AFD Postcode Integration

Complete setup and usage guide for AFD Postcode Address Finder in Microsoft Business Central

5 min read
Last updated: February 2026
v2.0+

Contents

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01 Overview

The AFD Postcode Integration is a powerful extension for Microsoft Business Central that provides instant UK address verification and lookup functionality directly within your ERP system.

Key Benefits

  • • Eliminate address data entry errors
  • • Speed up customer/vendor entry
  • • Ensure accurate deliveries
  • • Comply with postal standards

Data Sources

  • • Royal Mail PAF database
  • • AFD National Database
  • • International addresses
  • • Postcode updates weekly

02 Prerequisites

Before installing the AFD Postcode Integration, ensure your system meets the following requirements:

Microsoft Business Central

Version 14.0 or higher (BC 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22+)

AFD Subscription

Active AFD Postcode subscription with API credentials

System Administrator Access

Permissions to install extensions and configure setup tables

Internet Connectivity

Business Central must have access to the internet for API calls

03 Installation

Step 1: Get the Extension File

Download the AFD Postcode Integration extension (.app file) from your Integral Technology account or the partner portal.

Note: Ensure you download the correct version compatible with your Business Central version.

Step 2: Upload to Business Central

  1. 2.1 Open Business Central and go to Extension Management
  2. 2.2 Click "Upload Extension"
  3. 2.3 Browse and select the downloaded .app file
  4. 2.4 Review the permissions and click "Install"

Step 3: Verify Installation

After installation, verify the extension is active:

  1. 3.1 Go to Extension Management
  2. 3.2 Confirm "AFD Postcode Integration" shows as Installed
  3. 3.3 Look for the new AFD menu item in the navigation

04 Configuration

AFD Setup

Configure your AFD API credentials:

Navigate to: AFD → Setup → AFD Setup

Field Description
API URL The endpoint URL provided by AFD (e.g., https://api.afd.co.uk)
API Key Your unique AFD API authentication key
Client ID Your AFD client identifier
Enabled Toggle to enable/disable the integration

Page Configuration

Enable AFD lookup on the pages where you need it:

  • Customer Card - For customer address entry
  • Vendor Card - For vendor address entry
  • Contact Card - For contact address entry
  • Employee Card - For employee address entry

05 Usage Guide

Quick Start: Finding an Address

Watch our video tutorial or follow these steps:

1

Open a Customer, Vendor, or Contact Card

Navigate to the relevant page where you want to enter an address

2

Click the "Find Address" Button

Located in the Address section toolbar

3

Enter Search Criteria

You can search by:

  • • Postcode + House number
  • • Partial postcode
  • • Street name + town
  • •organisation name
4

Select from Results

Choose the correct address from the dropdown list

5

Address Auto-Fills

All address fields populate automatically with validated data

Search Methods

Postcode Lookup

Enter a full postcode (e.g., "EC2A 4NE") to find all addresses at that postcode. Add house number/name for precise match.

Street Search

Enter street name and town to see all matching addresses. Useful when customer doesn't know their postcode.

Organisation Search

Search by company name to find their registered address. Great for business customers!

International Addresses

Search for addresses outside the UK. Select country first, then enter address details.

06 Troubleshooting

"API Connection Failed" Error

Cause: Unable to connect to AFD servers

Solution:

  • • Verify your API credentials in AFD Setup
  • • Check internet connectivity from Business Central server
  • • Confirm your AFD subscription is active
  • • Check firewall allows outbound HTTPS to api.afd.co.uk

"No Results Found" Error

Cause: Search criteria doesn't match any records

Solution:

  • • Check spelling of street/town name
  • • Try partial postcode (e.g., "EC2A" instead of "EC2A 4NE")
  • • Use the street search instead of postcode
  • • Try alternative spellings (e.g., "Rd" vs "Road")

"Invalid API Key" Error

Cause: API credentials are incorrect or expired

Solution:

  • • Log in to AFD portal to verify your API key
  • • Regenerate your API key if expired
  • • Update credentials in AFD Setup page
  • • Contact AFD support if key is still not working

Button Not Visible

Cause: Page not configured for AFD lookup

Solution:

  • • Go to AFD → Setup → Page Configuration
  • • Enable the relevant page(s)
  • • Refresh the page in Business Central
  • • Ensure you have the necessary permissions

07 Frequently Asked Questions

Does AFD work with all versions of Business Central?

How often is the postcode data updated?

Can I use AFD for international addresses?

Is there a limit to how many lookups I can perform?

What happens if the AFD service is down?

Can multiple users use AFD simultaneously?

How do I get support if I have issues?

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