How does a Postcode Work?

Sept. 1, 2011 - PRLog -- We all have one, both at home and at our place of work, we use it most days and a good one is often considered to raise your status, but why do we need a postcode and how do they work?

Postcodes are alphanumeric which basically means a combination of alphabetical and numeric characters and were introduced by the Royal Mail.  Initially, postcodes were used to sort the mail more effectively using automated systems.  However, today they are used in many more sophisticated ways from satellite navigation systems to working out insurance premiums.  

Although the current postcode system was only introduced from 1959, a much earlier system using postal districts in London was used about 100 years before this.  This was then extended to other cities in 1934 and eventually incorporated into today’s postcodes.
While a postcode may look simple it is probably the most accurate way to identify a place or location and today is a familiar and widely used reference.   UK postcodes have between five and eight characters with an outward and inward section for example Buckingham Palace’s postcode is SW1A 1AA.   Although unlike the rest of us who generally share our postcode, usually with our street, the Queen has one all to herself!

A postcode is made up of the 'Outward' part denoting the postal district and the 'Inward' part denoting particular parts of the town.  The final two letters denote a property or group of properties within that particular area.

Around the world postal code systems are used to identify locations but sometimes known by different names.  For example in the USA they use ZIP codes rather than postcode, with ZIP standing for Zone Improvement Plan and have just five numeric characters.  In Australia and New Zealand they simply use a numeric four digit postcode.  However, in the Republic of Ireland they do not use a postcode system with addresses specified by county, city or town name, street name or house number.

Occasionally, postcodes (http://www.simply-postcode-lookup.com/) can change, this is usually to accommodate a new building development such as a housing estate or new business park and there are no free postcodes to allocate so new ones are added.

To ensure that your business always has up-to-date address information, a simple and effective way to manage address details is by using postcode finding software.  Simply Postcode Lookup offers a free 30 day trial for their postcode finder for your website or web application.

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If you would like to sample how this can be done with a simple software package take a look at Simply Postcode Look Up (http://www.simply-postcode-lookup.com/) who supply software which fills the appropriate full address once you enter a postcode and avoid dirty data on your CRM system or website.