SITUATION​

Our client desired an automated solution for address verification and validation that efficiently handles large datasets. Their manual process required a lot of employee time and caused inaccuracies from misspellings as well as incorrect or incomplete addresses. The objective was to achieve cost savings by utilizing free APIs like OpenStreetMap and the US Census for most address validations and to boost operational efficiency by automating batch processing. They turned to Everforth Apex to create the address verification solution.​

Everforth Apex developed a customized address verification system featuring automation and scalability. This robust system strategically incorporated free API services for efficient and accurate address validation, minimizing the requirement for manual intervention and enabling the handling of extensive datasets with precision. This data science solution leveraged the address as a whole and individual entities extracted named entity recognition (NER) at the same time and applied phonetic, hash and contextual based matching using open- source APIs. This solution is adept at handling large datasets by segmenting them into manageable batches for efficient processing. It utilizes OpenStreetMap for initial validation, with the US Census API as a reliable fallback, and incorporates an integrated methodology for merging and processing results backed by advanced error handling and file management systems. Additionally, our approach included the development of a custom framework designed to automate the address validation process, ensuring the system's adaptability and scalability. We also conducted a thorough assessment to implement cost-effective strategies, significantly reducing the client’s dependency on paid APIs. Further enhancing this solution, Everforth Apex provided comprehensive coaching and training, empowering the client's in-house team with the knowledge to effectively utilize and maintain this cutting-edge system.​

RESULTS​

Our innovative solution for address validation has delivered substantial benefits to the client, primarily through significant cost savings and enhanced operational efficiency. By leveraging free APIs for most validation tasks, the client avoided approximately 80% of expenses that would have been incurred with commercial options. The automation of the address validation process reduces manual tasks by 50%, effectively saving time and increasing the system's ability to handle large datasets. These enhancements in data accuracy have fostered smoother logistics, improved decision-making, and ultimately, higher customer satisfaction, enabling the client's team to allocate more resources towards strategic, value-added tasks.