TABLE OF CONTENTSHow Can the Postcodes in Australia Help You Reduce Postage Costs and Boost Customer Satisfaction?There are nearly 3,333 postcodes in Australia, covering all internal and external states and territories. These postcodes assist Australia Post in determining delivery routes and dropping off items at the correct destinations. But, there is much more to this concept that we will discuss in this blog. First, you should know that an Australian postal code is the same as a ZIP code in the US. It goes by different names in every country, but its primary objectives remain the same. ![]() They are helpful in the address verification and standardisation processes. With the help of correct postcodes, companies can process orders accurately and drive more sales. They can manage their entire logistics structure efficiently and save costs. Address verification is gaining massive popularity these days, and businesses can employ it in their systems using postcodes of Australia. They assist in determining the number of orders per state or city—to formulate marketing and other strategies. However, there are many more use cases of postcodes that this blog will walk you through. Also, we will talk about the significance of address validation for companies. Let’s get started! What are the Postcodes In Australia?Australian postcodes are a string of four numbers that represent specific localities or neighbourhoods. It is a unique geographic identifier and offers high-quality demographic information. Businesses use Aussie postal code lists for fraud prevention, shipping, information coordination, etc. Primarily, they help assemble and route mail items within the Australia Post system. Mention them at the end of mailing addresses after writing the state abbreviations. In 1967, the Postmaster-General’s Department introduced postcodes in Australia, and the entire system is under postal management. You can avail of the whole list of postcodes from the Post Office in the form of booklets. Alternatively, you can order online from Australia Post’s website if you want to store them in digital format. Often, postcards and envelopes have four square boxes in orange to mention the postcode. They enable postal workers to sort mail pieces automatically, helping them speed up the delivery process. History of Postcodes In AustraliaThe purpose of the introduction of postcodes was to replace the older postal sorting structure, like Melbourne’s numbering system. (e.g., E5, N8) Also, there was a similar organisation in New South Wales’s regional and rural parts. The introduction of large-volume mechanical mail sorting also took place around the same time as the commencement of the postcode Australia system. 75% of mail items were using postcodes by 1968. The Post Office introduced postal preferred-size envelopes or standard envelopes the same year. The orange-coloured postcode squares came into existence in June 1990 to help the postal services employ Optical Character Recognition (OCR). It assists Australia Post in sorting mail by postcodes more quickly. Prescribed Mailing Address Format in AustraliaThe four-digit postcodes of Australia appear at the end of delivery addresses. But, you must ensure that the address is accurate and properly formatted. Australia Post has a standard address format that all individuals and companies should follow, and it is:
Here’s an example: Phoebe Holt 18 Angelo St NORTH SYDNEY NSW 2060 Most standard-sized envelopes already have the four boxes pre-printed on the bottom for writing the postcode in Australia Sydney. Please note that you must write the company name on the second line while mailing to a business address. Below are some more tips to help you write your addresses precisely:
How Do Postcodes Work In Australia?Now that you know what is a postal code, let us discuss its functioning in depth. Australian postcodes consist of sorting data, and the Post Office uses them to group mail pieces going to similar locations. PopulationOften, postcodes represent only one geographic area. For instance, 6160 covers the city of Fremantle only. However, it gets complicated because of the postcodes that belong to numerous towns, like 2570. The postal code- 2570 includes 22 suburbs and cities around Camden. Also, postcode 3221 in Victoria which belongs to the Geelong Mail Centre includes twenty places with a low population. It indicates that Australia Post does the mail sorting after it reaches Geelong. Other postcodes include larger populations (e.g., 4350 serving nearly 100,000 addresses in and around Toowoomba). But, there are also many postcodes in Australia, covering urban areas with a small population. Hence, there is no general rule regarding how many places a postcode should cover. Towns Having Two PostcodesThe postcodes start from 0200, serving the Australian National University, and range up to 9944, covering Cannonvale in Queensland. Plus, several suburbs and towns have two postcodes—one for PO boxes and the other for door-to-door deliveries. For instance, PO box 99 in Parramatta comes under postcode 2124. But, the same area also has another postal code- 2150 for street delivery. Large Volume ReceiversMany large government departments, companies, and other crucial institutions that receive bulk mail have their Aussie postal code. These organisations are known as Large Volume Receivers (LVRs). Here are some examples: 0200- Australian National University. 