Countries are changing and expanding their address systems to cover more residents.  These new addresses allow residents to more fully participate in civic and economic activities, including establishing bank accounts and receiving merchandise shipped directly to their new addresses.  Some of the new addressing systems, particularly in the developing countries, are unique solutions unlike those in other countries according to a recently released paper, "New and Expanded Addressing Systems". 

The Universal Postal Union (UPU) initiatives are encouraging countries to develop systematic addressing and databases of all addresses within each country.  The cost of new and expanded addressing systems are both substantial.  The new Costa Rican and the expanded South African systems each took 5 or more years and costs from almost US$5 million to over US$20 million.  However, Costa Rica postal sources estimate that the lack of an address system cost the national economy US$720 million a year.

The paper, by Merry Law, editor of the Guide to Worldwide Postal-Code and Address Formats and  sponsored by GrayHair Software, Inc. and  DTP Systems, provides practical observations of what works and what does not in recent address initiatives around the world, using the address developments in Costa Rica, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and South Korea.

Charles A. Prescott, Executive Director of the Global Address Data Association, stated “This is an important work with many very useful policy lessons.  Anyone with responsibility for an address database, or any database containing addresses should read it."

The changes to addressing systems are of particular importance to organization engaged in international commerce.  "As globalization continues to expand, GrayHair's clients are expanding their international mail, this piece on addressing systems enables our clients to learn from independent experts," says Raymond T. Chin, Vice President of Product Management and Marketing, GrayHair Software , Inc.

"New and Expanded Addressing Systems" can be downloaded from WorldVu's web site.  Jody Berenblatt, Senior Advisor for GrayHair Advisors, the consulting arm of GrayHair Software, said "As a privately held, independent company, GrayHair and its divisions are proud to sponsor the work done by independent experts such as World Vu's Merry Law."

Additional papers on issues related to international addressing sponsored by GrayHair Software are planned.