Manual address entry can add friction to e-commerce checkout, and incorrect or incomplete address data can contribute to delivery problems. Address autocomplete and validation can help make address capture a useful checkpoint, while the right approach depends on what address data your application needs to verify.
Why Can Incorrect Addresses Cause Delivery Problems?
Typos, omitted address details, and invalid postal codes can create problems for delivery workflows. Address checks at checkout can help identify some data issues before they reach order processing.
Opensend reports that roughly 20% of addresses entered online contain a mistake or omission (Opensend). 1Checkout reports that approximately 22% of delivery failures stem from incorrect or incomplete address information supplied at checkout (1Checkout). FLEX. reports average failed-delivery costs of $17.20 in the US and £11.60 in the UK (FLEX.).
How Can You Check Shipping Address Data in an E-commerce Checkout?
An address validation API can be integrated into a checkout flow to check submitted address data. The checks available depend on the API and the data it covers, so distinguish administrative and postal reference checks from street-level address verification.
Country Data API provides an administrative address layer, including country, state, city, and postal code reference data, along with address autocomplete and validation. It does not provide street-level or point-of-interest data. Review the API documentation to see how to integrate the available endpoints and what each can check.
How Can Address Autocomplete Fit Into Checkout?
Address autocomplete can offer suggestions as users enter address data, reducing the amount they need to type manually. For an administrative reference API, those suggestions are based on the locations and postal data it covers; they should not be presented as street-level address or point-of-interest results unless the data supports that.
You can explore the countries reference to see the country data available for applications that use Country Data API.
What Should You Check When Validating Postal Codes?
When adding postal code checks to checkout, confirm that the API covers the countries and administrative data your application needs. Postal code, city, state, and country reference data can help check those parts of an address, but does not by itself establish that a particular street address or delivery point exists.
If your workflow requires street-level verification, choose a source that provides that data. Country Data API focuses on administrative and postal reference data rather than street-level mapping.
Implementation Practices for Developers
When adding address data checks to a checkout flow, consider these implementation practices:
- Use autocomplete and validation for distinct purposes: Use autocomplete to help users enter data, and validation to check the submitted values supported by your API.
- Plan for API errors: Decide how your checkout should behave if a request fails or is delayed. For example, you can provide a retry path or allow the order to continue for later review, depending on your business requirements.
- Match the data layer to the task: Administrative country, state, city, and postal code data can support reference checks. It is not a substitute for street-level address verification.
Review pricing plans to choose an option for your application.
Frequently asked questions
What is a checkout address validation API?
It is an API used in a checkout flow to check submitted address data. The specific checks depend on the API's data coverage and capabilities.
How can address validation help with delivery problems?
Address checks can identify some incorrect or incomplete data before it enters an order workflow. Administrative and postal reference checks do not necessarily verify a street address or delivery point.
Do I need street-level data to check postal codes?
Not necessarily. Administrative and postal reference data can be used to check postal codes and related country, state, or city information. Street-level verification requires street-level data.
Sources
- 25 Shipping Accuracy Statistics for eCommerce Stores | Opensend
- Address Validation at Checkout: Solving Half of Your Delivery Failures Before They Happen
- Last-Mile Cost Failures in Europe: Fix Address Data First - FLEX.
This article was produced with the help of AI and reviewed for accuracy against the cited sources.