4029- The Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, etc. However, the Post Office has been discontinuing the LVR system since 2006. Postcodes of Australia Covering More Than One StatePostcode 2620 includes an area in the Australia Capital Territory (Hume) and a locality in New South Wales (Gundaroo). Also, postcode 0872 serves several localities across Western Australia, Southern Australia, and the Northern Territory. So, it is common for some postcodes to cover places in different states, even if it complicates the routing process. The Allocation of the Postcodes In AustraliaWe hope you now know what is postcode in Australia so far and how they work. Now, we will move on to the allocation of Australian postcodes. The first two postcode numbers indicate the state or territory, while the other two help locate the address. Here are the postcode ranges of the different states and territories:
Popular Use Cases of the Postcodes of AustraliaThere are several applications of postcodes, certainly more than we know. They form a significant component of several crucial operations for companies, like InsuranceOften, insurance agencies use postal code data to determine the premium rates of a house or car. There are considerable variations in the costs, depending on the locality or city. Thus, knowing the postcodes for quoting prices is ordinary. Also, insurance agents use this data at the time of settling claims. Hence, postcodes are an integral aspect of their day-to-day work. TransportThe transport system in New South Wales employs postcodes of Australia to allocate specific numbers to bus stops. Usually, the stop numbers consist of five to seven digits—the first four comprise the postcodes, and the remaining represent the stop number. Metropolitan Street MapsThese maps have all the Australian postcodes grouped according to the suburbs. They help define sales strategies and choose franchise locations. The companies that manufacture these maps use postal code lists regularly. They enable businesses to have a spatial representation of their target localities. Federal and State Government InstitutionsThese organisations publish several statistics now and then by postcodes. Hence, there are several social planning-related activities that postcodes help accomplish. However, there is an issue with the spatial representation of the postcodes in Australia. The postal services add and remove postcodes all the time for operational purposes, which causes deviations in several plans. Presort MailIt is one of the most crucial use cases of postcodes. Most companies use automated direct mail solutions like PostGrid that help validate their mailing lists and presort their items according to the postcodes in Australia. Shipping and LogisticsIt doesn’t matter if you send a transactional mail item to a client in Sydney or conduct a direct mail campaign covering several cities. Postcode data can help you ship your official and marketing mail efficiently and accurately. Identity VerificationThe postcodes of Australia also help in fraud prevention for online transactions. They aid the identity verification programs that help companies avoid data breaches and fraud. Comparison of the Postcodes Around the WorldThe Treaty of Bern in 1874 dictated the Universal Postal Union’s launch to enhance global mail exchange. There are hundreds of member countries, and their postcodes are available publicly. The UPU conducts several seminars, publishes research papers, and creates solutions to promote global eCommerce. You can access their website and search for all the postcodes in Australia. Below are some details of the most popular postcode systems in the world: ZIP Codes (USA)At PostGrid, we get many questions, like what is ZIP code. This term may confuse people, but it is the same as postcode. Undoubtedly, the ZIP codes of the USA constitute a well-curated postal code system under the jurisdiction of the USPS. So, what is the ZIP postal code? ZIP stands for Zoning Improvement Plan and has several functions, including mail routing, data verification, etc. The primary objective of introducing ZIP codes was to simplify transport across the country. Robert A. Moon, a postal service employee, created the ZIP code system decades ago to enhance mail delivery. It works the same way as the postcodes in Australia, with a few minor differences. Typically, a ZIP postal code is five digits long. But, it is advisable to add the extra four digits that speed up mail sorting and delivery. Nowadays, you can use Intelligent Mail Barcodes (IMBs) that have encoded ZIP codes to automate most of the process. It helps you bag additional postal discounts from Australia Post. The first digit of the ZIP code stands for a group of US states, while the second and third digits represent a Post Office or sectional centre. Then, the last two numbers stand for the delivery area. Postal Codes (Canada)Canada got its first postal code structure in Toronto in 1925. Later on, the Post Office divided the city into 14 delivery zones. The postal areas in Ottawa, Quebec, Vancouver, and Winnipeg also started using this system in a few years. After knowing what is a postcode and ZIP code, you may think that Canadian postal codes are also numeric. But, they are alphanumeric, consisting of six digits. Some of the examples include M4K 1M8, T0A 0A0, M1E 1PS, etc. Canadian codes use the A1A 1A1 format, wherein