20 March 2006

Data8 Singles Out Capscan for Addressing Expertise to Support New Online Data Cleansing Website

Matchcode Names Selected To Power loc8 Address And Names Cleansing For Data8online

Capscan, a leading supplier of International address management solutions, today announced data cleansing and processing company, Data8, has selected its Matchcode Names API for its new online data management website, Data8online (www.data-8.co.uk). Matchcode Names has been employed as the technology behind loc8, the Postcode Address File (PAF) cleansing and contact names analysis function of Data8online.

Data8online allows direct marketers to clean and enhance their UK customer data themselves using a secure, web-based system. Using Data8online, marketers can quickly upload databases of any size to generate a free comprehensive Data Quality Audit. The audit separates the data into five areas based on the type of data - loc8, telephon8, de-activ8, re-activ8 and de-duplic8 - to give the user a clear review of the current state of their database and how it can be improved by the service.

"After an extensive review we selected Capscan's Matchcode Names API to power loc8 as it was the best available product in terms of speed and accuracy," explains Managing Director of Data8, Antony Allen. "Using it we have experienced a PAF cleanse rate of up to three million records per hour and our testing showed that the accuracy of the address data matching was excellent. During the integration, Capscan also provided expert advice on how we could best utilise the technology within Data8online."

After reviewing the Data Quality Audit, users can then choose to download a full PAF cleanse of their address data through Data8online. Matchcode Names ensures that the names and address data cleansed by Data8online is up-to-date and accurate by comparing records with the 26.5 million addresses in the Royal Mail's Postcode Address File and the 44 million names on the National Canvasse Lifestyle database, supplied under license from Experian. Abbreviations, mis-spellings and incomplete names and addresses are identified and corrected to ensure a clean and unified customer database.

"Matchcode Names compliments the Data8online service as its accuracy and speed reflects Data8's aim to provide a non-technical service with the richest source data files available," says Managing Director of Capscan, Terry Hiles, "It provides marketers with the opportunity to assess up-front the state of their names and address data without cost."

About Data8

Data8 is a specialist data cleansing company whose services include PAF cleansing, Teleappending, Gone Away suppression and de-duplication services. We host many of the industry's largest databases including the Royal Mail's Postcode Address File (PAF), OSIS from BT, and the best selection of Gone Away and Deceased files. We work closely with you, to deliver tailored solutions which allow you to identify, understand and communicate to your customers and prospects. Our extensive knowledge and experience provides us with innovative ideas, fresh thinking and an ability to appreciate your business requirements and help deliver what is needed within your Company. We can provide an integrated data solution for your business whether this is through an automated call centre; a predictive dialler; or through your collections systems. We have knowledge and experience in both traditional bureau services and also on-line systems through our on-line data cleansing website, data8online.