Why We Need an Open Geocoding Standard for Logistics

Aldo Buondonno — Sun, 03 May 2026 11:16:47 +0000

And why I built Locations Code
Modern e‑commerce logistics still relies on traditional addresses — a system designed centuries ago for humans, not for automated sorting, routing algorithms, or last‑mile delivery.

The result is predictable: addressing errors cause ~45% of delivery failures, generating customer service overhead, reverse logistics, and lost loyalty.

We need something better.
Something universal, stable, machine‑friendly, and open.

That’s why I built Locations Code.
https://www.locationscode.com

Locations Code converts latitude/longitude into a fixed 8‑character alphanumeric code, with:

global uniqueness
~30m operational precision
no dependency on languages or administrative borders
no proprietary database
reversible encoding
open‑source algorithm

It’s designed specifically for:

e‑commerce logistics
last‑mile delivery
food delivery
emergency situations
warehouse automation
geospatial clustering
market analysis

Locations Code is Occam's Razor applied to logistics:
a single, stable, and technologically validated element removes ambiguities in address descriptions.

Plus Code (compound) is tied to administrative areas
What3words creates a Tower of Babel
Address standardization is a race without a finish line, a dog chasing its tail.
Locations Code takes a different approach:
instead of trying to “fix” addresses, it bypasses them entirely.

The user simply collects the Locations Code of their delivery point (https://www.dove6.it/mobile) once and inserts it into all their orders.
From that moment on, automated sorting and last‑mile delivery know exactly where to go — with zero ambiguity.

A real-world example

In addition to the traditional address, the customer provided the GPS coordinates to reach it — and the Locations Code makes that information usable for logistics.

If you work in logistics, mapping, or automation

I’d love your feedback.

If you build open‑source tools, feel free to experiment with the algorithm — it’s intentionally simple, deterministic, and easy to integrate.

Let’s build a global, open, machine‑friendly location standard together.

DEV Community: Aldo Buondonno

Why We Need an Open Geocoding Standard for Logistics