As cross-border e-commerce skyrockets, one hidden issue is quietly eroding delivery success and customer satisfaction – address inaccuracy. The Universal Postal Union's latest policy brief exposes this growing crisis with powerful new econometric data: poor addressing can reduce successful delivery rates by up to 14%, while postal operators that improve address accuracy can boost first-attempt delivery success by as much as 23%.

This isn’t just a technical glitch – it’s a systemic vulnerability threatening the foundation of global logistics. Drawing on big data and insights from the UPU’s POST*CODE® API, the brief reveals that standardised, validated addresses are the strongest predictor of delivery performance across postal networks.

From costly redeliveries to rising last-mile expenses, the financial toll is staggering. Yet, the solution is within reach. The brief outlines a clear blueprint for postal operators, governments, and e-commerce platforms to implement address validation protocols, integrate digital address elements, and adopt universal standards.

With billions of parcels moving worldwide, even modest gains in accuracy translate into massive operational savings and stronger customer trust.

Download the full UPU policy brief today to discover how better addressing can unlock higher efficiency, lower costs, and a smarter future for global delivery. The data is clear. The time to act is now.