DSF^2® Details

• DSF² Overview
• DSF² Information
• Who Can Benefit From DSF²
• Results from DSF² Processing
• What to Expect from DSF²
• DSF² Processing Output Info

DSF² Overview

DSF² Processing entails two steps - both performed as part of processing. The first step is to process your mailing list through CASS™ (USPS certification process for ZIP + 4^® matching software). This step will apply ZIP + 4 codes, carrier route codes, and delivery point (for POSTNET™ barcode), standardize addresses, and correct/verify ZIP codes^™. The second step is to match your address information to the DSF² database. Name information is not used in DSF² processing. Those addresses that match the DSF² database will be returned to you with a pseudo code to sort your files into walk sequence order, a business/ residential delivery point flag, seasonal address delivery information, etc. Addresses that do not match the DSF² database will be returned with a set of footnotes identifying possible address errors.

Unlike, ZIP + 4 processing which matches addresses in ranges, DSF² uses individual delivery points to match address information.

For example:

In the above example, the house number is incorrect -- but this error is not identified by ZIP + 4 processing.

DSF² will help provide valuable delivery point information; will help identify and, in some cases, correct address errors that are not detected through ZIP + 4 processing; and provide the information needed to walk sequence your mailing list. To order DSF² processing for your mailing list, please read on!

Information About the DSF² Process

Important Notes:

• With standard DSF² processing, additional processing will be required on your part to insert standardized and corrected address information from the DSF² output file into your mailing list (see output layout).
• Specialized processing is available that can make DSF² easier for you. Call for more information about special processing options and prices.
• Output layout changes for input records with more than 200 characters.
• For clarification of input requirements and output file layout, please call our technical team at (651) 203-8290.

Classification Reform Information

The new Enhanced Carrier Route postal discounts are available for mail files that meet the density requirements and are sorted in either eLOT™ (sorts mail by approximate carrier-casing sequence) or walk sequence. LOT numbers and sort flag are available through ZIP + 4 processing. Walk Sequencing is available through DSF² processing. This sortation places mailpieces in the same sequence that the mail carrier for that carrier route will deliver the mail. This saves time for the USPS^® mail carrier by eliminating the need to sequence mail prior to delivery and the mailer receives a lower postage rate.

The postal presort required to receive these discounts does require additional processing. The Enhanced Carrier Route density requirements are as follows:

• High Density Enhanced Carrier Route requires 125 mailpieces or more per carrier route; unless there is less than 125 delivery points within that carrier route, then a mailpiece must be sent to each delivery point within the carrier route.
• Saturation Enhanced Carrier Route requires the mailpieces be address to 90% or more of the active residential addresses or 75% or more of the active possible delivery addresses (whichever is less) on each carrier route.
• Saturation Enhanced Carrier Route at Delivery Unit Entry. Saturation must meet the requirements listed above and the mailing is delivered to the Bulk Mail Center (BMC), Sectional Center Facility (SCF), or Destination Delivery Unit (DDU) as required.

Who Can Benefit From DSF²?

Saturation Mailers:
Mailers whose mail is highly concentrated can benefit from walk sequencing postal discounts. DSF² has the ability to place your mailing in the sequence that the actual mail carrier will walk his or her route. This sequence is identified by a pseudo walk sequence number that is returned on the mail file for addresses that match DSF². The number is referred to as a "pseudo" walk sequence number because the addresses that exist on your mailing list will be numbered consecutively -- walk sequence numbers will not be skipped for those addresses that do not exist on the mail file.

For Example:

Mailers with Deliverability Concerns and Problem Addresses:
By reviewing the *Deliverability Codes returned from DSF², mailers can predict the deliverability of the addresses on their mailing lists. DSF² contains every delivery point in the U.S. The addresses that match DSF² should be deliverable addresses. However, DSF² does not use name information and, therefore, cannot identify who lives at the address on your mail file. Addresses that do not match to the DSF² file are likely to contain addressing errors. Some of the following methods have been used successfully to review and correct the addresses that do not match to the DSF² file:

• Telemarketing Campaigns - Review address information with the customer.
• Employees in the Field - Mailers that have employees in the field that regularly visit the addresses on your mailing list can review the potentially problem addresses.
• Flag On Your Database - A flag on your database that indicates all address information should be reviewed when the customer calls or responds to your mailing. Review all address information at that time.
• First-Class™ Postcard or Endorsed Mailing - A First-Class Postcard or endorsed mailing ("Address Correction Requested") can provide you with the address corrections you need via the Postal Service™. You can expect a significant number of your potentially undeliverable addresses to be returned to you -- be aware of the costs involved to receive those returns. Address corrections can be made to your database and undeliverable records can be flagged.
• Address Element Correction (AEC) - AEC is a USPS^® process that reviews non ZIP + 4 codable addresses that have been processed through CASS Certified™ software. AEC has been able to correct as many as 40% to 60% of the addresses not codable by ZIP + 4; processing (The percentage rates tend to be slightly lower for addresses processed through DSF² due to the fact that DSF² will have corrected some of the addresses that could not be corrected by ZIP + 4 processing.)

Mailers With Special Mail List Interests:
DSF² is able to append delivery point specific information to a mailing list. The following are DSF² fields that you can have added to your mailing list:

• Business vs. Residential Indicator
• Seasonal Address Flag
• Vacant Address Flag
• Drop Point Flag and the Number of Addresses Associated with that Drop Point
• Commercial Mail Receiving Agencies (CMRA) Indicator
• Identification of "PO Box Delivery Only" Addresses

DSF² Example:

Results from ZIP + 4 Processing:

Tie between two address ranges; address cannot be ZIP + 4 coded. Recommendation is to review for address errors.

Results from DSF² Processing

Address is returned as 103 Main St S. Delivery Point is identified as a residential address with a mailbox on the curb. The address is neither seasonal nor vacant. The address is not a mail drop site nor a Commercial Mail Receiving Agency (CMRA).

DSF² Footnotes Returned: The footnotes that are returned are set in both the ZIP + 4 and DSF² steps of processing.

• A1: Not matched to the ZIP + 4 File
• BB: Matched to the DSF² File
• E: Corrected Primary Address
• K1: Multiple match due to missing or incorrect directional(s)

DSF² Deliverability Code Returned:

• 3 - Changed, Good Deliverable

What to expect from DSF² Processing

The information returned is only as reliable as the information provided by the mail carrier. The DSF² file is updated monthly, so there is an expected lag time for updating the delivery point information and adding new addresses to the database. DSF² does not use name information, therefore cannot identify the individual that reside at the mailing address. Addresses identified as "Good, Deliverable Addresses" per DSF² may be undeliverable due to the mailing name associated with the address or lag times that effect the updates to the DSF² file. Address identified as "Potentially Undeliverable" may still be deliverable because the mail carrier recognizes the individual's name and delivers the mailpiece regardless of incorrect address information or the address has not yet been updated on the DSF² file.

DSF² Processing Output Information

Each output record contains three data areas:

• Original Input Data - Original information as it was received for processing.
• Standardized Data - Address information in a standardized format. Includes the newly applied ZIP + 4 code; modified address, city, state, ZIP Code™ information; carrier route; and Delivery Point Barcode (DPBC).
• DSF² Footnotes, Data and Score. DSF² Footnotes will indicate records with changes, corrections, and missing data as identified by the ZIP + 4 process and DSF² matching process. Delivery point data includes a pseudo walk sequence number, seasonal address flag and business/residential distinction. A DSF² Score of 1 to 7 will be assigned to each record.