the first character is always a letter. The starting three digits state the Forward Sortation Area (FSA), and the remaining three represent Local Delivery Units (LDUs). You can use an address verification API like PostGrid if you have difficulty finding and verifying postcodes in Australia and abroad. It helps you access validated mailing lists that you can employ for many reasons. How Does Address Verification Help You Validate Your Postcode Data?Address validation is the key to getting accurate postcodes and sending mail to deliverable addresses. It helps companies benefit from the use cases of the postcodes of Australia effectively. AutocompletePostGrid’s autocomplete API allows your customers to autofill their delivery address and postal code. Hence, it takes them half the time they need to type the full address. Also, it ensures that the entered information is correct and valid. You can integrate this API into your shopping app or website and boost its user experience (UX). Also, PostGrid offers address autocomplete with its validation services to help you send mail to the correct addresses. It is also helpful in adding the missing postcodes of Australia to your mailing lists. Thus, you can update your old databases and put them to good use. StandardiseAs said earlier, following the standard Australia Post address format is crucial. Therefore, companies must mention properly-standardised addresses on their envelopes, packages, and other mail pieces. PostGrid’s address verification API helps standardise your mailing information and postal code lists. It first parses the addresses to separate the components and employs fuzzy matching. Then, it reformats them to make them mail-ready. Hence, you can guarantee accurate and fast deliveries. ValidateAMAS stands for Address Matching Approval System and is a certification program for address verification vendors. PostGrid is AMAS-certified and cross-checks your postal code lists against the Australia Post database. Hence, you can rest assured that we return high-quality data that enhances your overall mailing experience. Why Should You Always Verify the Postcodes In Australia Before Using Them?There is more than one advantage of double-checking postcodes beforehand, including Save MoneyYou can cut costs considerably by sending mail to the correct postcodes the first time itself. Reshipping, lost mail, returns, etc., can drain your budget and create inefficiencies. But, address verification for the postcodes of Australia can help you prevent such problems and mail accurately. Also, address verification services like PostGrid help you presort your items by postcodes, allowing you to further lower costs. Increase Operational EfficiencyIt may be a routine for you to pack and mail orders. But, one incorrect postal code can lead to several issues and slowdowns. Hence, you should be prepared by validating your postcodes and maintaining a clean database. Make Faster DecisionsHaving access to an up-to-date postcode list enables you to make prompt decisions. For example, you can use the postcodes of Australia to target the right neighbourhood if you want to promote your upcoming season sale. Hence, all marketing and planning activities involve the usage of postcodes. Reduce Mail ReturnsMail returns can increase your workload and lead to wastage. Also, it creates backlogs as you need to reship the old orders again and divert your effort from the new ones. But, you can skip these scenarios by using PostGrid’s address verification solutions to verify the postcodes of Australia. Increase Customer SatisfactionValidating postcodes in Australia and mailing items to the correct delivery addresses can help your mail items arrive at their destinations on time. This practice helps raise customer satisfaction and retention levels. PostGrid’s Address Verification Services for Postcode ValidationAfter knowing about the UK ZIP code and postcode, your next step is finding a reliable address verification service. Luckily, we already have a solution to your needs and guarantee positive results. Our 99.99% deliverability rate is a sign of our efficient address validation capabilities. Here are some of the best features of our services:
Wrapping UpAlmost every country has a postcode system known by different names. In the US, there are ZIP codes, whereas Canada has a postal code system. They help the Post Office identify locations more closely and deliver your packages at the earliest. We hope you got the answers to queries, like how many postcodes are in Australia and what they mean. If you need help, you can use PostGrid’s address verification API that verifies every component of your addresses and makes them deliverable. Also, our industry-best pricing plans make the whole process much more affordable and efficient for your company. You can sign up here to know more about how PostGrid helps you validate the postcodes of Australia within seconds! Ready to Get Started?Start transforming and automating your offline communications with PostGrid The post What Is Postcode appeared first on PostGrid. Via https://www.postgrid.com.au/what-is-postcode/
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
ABOUT USPostGrid Australia - provides automation software and REST API Solution for direct mail & print services and address verification software to autocomplete, validate and verify addresses. ArchivesNo Archives Categories |