The NCOA Link process consists of computer software purchased, leased or developed by the licensee to access the NCOA Link data. The Postal Service™ certifies the process and licenses the NCOA Link Product to private sector companies for commercial mail list processing or internal mail list management. Updated, computerized change-of-address information is provided on a regular basis to the NCOA Link licensees by the Postal Service. Input address information first must be standardized to conform to USPS requirements, including the ZIP + 4® code. An attempt is made to match each name and address against the NCOA Link Product. Address change information is derived from the PS Form 3575, Change-of-Address Order, filed by relocating postal customers. If a match is made with the name and old address information in the NCOA Link File, then the NCOA Link licensee is permitted to provide the current move information (new address or undeliverable status) to update the mailing list.
NCOA Link helps reduce undeliverable-as-addressed (UAA) mail by correcting input addresses before mailing. Since 1986, Move Update predecessors such as ACS (Address Change Service), NCOA (National Change of Address) and FASTforward® have saved mailers millions of dollars that otherwise would have been wasted in materials and postage. NCOA Link continues this trend and, like its predecessors, provides the following benefits to mailers:
- Reduces undeliverable mail by providing the most current address information for matches made to the NCOA Link File
- Prevents re-mailings after address corrections are received because the address correction is applied before the mailing
- Reduces mailer costs by reducing the number of undeliverable mailpieces by using most current address information
