NAC launches "universal address" module for mail sorting systems

Canadian geocode developers NAC Geographic Products, Inc., has released a new software module to allow mail sorting systems to make use of its “universal address” post code. The system could potentially improve efficiency of processing letters and parcels bound for international destinations, breaking through language barriers and coping with the differences in addressing from country to country.

The Toronto-based company, which has been pushing the potential of a global post code system since the mid-1990s, said the release of its NAC Sorter software module marked a “milestone” in globalisation.

Its Natural Area Codes (NAC) comprise a four-digit combination of letters and numbers to represent a 30×24 square kilometre area, a six-digit combination to represent the area of a city block, or an eight-digit combination to pinpoint a 35×25 square meter space.

NAC Geographic Products said use of its universal address system would help mail processors avoid time consuming input of foreign characters and addresses, reduce sorting errors and potentially extend delivery to areas without traditional address systems.

The new NAC Sorter module is available as an ActiveX control for Microsoft Windows-based mail sorting software, and has already been released to two major manufacturers for integration with their mail sorting systems, the company said yesterday.

Dr Xinhang Shen, the president of NAC Geographic Products, said: “Postal and courier companies now can automatically sort all mail and parcels at all levels, with the same algorithm based on the same kind of codes no matter where they are, and no matter where the mail and parcels are sent to, eliminating barriers from hundreds of different languages, traditions, postal code systems of the addresses.”

For more on geocodes and the world’s addressing systems, see this Post&Parcel feature »