UK Address/Postcode/Telephone lookup software - Any recommendations

[FunkyDexter]

At the moment we use AFD Names and Numbers along with AFD Refiner to alow us to look up addresses when we create new customers in our system.

For those who aren't familiar with these packages, Names and Numbers allows you to enter part of an address, hit search and get a list back of all teh addresses in the AFD database that could match it. You then select the apropriate address from the list. Refiner is a data cleaning tool that allows you to re-order the elements of an address. We use it to set the address elements in the right order to throw at names and numbers if we're doing a bulk import (obviously we can't select the apropriate address for each element in turn so this just makes sure that Names And Numbers has the best chance of finding a single exact match for each record).

I believe this gives us 3 main benefits:-
1. It makes data entry quicker
2. It ensures that almost all of the addresses in our system are in a consistent format, making de-duping alot easier
3. It allows us to gather extra pieces of information that might be missing from what was originally supplied. This is particularly useful for phone numbers

The problem is that the AFD database tends to be badly out of date. If I enter my own address it tells me that the last occupants are still there and I moved in three years ago! We're therefore beginning to scout around for alternatives. Has anyone tried out any similar products and can they recommend them. It's important that any product we use does provide telephone numbers which immediately eliminates alot of the ones on the market.

Any suggestions?

[NeedSomeAnswers]

We used some software at my old place called - "Quick Address" it seemed pretty good and up to date,. they used to use it on their file opening system for adding new clients.

QuickAddress

[FunkyDexter]

Yeah, I found them and had them in to pitch the other day. They're coming back on Thursday for a second demo and they're looking like our favourite option at the moment. They've got lots of extra features that are good for us:-
1 They've got a fuzzy matching tool that means we can dedupe directly against our own data, even if it's not in their specified format.
2 They've got a good batch tool to dedupe large imports
3 (and this might be the clincher) They're part of experian which means they can return all sorts of financial data about a lead which is great for a company like ours that wants to target our marketting (we're a high price purchase and there's not much point in sending expensive brochures to people who won't be able to afford the product anyway).

Overall they're looking pretty good. I'm also talking to GB who look like they might be suitable but I haven't actually had a demo from them yet so can't be sure.

[NeedSomeAnswers]

Well i have not seen the others, but i Know my old boss liked QAS.

He said that they kept the data fairly up to date and they were accurate.

We integrated it into our client opening system with few problems and it just seemed to work.

[Davadvice]

funky, I had QAS in and am about to pitch it up to my managment team,

I told QAS that i wasn't keen on the price and the adjusted it for me!!

worth a try.

david

[FunkyDexter]

Yeah, the consultant tipped us a wink that their financial year ends in Marh so they're keen to get sales in. It's hagglin' time

[Davadvice]

Yeah, the consultant tipped us a wink that their financial year ends in Marh so they're keen to get sales in. It's hagglin' time

is your rep Julie?

David

[FunkyDexter]

No, we've got Simon.