MBS, Central Islip, NY, a provider of data processing solutions for the direct marketing industry, said yesterday that it has been certified by the U.S. Postal Service as a full service provider of NCOALink. MBS' NCOALink offering is called SmartMove.
Starting Oct. 1, NCOALink will replace the National Change of Address and FASTforward mailing list correction products. The NCOA and FASTforward products let mailers comply with the USPS' Move Update requirement to qualify for First-Class mail automation and presort discounts.
NCOALink will release address information in a format that's a mathematical, 11-digit representation of the new address. The USPS has said this will provide licensees access to sensitive address data in a more convenient and secure format, while reducing USPS oversight. The USPS also said NCOALink will let it expand its distribution, which will improve address quality and reduce the amount of undeliverable-as-addressed mail.
The week of Sept. 20 will be the last time NCOA data is provided to licensees, and Sept. 30 will be the final date for the use of current NCOA data.
