Address validation that understands your customers' languages and local address nuances.

Imagine a Dutch customer enters their address as “Prinsengr 263, Amsterdam.” In the Netherlands, “gr” (gracht) is commonly used as an abbreviation for canal streets, but without proper recognition, this detail might be lost - leading to delivery issues. Similarly, a Polish customer might write “ul. Nowy Świat 45/2,” where “ul.” stands for “ulica” (street) and “45/2” means flat 2 in building 45. These small but crucial differences can make or break a successful delivery. 

The Hidden Dangers of Inaccurate Addresses  

Inaccurate addresses pose significant risks for businesses and customers alike. Incomplete information, such as missing street names or postal codes, can lead to delays or failed deliveries, as seen in Germany where omitting the PLZ causes misdirection. Invalid information, like fake addresses, can result in fraud-related costs and legal issues, with France imposing fines for such misuse. Incorrect information, such as typos or incorrect abbreviations (e.g., "Str." instead of "Straße" in German), can misdirect packages. Lastly, inaccurate information, like wrong house numbers, can lead to customer dissatisfaction and financial losses due to re-shipping, as experienced in Italy where incorrect numbers send packages to the wrong buildings. 

 
Enhancements for European-Language Addresses 

To better serve your European customers, address accuracy is optimised for users entering addresses in various European languages. Here’s how:

• Support for Abbreviations & Local Variations – Whether it’s “Str.” instead of “Straat” (street) in Dutch or “t” instead of “torv” (square) in Danish, our system recognises and processes hundreds of regional abbreviations and variations.

• House Number Recognition – Different languages use different number conventions. Dutch customers may write “nr.” for house number, while Polish addresses sometimes use slashes (e.g., “12/3”). Our tool correctly interprets these formats.

• Smart Street Name Detection – Just like “Calle” is often omitted in Spanish addresses, Dutch, Danish, and Polish addresses sometimes drop common street prefixes. Our system can identify these missing details and return accurate results.

• Handling Special Characters & Diacritics – Many European languages use accents, umlauts, and unique characters. Whether a customer writes “Köln” or mistakenly omits the umlaut as “Koln,” our system ensures the correct address is found.

• Gendered & Plural Variations – In many European languages, street names can change based on gender or plurality, and these variations can sometimes be errors. For instance, in French, "Boulevard Nouveau" should always remain masculine, so "Boulevard Nouvelle" is incorrect. However, our system understands these differences and will still validate the address correctly even if the user mistakenly enters "Boulevard Nouvelle." Similarly, in Spanish, forms like "Primero," "Primera," "1er," and "1°" are all considered equivalent, though some variations may technically be mistakes. We account for these variations to ensure an accurate address, even when users enter alternative forms.
   

Expand your reach across Europe

If you're a UK business selling to European customers, our advanced address validation tool helps ensure that you avoid these pitfalls and that your customers receive their orders on time and without hassle. What’s in it for you? 

• Improved Customer Satisfaction: By ensuring accurate and timely deliveries, you build trust with your customers and enhance their overall shopping experience. 

• Reduced Operational Costs: Minimise the financial impact of failed deliveries and re-shipping by using precise address data. 

• Enhanced Fraud Protection: Protect your business from fraudulent activities by validating addresses against known databases and patterns. 

• Competitive Advantage: Stay ahead in the market by offering seamless checkout experiences that encourage repeat business and positive word-of-mouth. 

By removing barriers in address entry, we help you improve order fulfilment. Our enhanced address validation is live and ready to help you confidently expand your reach across Europe. Give it a try today and let us know what you think!