The IQ Hosted Web Service is a SOAP/XML web service hosted by Intech Solutions that uses the functionality provided by our “best of breed” IQ Office Information Quality software. It enables users to validate and geographically code addresses over the internet, thereby improving accuracy and minimizing infrastructure and upfront costs. The IQ Hosted Web Service provides a cost-effective solution to organisations of all sizes and types to help address common information quality issues and add significant value to the organisations data

The IQ Hosted Web Service provides an Application Programming Interface (API) that allows users to tightly integrate the address validation and geographic coding functionality into existing application and data entry screens. Graphical User Interfaces (GUI’s) can also be provided for ‘standalone’ use or for users who do not wish to ‘get their hands dirty’ writing their own integration software code. A full list of the available functions is included in the SOAP/XML API guide that is provided to users when they connect to the IQ Hosted Web Service.

The IQ Hosted Web Service can be used for Rapid (point-of-entry) address capture or in a ‘back-end’ or Batch mode. In a Rapid address capture scenario the functionality allows the user to quickly and accurately capture, validate, standardise and barcode and/or geographically code addresses at the point of data entry. In a Batch scenario the functionality allows the user to nominate a set of addresses as input and define processes such as either validating and barcoding addresses or validating and appending geographic codes to addresses.

By accessing two nationally authoritative Address Reference Files (ARFs), the IQ Hosted Web Service enhances the integrity of customer data by returning a customer address that is both valid in content (accuracy) and format (standard), whilst adding value and reducing data entry costs.

For example, entering “8 cam bo be” is sufficient information for IQ Office to recognise the address as “8 Campbell Pde, Bondi Beach NSW 2026”. The full address is returned in a standard form together with the corresponding DPID, Geocodes and other optional geo-demographic data.

Ideal for the call centre environment, the IQ Hosted Web Service will return a complete and correct address record with value added information such as DPID and geocodes (Latitude/Longitude, Mesh Block, CCD, SLA, LGA) appended, using the intelligent address matching algorithm at the heart of Intech’s IQ Office software to minimize the time taken and maximise accuracy and productivity.

Integrated into a web site, the IQ Hosted Web Service enables a user to enter an address in “free format” to eliminate the need for hard to navigate data entry fields and maximise conversion rates.

In both of the above scenarios, the address can be validated and standardised in real-time for presentation to the user and/or downstream storage. If the address is invalid the user can be prompted with clear and meaningful messages to advise of any issues with the address. The user can also be provided with a selection of intelligently ranked candidate addresses to choose from to help them enter the correct address quickly and easily.

• Minimise time and rework and maximise accuracy and productivity at point of entry
• Highly flexible address entry including “natural” format entry
• Appending of DPID and barcode to optimise postage discounts
• Reduced return to sender mail and lost leads and maintain customer engagement
• Appending of geo-codes to addresses including Latitude/Longitude, Mesh Block, CCD, SLA, LGA, State Electorate and Commonwealth Electorate
• Reduced data management costs
• Standardisation of data
• Improved customer relationships and facilitation of high quality customer service
• Enhanced ability to detect and eliminate duplicates
• Easy ‘plug in’ to applications, web site, electronic forms, etc
• SOAP/XML Application Programming Interface (API) for seamless integration
• Web hosting services model to minimise costs and maximise ROI
• Unprecedented levels of stability as well as scalable and reliable performance

Platforms and Interfaces

• Provided API and available GUI’s enable access to functionality via a SOAP/XML web service.
• Web service architecture means functionality is not OS dependent and delivery via the internet further enhances mobility and accessibility.

The above features and benefits ensure a quick, reliable and trouble-free method of capturing accurate addresses and adding value to address data. The IQ Hosted Web Service delivers users Quality Information in real time or batch, ensuring the optimisation of all business processes.

See Also