Salesforce Address Validation

From basic opportunity tracking to more complex uses like marketing automation, conventional mailing, service management, and billing, a correct address database is an essential component of Salesforce.

The majority of businesses begin the process of creating customer data in the CRM by generating leads and opportunities. Reducing the burden of copying erroneous data to other systems, such as customer care and billing, is possible the sooner they are valid.

In this blog, you will learn:

• Address Validation and its features
• Use cases of Salesforce Address Validation
• Setting up Address Validation in Salesforce
• Address Validation and Salesforce integration with 3rd party tool

Address Validation in Salesforce with Address Verification Flow Component

Salesforce’s Address Verification Flow Component offers verified address data, differentiating it from services like Google. It significantly reduces failed delivery rates, with a potential decrease of up to 70%. This feature ensures that the addresses are validated for format and correctness and verified for their actual existence and deliverability.

Let’s take a look at the key features of Address Validation

Data Integrity and Verification

Discover the integration of Data Standardization and Address Verification, essential elements that transcend conventional validation rules to guarantee data accuracy and real-world applicability.

Integration and Interface within the Salesforce Ecosystem

Upon installation of the address management package, explore the sophisticated features of the Address Management Lightning App. This central hub provides a comprehensive view of all functionalities, mirrored in Salesforce Classic and supplemented by a specialized Google Chrome extension.

Address Blocks

Address Blocks constitute the cornerstone of your address management strategy in Salesforce. These blocks are pre-configured for standard Salesforce objects and offer the flexibility to be customized or expanded for additional objects, enabling a broad spectrum of address-related functionalities.

Enhanced Record Page Editing with Address Management Component

Implement the Address Management Lightning component on record pages to enhance data entry and verification processes significantly. This integration facilitates interactive address searching and auto-complete features, optimizing the user experience in address data handling.

Verification Status Monitoring in Address Blocks

The ‘Status’ field within each Address Block plays a crucial role in monitoring the verification status of addresses. This functionality balances automated verification and user-driven data confirmation, allowing for a blend of system control and user discretion.

Global Address Verification Through International Postal Databases

Utilize the extensive capabilities of international postal databases, including USPS and Royal Mail, to manage addresses in over 240 countries. This integration ensures that your Salesforce environment benefits from comprehensive and accurate global address data.

ZIP Code-Based Address Autofill for United States

The ZIP Code Intelligence feature is designed for U.S. addresses, offering automated address completion based on ZIP codes. This feature also identifies and flags discrepancies, aligning with your organization’s data validation protocols.

International Address Format and Standardization

The Country Object feature in Salesforce encompasses many international address formats and standards. This robust feature ensures that your organization’s global address data adheres to country-specific structures and languages, facilitating international compliance and consistency.

Customizable Validation Rules for Country-Specific Data

Country-specific data Rules offer a refined approach to address validation, allowing customization of validation rules based on specific country selections. This feature provides a sophisticated method to manage field-specific requirements, enhancing data accuracy and relevance.

Workflow Integration with Address Verification Component

Incorporate the Address Verification Flow Component into your Salesforce workflows for streamlined and efficient address verification processes. This component’s versatility extends beyond the Salesforce platform, offering integration possibilities on external interfaces.

Efficiency in Address Validation with Automation and Scheduling

Maximize efficiency with automated and scheduled address validation processes. By employing systematic checks across your Salesforce environment, you ensure ongoing integrity and accuracy of address data, with comprehensive control over the validation process.

3 Use Cases for Address Validation

E-commerce Business Improving Delivery Accuracy

Scenario: Imagine an online store that regularly faces issues with packages being returned due to incorrect addresses. This leads to frustrated customers and increased costs for the business.

Use Case: By implementing Salesforce Address Validation, the store verifies and corrects address details when a customer inputs them during checkout. This immediate validation ensures that all addresses are accurate, significantly reducing the number of returned shipments. Therefore, customers get their products on time, and it increases customer satisfaction. The business saves money on shipping and handling.

Marketing Campaign Optimization

Scenario: A marketing firm often struggles with its direct mail campaigns due to outdated or incorrect addresses in its CRM. It minimizes low response rates and wastage of resources.

Use Case: With Salesforce Address Validation, the firm can regularly cleanse and update its address database. This means they are confident that the mailers reach the intended recipients every time they launch a direct mail campaign. Higher engagement rates and a greater return on investment for their marketing efforts are the results of enhanced accuracy.

