CASS™ Cycle L Beta Testing Underway
CASS Cycle L beta testing continues with several beta clients. Group 1 had over 25 large companies request the beta test version, and received the following valuable input:
- One of the largest testers realized a breakthrough in wall clock processing time through the use of SMB, the mainframe hardware option. Although CPU utilization was as expected, the elapsed wall clock time was dramatically reduced. This reduced clock time allows the production jobs to finish within the production windows with the DPV™ turned on.
- Another tester found that DPV increased the coding match rate. In a relatively clean address file, turning DPV on resulted in reduced ZIP + 4® assignments due to inaccurate primary house numbers, but records that normally would not code, started coding. A further review of addresses is underway, but initial findings show that DPV Multiple Match Tie-Breaking increased coding, and the use of LACSLink™, or Locatable Address Conversion System file, added additional matches.
- Windows and UNIX environments continue to produce very favorable results. Testers turning on DPV needed to configure the DPV routine to take advantage of their system memory. Users on systems that provide memory for both the CASS engine and DPV routines need to configure the software to take advantage of those resources.
- CASS Cycle L changes are relatively simple in batch processing. Beta testers wanting to perform a CASS run need only instruct the CASS software to use DPV and LACSLink by simply installing the database and adjusting two parameter options. Without the parameter change, the CASS software is run in non-CASS mode and does not produce a PS-3553 CASS form.
- SuiteLink™ testing has had little site impact. The database is clean and easy to install, and the software processing takes place seamlessly. If a firm is identified, the CASS software attempts to match against the SuiteLink database to enhance the suite/unit information. SuiteLink only matches against business addresses. Vendors are still awaiting USPS® distribution agreements prior to being fully released for the CASS cycle.
- DPV Flat File processing is an optional feature provided with the next CASS Cycle release. However, it is recommended as a preferred option for mainframe users by the USPS.