Dealing with address data from multiple countries

In our recent webinar, we hosted Jeffrey Duncan, our Technical Product Manager, who discussed the complexities and nuances of managing address data across various international formats.

While seemingly straightforward, addresses are quite complex, especially when dealing with international data. Jeffrey highlighted the variability in address formats, which can range from the number of address lines to the order of address components, differing significantly from one country to another.

For instance, while a US address typically follows a structured format, addresses in countries like Germany or India can have a completely different setup, impacting data entry and management.

Challenges of non-standard addresses

Having an address database that isn't standardized can cause so many problems. Consider the ambiguous address "1 New York, New York, USA".

The address initially appears non-specific and potentially invalid because it lacks clear indicators typically found in address structures, such as street names or ZIP Codes. The redundancy of the city and state names without additional details further complicates its validation. This can lead to challenges in processing and delivering services accurately, as the address doesn’t conform to expected patterns.

The key is not to outright reject these entries but to investigate and validate them using advanced parsing algorithms. For instance, Smarty’s system would first recognize "New York, New York" as a valid city and state combination. It would then attempt to identify whether "1" could realistically refer to a known location or entity within New York City.

Situations like this necessitate flexibility in address validation systems. These systems need to be capable of interpreting a range of input variations and determining their validity without manual intervention.

The ability to do this with any address worldwide is a challenge that Smarty™ can handle easily, making international addresses conveniently clean.

Interactive tools and real-time validation

Smarty's address validation suite's interactive tools and real-time validation capabilities are critical components for businesses looking to optimize their operations and enhance user experience, especially in real-time environments such as ecommerce platforms and customer service portals.

Take address autocomplete, for example. When a user begins typing an address into an input field, the autocomplete tool suggests possible matches based on the partial information entered. This speeds up the data entry process and reduces the likelihood of errors. The tool dynamically adjusts its suggestions in response to each additional character entered, making it highly responsive and user-friendly.

As users input their address data, the system validates it instantly against a comprehensive database of verified addresses. This immediate feedback loop ensures that only accurate and deliverable addresses are captured and processed. For instance, if a user types an incorrect or incomplete street name, the system can prompt them with the correct information or ask for additional details to clarify the ambiguity.

Best practices for address input forms

One of the final gems we'll mention is that Jeffrey suggested a few best practices if your address entry forms are going to include multiple countries.

1. Prioritize country selection: Asking for the country first in the address input process will make a huge difference. This approach allows the subsequent address fields to be dynamically adjusted according to the selected country's specific address format. By doing this, businesses can significantly reduce user error and ensure that address data is entered in a format that matches the expected standard for each region.
2. Use a single, adaptive address field: Implementing a single "smart" address field that uses autocomplete and real-time validation can greatly improve the user experience. As users begin to type, the system suggests possible addresses that match the input, which helps in quickly narrowing down the correct address. This method is beneficial because it accommodates various address formats and can dynamically adjust to any country's specific requirements.
3. Leverage autocomplete technology: Autocomplete speeds up the form-filling process and reduces errors by suggesting correct addresses. This feature is particularly useful in international commerce, where address formats are less familiar to the user or vary greatly from one destination to another.

You can watch the entire webinar below. Feel free to try out Smarty's address tools!