International Expansion of a Service Provider

Scenario: A service provider planning to expand its business internationally is concerned about handling customer addresses from different countries, each with its addressing format.

Use Case: The company can effortlessly manage and validate addresses worldwide using Salesforce Address Validation. The tool automatically adjusts to various international address formats, ensuring all customer data is correctly formatted and valid. This capability allows the company to smoothly expand its services globally without worrying about the complexities of international address management.

Setting Up Address Validation in Salesforce

Access Salesforce Setup

First, log in to your Salesforce account. Go to the ‘Setup’ area, which is typically accessible from the gear icon in the top right corner of the Salesforce interface.

Enable Address Validation Feature

In the Setup menu, look for options related to data quality or address settings. Salesforce may have a specific section for address validation under data management settings. Enable the address validation feature here. This option might vary slightly depending on your Salesforce version or edition.

Configure Address Validation Rules

Once the feature is enabled, you’ll need to configure the validation rules. This involves specifying how you want the addresses to be validated. You can set rules for different countries, address formats, and even customize how strict the validation should be (e.g., whether to accept minor discrepancies or only exact matches).

Set Up Address Source

Determine the source of the addresses that need validation. This could be from a web-to-lead form, directly from account and contact records, or other custom objects in Salesforce where address data is stored.

Address Validation and Salesforce Integration with Third-Party Tools 

Salesforce provides basic address validation functionalities, but sometimes, businesses require more advanced features like global address coverage, address auto-completion, and more sophisticated validation techniques. Third-party tools specialize in these areas, offering comprehensive address databases and advanced validation algorithms.

Choosing the Right Third-Party Tool

The first step is to select a third-party address validation tool that meets your business needs. Popular options include services like Loqate, Experian, or Melissa Data. Advanced features like global address databases and real-time validation are available in these solutions.

Setting Up the Integration

Once you’ve chosen a tool, the integration process typically involves the following steps:

1. API Integration: The majority of external address validation services offer an API (Application Programming Interface) for integration purposes. Obtaining an API key from the service provider is necessary for this process.
2. Configuring Salesforce: In Salesforce, go to the Setup area and find the section for external data sources or integrations. Enter the required authentication information, such as the API key, to set up the integration between Salesforce and the external service.
3. Customizing Settings: Configure the settings to determine how the address validation will work. This includes specifying when the validation should trigger (e.g., upon record creation or update) and how the system should handle discrepancies.
4. Mapping Fields: Ensure that the address fields in Salesforce correctly map to the corresponding fields used by the third-party service. This step is crucial for accurate data exchange.

Also Read – Salesforce Mulesoft: Integration for Modern Businesses

Testing and Validation

After setting up the integration, it’s important to test it thoroughly. Create test records in Salesforce with various address formats and see how the integrated tool validates and corrects them. Ensure that the system behaves as expected under different scenarios.

Training and Rollout

Train your team on how to use the new system. This includes understanding any new features the third-party tool introduces, such as auto-completion or real-time validation feedback.

Ongoing Maintenance and Monitoring

Regularly monitor the integration to ensure it’s functioning correctly. Stay updated with any changes or updates from Salesforce and the third-party service, and adjust your settings and configurations as needed.

Conclusion

Implementing address validation within Salesforce is not just a technical exercise; it’s an investment in the integrity of your customer data. As we have seen, the implications of having accurate and verified addresses extend beyond mere record-keeping. They play a vital role in enhancing customer engagement, improving the efficiency of various business processes, and reducing the risk of errors that can arise from poor data quality. 

If you’re looking to dive deeper into the world of Salesforce and harness its full potential, we invite you to join our vibrant community on Slack. Here, you’ll connect with like-minded professionals and experts who are just as passionate about Salesforce as you are. It’s a space for sharing knowledge, insights, and experiences, helping you stay at the forefront of Salesforce innovations.

Moreover, for those eager to gain practical skills and work on real-world projects, saasguru’s online Salesforce bootcamps are the perfect opportunity. With hands-on training, personalized study plans, and a supportive learning environment, these bootcamps are designed to take your Salesforce expertise to the next level. 

Whether you’re a beginner or looking to advance your skills, our bootcamps cater to all levels.