AFD Software is joining the UK’s Royal Mail in celebrating 60 years of British postcode this month.

The postcode as we know it was first trialled in Norwich in 1959 - but now the Royal Mail’s postcode address file has become by far the world’s most efficient and powerful postal code database.

AFD Software, based just outside Ramsey at the Mountain View Innovation Centre is at the heart of its distribution.

There are now almost 1.7 million postcodes in the British Isles, covering more than 30.5 million delivery addresses, and by using the PAF, organisations are able to ensure efficient address entry and deliveries.

Many people will be familiar with the ability to give postcodes when purchasing online or by telephone, so that the web site or operator doesn’t have to wade through many lines of what can be complicated or ambiguous addresses.

AFD employs around 50 people in the ’postcode’ part of its business - most of them employed in the Isle of Man.

Their first step is to take the raw data from Royal Mail mainframe computers, then test and distribute it on Royal Mail’s behalf to all RM customers and retailers.

AFD’s own postcode products and services are then embedded in thousands of organisations helping assure address accuracy.

It’s a moving target - as the PAF file is constantly updated by Royal Mail staff as they deliver mail across the country, and a significant part of AFD’s work is in supplying updates to all its user-base, some of whom have been AFD customers for over 20 years.

AFD’s head of sales, Jonathan Stocks said: ’Postcodes don’t really sound that sexy, but they are at the absolute heart not only of mail delivery, but every other form of delivery too, as virtually all carriers rely on them.

’Without the use of our technology, there would be massive waste - of fuel and especially fresh items - so at a time when there is considerable anxiety about fossil-fuel use, AFD is confident its products and services make a real and massive difference - well beyond any token gestures’.

Joel Miller, AFD’s head of marketing said: ’Postcodes are also right at the heart of national data, politics and accountability - we’ve all heard the phrase ’’It’s a postcode lottery’ - but the truth is that by aligning postcodes with national statistics and census data, there are powerful tools with which to plan and deliver public services or direct assistance to disadvantaged communities.

’UK organisations have become so reliant on the British postcode, that they don’t understand why or how there is virtually nothing equivalent in other developed economies’.

AFD has invested heavily in the community - and provided high-quality employment in the North of the Isle of Man for over 21 years.

’It has provided structured training for both school-leavers and graduate entry, and is currently recruiting a new intake for its technical apprenticeship scheme.

General Manager Duncan McLeod said: ’The AFD team now represents more expertise and a total of over 450 years collective experience around British postcodes - more than any other organisation anywhere: truly a world-class business that delivers real benefits to its customers, its staff, the community - and the planet’.