Better Trucks has unveiled Checkpoint, a proprietary address validation tool aimed at addressing one of the most persistent challenges in last-mile delivery: incorrect addresses. With approximately 60 million parcels delivered daily in the United States, even minor address errors can result in up to 3 million misdeliveries each day, creating significant logistical and financial complications for retailers and delivery services.
The technology addresses a critical pain point in e-commerce logistics, where retailers often prioritize customer conversion over address verification. Checkpoint provides a comprehensive solution that leverages multiple data sources and technological approaches to ensure delivery accuracy before a truck begins its route.
The multilayered verification process begins with artificial intelligence scanning addresses through at least three data sources, primarily utilizing Google Address Validation. When automated systems cannot resolve an address, the Checkpoint team manually researches and attempts to correct the information. For unresolved addresses, an innovative SMS notification system allows recipients to verify and potentially correct their delivery location.
According to Mike Koleno, Better Trucks' Chief Technology Officer, the system represents a proactive approach to address validation. The technology not only helps reduce delivery failures but also decreases associated costs. Typically, returned packages cost approximately 30% more than successfully delivered parcels, making address accuracy a significant economic consideration for logistics providers.
Statistically, bad addresses constitute between 0.5% and 1.5% of packages shipped through Better Trucks. By implementing Checkpoint, the company aims to dramatically reduce this percentage and improve overall delivery efficiency.
The technology includes additional safeguards such as geofencing during package dropoff, which ensures packages are delivered within a precise location radius. Furthermore, the system can remember and recognize corrected addresses for future deliveries, creating a continuously improving address database.
Checkpoint represents a significant advancement in logistics technology, offering clients the option to white-label the solution and integrate it seamlessly into their delivery communication strategies. Available across Better Trucks' extensive network, which reaches more than 40% of U.S. households, the technology promises to enhance delivery accuracy and customer satisfaction in an increasingly competitive e-commerce landscape.
