Melissa Data Quality Platforms
Melissa's Full Spectrum DQ Approach. Learn More
ETL/MDM PlatformsMelissa offers a host of solutions for full spectrum data quality to ensure the success of your data.
Melissa Data Quality Tools
Verify, correct & cleanse contact data in 240+ countries.Melissa Identity Verification
Increase compliance, reduce fraud and improve onboarding. Visit Identity Verification SolutionsMelissa E-Commerce / CRM
Improve customer onboarding, marketing & fulfillment.Melissa Enrich
Gain insight into who and where your customers are.Melissa Industries
See how Melissa's solutions work across industries.Data Hygiene
Keep your mailing list up-to-date, qualify for postal discounts & reduce UAA mail.Data Enhancement
Enrich your consumer or business records for greater insight & omni-channel marketing success.SaaS
Clean and update your data in the cloud, no software to maintain.
Our Data
Verify & enrich your records with multi-sourced, authoritative reference datasets.
The Challenge
Time-Consuming Manual Sanctions and ID Checks
The University of Portsmouth must comply with UK, US and UN sanctions, as well as its own Financial Sanctions Policy and banking requirements. Failure to screen could result in fines and reputational damage.
Previously, the sanctions team relied on manual checks against lengthy sanctions lists and paper-based Know Your Payer (KYP) processes.
Each KYP form took up to two hours, with multiple identity and document checks per student or fee payer — consuming staff time and leaving room for human error.
The Solution
Automated Sanctions and Identity Verification with Melissa
In 2023, the University implemented Melissa’s global electronic identity verification (eIDV) service. The platform provides real-time sanctions and politically exposed persons (PEP) screening against trusted international watchlists, automatically updated daily.
For international students and their fee payers, Melissa cross-checks key details — including name, date of birth, address, phone and email — against reputable global data sources, ensuring accurate and compliant verification in seconds.
The Results
Faster Compliance, Fewer Errors and Improved Productivity
- Sanctions and ID verification checks now take minutes instead of hours.
- Risk of human error significantly reduced.
- Compliance with UK, US and UN sanctions maintained, safeguarding reputation.
- Freed up staff time to focus on higher-value compliance work.
“Using the service saves us so much time compared to manual checks, with screening taking a few minutes per prospective student and fee payer, rather than the many hours to undertake both in the past. It also avoids the possibility of human error. It’s greatly enhanced the efficiency and productivity of the team.”
— Caroline Bennett, Sanctions, Risk & Financial Awareness Manager, University of Portsmouth
Why Melissa?
The University selected Melissa for its robust global sanctions coverage, reliable eIDV service, and ability to integrate easily into existing compliance processes.
Melissa not only streamlined student and payer verification but also enabled the University to confidently meet regulatory obligations and protect against reputational and financial risks.
Looking ahead, the University plans to extend its compliance capabilities with Melissa’s Know Your Business (KYB) service to verify fee-paying companies as legitimate and unsanctioned.
Conclusion
Paradigm’s outreach mission depends on accurate data and the ability to engage stakeholders quickly. Melissa delivered a trusted, scalable solution—one that supports faster outreach and more reliable connections to communities across the U.S. The result: smarter programs and a stronger foundation for pipeline safety.
Melissa helps organizations like The Paradigm Alliance connect with their audiences through reliable location and identity data. How can we help you?
