Seven Seventeen Credit Union, one of the largest credit unions in the country, purchased data quality address verification software to manage member addresses, expecting a reduced amount of undeliverable mail and ensuring accuracy of member address information. The address verification software, QAS Pro, will be enterprise-wide at all points where an address can be captured.

"There are two major components around postage that are important to us from a cost-savings perspective. First, we want to improve our address database, and second, we plan to take advantage of discounts offered by the USPS (News - Alert) for mail that is properly addressed, labeled and sorted," said Cheryl D'Amore, senior vice president of Administrative Services for Seven Seventeen Credit Union, in a press release. "We expect this tool to reduce our returned mail rate significantly."

About 120 employees using the address verification software, helping out with the returned-mail process change designed to streamline how returned mail is managed at the credit union.

In a statement, Thomas Schutz, senior vice president and general manager of address verification software provider, Experian QAS, said, "Credit unions need to stay competitive in today's market. While a high level of member service typically sets these organizations apart, they also need to improve efficiencies and reduce bottom-line costs.” Shutz acknowledged that by reducing the returned-mail rate, expenses could be cut and operations streamlined.

In recent industry news, AAA needed a data quality management system that could validate addresses. The need was first identified in 2004 and today; the address verification system used by the club works so well it has been expanded throughout the organization.

The auto club first built and deployed an online Java-based policy processing system in 2004. At the time, the custom front end was designed to interface with its backend policy processing system for homeowners insurance. To handle address verification, AAA Missouri selected and implemented Melissa Data’s DQWS (Data Quality Web Service).

The need for address verification software was not triggered by mailing address inaccuracies, but instead the requirement by AAA’s homeowners insurance line of business to be able to retrieve certain information on a property, including its fire district. Using property addresses, AAA Missouri uses a specialized onsite software product to retrieve the needed information.