Address Collection - How to Make Sense of Your Data
Address collection can be a daunting task. It is essential to collect clean information, regardless of whether you're collecting data for weddings, holiday cards or for parties.
Valid addresses help businesses save time and money. Incorrect addresses can result in returned mail, fees, and missed opportunities. Address verification tools help reduce costs by ensuring addresses are correct.
ArcGIS Solutions for State and Local Government
Address collection is vital for local government and is a key element of managing geospatial data. Many governments struggle to manage authoritative address repository. They need simple workflows to record the physical location at an early stage in the process of developing an address, standard map products that inform decision makers and the general public about quality and accuracy of their addresses, and tools to share authoritative address with other agencies.
To meet these requirements, local government staff are using Esri solutions. These pre-built maps and apps are designed around specific workflows, making it easy for local governments of all sizes and levels of geospatial expertise to adopt them for improved efficiency and understanding.
According to Scott Oppmann, State and Local Government Solutions Team Director, Esri, solutions are organized into categories that represent "the most common needs in state and local government." Click here for the complete list of capabilities.
For example, a solution called Maintaining an Authoritative Address Repository includes a series of tasks that help you create a site address layer from an inventory of verified sites collected through an online form or gathered in the field using Address Field Inventory. The feature layers can be used to generate USNG coordinates and a related mailing address. In addition, the solution also enables you to split the road at a specific point, calculate municipal boundaries and update the address characteristics in the master road name table.
Managing Address Field Operations is another Esri solution that can be used to assist address authority staff gather missing or inaccurate information from internal and outside stakeholders. It allows office staff to assign a task to their field workers, who make use of the address crowdsourcing tool using their mobile devices to verify the submitted addresses and record any new addresses that are observed out in the field. The information is automatically entered into appropriate database tables to be processed and then published.
The solution also allows office staff to assign a task the option to validate an existing set of address data with an established accuracy threshold which allows them to identify mistakes, such as duplicates or mismatched addresses in the database. This information can be transferred to the master address database to improve the data quality and make the database more accurate.
Reverse Geocode Geoprocessing Tool
Reverse geocoding is a method to interpret data when you're trying locate the location of a company or just want to know which area is the most profitable. Many mobile apps, including Uber and Lyft rely on reverse-geocoding to convert raw GPS coordinates into information drivers can comprehend. Retail chains utilize reverse geocoding to better understand their customers' buying habits. Urban planners can also link address data to population density to determine the best location to construct public infrastructure.
The Reverse Geocode tool turns point locations within a feature class into addresses by searching for the closest address or intersection based on the distance of search. It can be used to reverse-geocode a single or multiple points. Its output is well-structured and able to be integrated into other tools or systems.
It allows both standard and custom formats of address data, including the standard attributes X, Y of the Point Address feature, and the identification codes for POIs (Point of Interest). You can also specify the geometries match the type of location it is. It could be a routing location (a street side location that can be used to route) or the parcel's centroid or rooftop of an address.
Additionally you can also use the tool to create a composite locator by connecting two or more existing locators together. The resultant locator will be back to the ArcGIS World Geocoding service if it cannot find an address matching your own personal data.
Reverse geocoding can be a costly process. This is especially true if you are working with a lot of coordinates. Esri offers a free usage limit of about 200 million requests per month. If you exceed this, you'll incur charges. Another alternative is to purchase an online service that can convert coordinates into addresses in bulk for you.
As a final note it's crucial to confirm the accuracy of any address information that you receive from customers via reverse geocoding. This can be done by using a CASS-certified address verification API such as PostGrid. This will ensure that the addresses used in your direct mail campaigns are deliverable and are able to be delivered to your customers.
Data Assistant Add-in
The Data Assistant addin contains a set of tools that can assist you in transferring data between different datasets using different data structures. You can use these tools to accomplish many tasks, like merging multiple source fields into one target field or dividing the string into multiple fields of target.
The installation of the Data Assistant is required before you can use it. Click Start then select Control Panel, then Add or Remove programs. Then, locate Microsoft Data Assistant 1.0 and follow the on-screen directions to remove it.
Once the Data Assistant addin is installed It can be configured to create an appropriate source/target configuration file. You can then load or replace data by using that file. The Data Mapping tool includes a variety of ways to convert data between formats and handling special characters.
To learn more about the Data Assistant add-in, including how it can help with your address collection requirements, read How to use the Data Assistant add-in. This guide will provide information on how to use the Data Assistant add-in and how to create workflows that collect and update data on parcels and populate community layers.
Data Validation Tool
A reliable tool for verifying addresses is an effective tool that helps companies maintain accuracy of their data and operational efficiency. It ensures that mail goes to the correct location and that invoices are delivered to the correct customer, and marketing campaigns reach their intended target audience, thereby driving precision in delivery systems and improving the overall user experience. When choosing a validation tool, choose one that offers seamless integration into business processes and comprehensive country coverage. Be aware of the pricing structure and select tools that provide a good return on investment.
Whether taking addresses from handwritten forms in a retail store, during digital inputs during an online checkout or through integrated data flowing in from CRM systems, precise initial data entry is vital to read more reduce shipping errors and return and thereby increasing customer satisfaction and loyalty. This goes beyond the simple postal code or ZIP lookup. It requires a thorough method of address collection and validation.
This process begins with an advanced tool for data parsing that breaks down an address into its distinct components, such as the street name, city, and postal code. The tool then compares these pieces with commercial databases to verify their accuracy. It then standardizes an address to be in line with the global postal standards. For instance, it converts extended forms into standard abbreviations or capitalization.
The address is then geocoded to verify its place of residence. This is crucial for companies operating globally. It lets them calculate shipping costs with accuracy and provide transparency for customers, reducing the chance of costly delays due to inaccurate or incomplete information. In addition, a robust geocoding API can help companies comply with international shipping regulations and avoid customs-related issues.
Once the address has been verified, it is automatically updated in CRM systems and enterprise resource planning systems, ensuring that every contact with a customer or shipment delivery is based on accurate data. Accurate information on addresses can also help streamline logistics operations by reducing the logistics, procurement and service delivery processes.