Ecommerce shipping efficiency tools you need: Address autocomplete and verification
We know it’s not New Year's anymore, but we can still push for improvement and efficiency in our lives.
Maybe you’ve lapsed on that goal to be healthier or slightly slipped on your new reading and writing regimen. No worries.
Not only are we here to remind you to KEEP GOING on whatever goals you have, but we’re also here to give you an easy-to-implement solution that will create shipping efficiency and stop sending packages into the void.
I mean, we’re assuming you don’t like wasting money. If you do… that’s how we’re different.
Address autocomplete and verification tools are essential to driving shipping efficiency and enhancing the customer experience. Let’s discuss improving shipping efficiency by integrating them into your existing systems.
The secret to shipping efficiency: Automate + verify
Congratulations! You’ve successfully convinced a customer to hit the checkout button. Now comes the crucial moment where many ecommerce businesses stumble—address entry. This seemingly simple step is often seriously overlooked and can significantly affect your shipping efficiency.
Do you already have address autocomplete integrated into your checkout process?
Fantastic!
Does it offer only valid, accurate addresses, including unit numbers (PO Box, suite, apartment, lobby, etc.)? If not, you’re missing nearly 25% of US addresses. Sad.
Do you already have the speediest address verification running in the background for your checkout process, in addition to autocomplete? High-five! That’s amazing!
If you answered yes to those questions (and you’re happy with the data they provide), you must be here to understand further how awesome your decision-making skills are and bask in the glow of that awesomeness.
However, if you answered no to either of those questions (or are unsure of the data you’re getting from your current provider), here’s why that’s a problem.
Real-time address autocomplete: The key to making money efficiently
Have you ever experienced that awkward moment when a customer calls in a panic, asking, “Where is my order?” Your customer service team tracks their package, only to realize it’s taking a world tour because of a tiny typo. It’s a nightmare for both your brand and your customer.
Real-time address autocomplete helps prevent these mishaps before they even begin. As your customers type, it’s running in the background, suggesting validated addresses they can choose (including unit numbers), eliminating the likelihood of typos.
Your shipments are being sent to the right places, preventing unnecessary delays and cutting down on costly shipping errors, such as additional packaging, reshipment fees, and the ultimate cost… lost business from a bad reputation given to you by an angry customer.
Your customer probably isn’t sitting there thinking about address autocomplete (honestly, who does?), but they sure do notice that ordering what they want doesn’t take forever. They also notice when your delivery estimate is on point, and their order arrives exactly when and where it’s supposed to. That’s a huge win for customer satisfaction and, ultimately, your shipping efficiency.
Customers appreciated the smooth flow of Fabletics checkout with International Address Autocomplete, so much so that Fabletics experienced a huge conversion boost across multiple countries.
Address verification: The key to a seamless shipping process
Now that your customers are breezing through checkout, the next big moment comes after they’ve selected their address. Usually, the process involves selecting the address, and the customer moves on to the next step in your checkout process. However, sometimes people accidentally slip in typos (often due to smaller screens) after entering their address. That’s where address verification comes in.
Think of address verification as an address fixer. If an extra “3” has made its way into Buffy’s 1630 Revello Drive, Sunnydale, California, it now reads, “16303 Revello Drive, Sunnydale, California.” Address verification will catch this and suggest a valid address before she moves on to the next step. Now, she’ll for sure get her next order of wooden stakes.
Address verification isn't just a fixer-upper for your shipping woes; it's the VIP pass every delivery hotspot needs. 🎉 But beware—not all systems are created equal.
Some address verification solutions are like that friend who claims they know everyone but can't get you into the club. The top-tier ones, however, recognize every address, even those millions not recognized by the USPS. These are the solutions you want—ones that eliminate guesswork from ecommerce shipping, ensuring accurate and efficient deliveries every time.
Incorporating address verification into your ecommerce operations means that whenever an address is entered—be it during checkout, loyalty account creation, or customer service updates—it's validated and standardized. This proactive approach enhances delivery accuracy and minimizes costly errors and returns, leading to improved customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.
Consider this: a recent SMB Shipping Pulse Check survey found that 71% of online shoppers contacted customer service due to shipping issues. Common problems include late deliveries (39%), lost or stolen orders (36%), and damaged products (27%).
So, while some may sleep on their goals, integrating robust address verification ensures your shipping game remains strong year-round. 🚀
Business is better with both
Incorporating address verification into your ecommerce operations means that whenever an address is entered—be it during checkout, loyalty account creation, or customer service updates—it's validated and standardized. This proactive approach enhances delivery accuracy and minimizes costly errors and returns, improving customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.
Unlike more involved resolutions—like training for a marathon or completely reinventing your brand—implementing address autocomplete and verification is a commitment that doesn’t require constant attention. Once you set it up, you can forget about it, and the savings will roll in automatically.
Also, setting it up is a cinch with our excellent documentation (your devs will thank you) and our customer support team, who won’t leave you on “read.” Really smart, real humans are waiting to answer your questions exactly when you have them.
Minor improvements in address accuracy can lead to massive wins in customer happiness. A minor typo may seem insignificant, but a misplaced package? That can lead to a lost customer.
By making address verification and autocomplete an inseparable part of your checkout process, you reduce the chance of mistakes and increase your likelihood of repeat business.
In the grand scheme, shipping accuracy is one of the simplest yet most powerful ways to improve shipping efficiency.
Don’t wait for another package to take a world tour using the wrong ZIP Code. Address verification and autocomplete are the tools that will ensure you never miss a beat when fulfilling customer orders.
Prioritize shipping optimization with address autocomplete and verification tools, and watch your efficiency soar.
Also, don’t forget to check off a few of those things on your list of resolutions:
Make shipping processes more efficientMake more money
