Verification update: Add provisional addresses to Smarty’s database
With the launch of our latest product feature, US Provisional Address Manual Process, US Address Verification users can now submit new or missing addresses, and we’ll verify them against authoritative databases and add any approved records to our database.
Better yet, you won’t need to make any integration changes to see your addresses in your API results, it won’t take longer than 30–60 days, and it won’t cost you anything extra. That’s what we call an all-around win!
Let us take the stress of verifying new or missing addresses off your plate so you can focus on what you do best. We’ll provide the information you need to better reach and retain customers.
In this blog, we’re venturing into the world of provisional addresses. We’ll walk you through what they are, how to use our new feature, and what your business stands to gain.
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Buckle up. We’ve got questions to answer:
- How do provisional addresses work?
- What is the US Provisional Address Manual Process?
- How do I add provisional addresses to Smarty’s database?
- Who benefits from this feature?
- Will this feature affect my existing integrations?
- Which plans include this feature?
- TL;DR
How do provisional addresses work?
Provisional addresses are addresses not yet in the USPS database or our own.
Typically, these addresses have just been created for a new build or undeveloped land, but some are simply missing from USPS records. Once reported to USPS, these addresses are registered and added to their database.
Unfortunately, this process can take anywhere from 2–3 months. If the property developer doesn’t process the paperwork in a timely manner, it can take even longer. For each request, the USPS must verify the address with local authorities, standardize it to meet their system requirements, and fit it into existing mail service routes.
With millions of new and missed addresses to verify, it’s no surprise these requests pile up. It’s a perfect recipe for a backlog.
Waiting for the USPS to recognize new or missing addresses is frustrating for you and your customers—especially when you’re both trying (and failing) to route deliveries or services.
Enter US Provisional Address Manual Process, your express lane to fast new and missed address verification.
What is the US Provisional Address Manual Process?
US Provisional Address Manual Process is a new feature for US Address Verification users. With it, you can more quickly add new or missing addresses to Smarty’s address database.
When a customer reaches out about a service or product being denied because their address isn’t verified yet, this feature can resolve their issue in record time.
After you send the address to our Technical Support, we’ll research it for you. If we can validate the address, we’ll add it to our database. Within 30–60 days, the address will appear in our US Street Address API.
Your days of waiting several months for the USPS to process a new address before servicing a customer are over.
How do I add provisional addresses to Smarty’s database?
Adding provisional addresses to our database is so simple that you can complete it in four steps:
- Let Sales know you’re ready to submit addresses
- Accept the terms of service
- Format your addresses to include complete address details using the structure “First line” | “Last line” (e.g., 3521 N University Ave Ste 250 | Provo UT 84604)
- Submit your .csv or .xlsx data file to Technical Support
It’s that easy! After you submit your addresses, we’ll take care of the rest.
To validate your addresses, we’ll match them against several authoritative sources. Once verified, we’ll standardize each address, ensure all critical address components (premise number, street, city, state, ZIP Code, etc.) are present and accounted for, and confirm each address isn’t a duplicate.
At this point, Technical Support will pass the baton to Engineering, who will add these to our database. Within 30–60 days of processing, you’ll be able to see your fresh-off-the-lot addresses in the US Street Address API.
Who benefits from this feature?
Sometimes, you can’t wait around for the USPS. Now, you don’t have to. Let's break down the benefits you can expect for your industry.
Ecommerce & logistics
If your checkout form requires customers to provide a valid address, customers with new addresses could be barred from completing a purchase, even though their address will be valid and deliverable—at least, once the USPS recognizes it.
Customers might wait for their address to be approved by USPS or request a user exception, but they’re more likely to abandon ship. Or, they could find another retailer that accepts their address (and any address, since they don’t validate addresses at checkout).
With US Provisional Address Manual Process, you can quickly add these addresses to our database so customers can provide their addresses at checkout, regardless of how new they are.
Telecom & utilities
While a customer waits for their address to be recognized by the USPS, telecom and utility companies won’t recognize their address, often because they don’t feel safe doing so. While customers go without service, businesses can’t pick up a new customer without a manual address exception.
With up-to-date address data that includes even the newest US addresses, these companies can provide services to customers in new builds much sooner than they would relying solely on the USPS database.
Insurance & fintech
New-build or missing addresses can prevent companies from verifying a customer’s identity.
For insurers, this means blocked quoting and underwriting.
For fintechs, it prevents customers from finishing applications because they can’t pass Anti-Money Laundering (AML) or Know Your Customer (KYC) checks.
These delays get a whole lot shorter when our team of address experts quickly validates provisional addresses and adds them to our database, meaning more business, better customer experiences, and fewer manual investigations.
Government agencies
Current location data is essential for government agencies planning housing, roads, utilities, public transport, and other infrastructure. For time-sensitive projects, waiting several months for the USPS to update their database isn’t always feasible.
Government employees who utilize US Address Verification can quickly add addresses that may be missing in their jurisdiction to Smarty’s database. Planning committees can then prevent costly replanning, rezoning, and redrafting blueprints by making better data-driven decisions.
Will this feature affect my existing integrations?
US Provisional Address Manual Process won’t break your current US Street Address API integrations. You won’t see any differences; you’ll just gain access to a whole lot more data for free.
Which plans include this feature?
If you’ve purchased US Address Verification, you can access this new feature at no extra charge, no matter your plan’s tier.
TL;DR
Looking for the CliffNotes? Here’s what you need to know.
You can now send Smarty a list of provisional addresses—new addresses that have yet to be recognized by the USPS database—and we’ll verify and add them to our database within 30–60 days.
If you’re a US Address Verification customer, you can use this feature at no extra cost. Better yet, it plays nicely with your existing integrations, meaning no overhauls, updates, or surprise fires to put out. You’ll just start getting the data you need when you need it.
If you’ve yet to join the Smarty party, sign up for a free trial to test-drive our (did we mention it’s 42 days, includes 1K address lookups, and doesn’t require a credit card?)
To submit your addresses, notify your sales team and send your addresses in a CSV or Excel file. After that, you’re done.
Ready to add provisional addresses to our database? Just let us know.
