that an address actually exists... right down to the apartment or suite number. DPV determines if the address can be confirmed as a specific delivery point and identifies the addresses that will not get delivered as addressed.

EDA runs each new UCC filing against the DPV software prior to making the new data available on Catapult. If the address meets the DPV requirements, then EDA flags the buyer as Delivery Point Validated in Catapult.

NCOA - National Change of Address
Even if an address is 100% accurate, DPV cannot verify that the intended recipient still resides at an address. As a result, EDA has developed an additional process to improve the delivery of mailing lists generated from Catapult. Once a quarter, EDA runs its database of buyers against the National Change of Address Directory. If an individual or business has moved and filed a change of address with the USPS in the last 48 months, then immediately after the quarterly update, Catapult will accurately reflect the new address.