3 April 2006

Capscan Converts the Loft Shop to Accurate Address Data Capture

Matchcode Data Capture Reduces Failed Deliveries and Ensures Clean Customer Database for Loft Supplies Specialist

Capscan, a leading supplier of International address management solutions, today announced that its data capture and address validation software, Matchcode Data Capture, has been selected by The Loft Shop, a leading supplier of products and fittings for lofts and loft conversions. Integrated into its SAP® ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system at its order processing centre in West Sussex, Matchcode Data Capture is used to validate incoming customer address data with new orders from across The Loft Shop's 28 UK retail branches, merchant sales teams and website (www.loftshop.co.uk).

Sales orders from trade customers and consumers at the retail outlets are processed via handwritten forms, which are faxed to the order processing centre at The Loft Shop's headquarters and entered into SAP® alongside web orders. The Loft Shop required a way of validating the incoming address data, including the 40%-70% from new business and many new addresses or building sites for existing customers, before it was entered into SAP® for use on delivery paperwork and order fulfilment.

"The Loft Shop operates on a Guaranteed Next Day Delivery promise, so accurate and complete address data is crucial to meeting that promise," explains IT Manager at The Loft Shop, Jon Frost. "We selected Matchcode Data Capture because it offered the best overall package in terms of functionality, flexibility, value-for-money and technical support. Capscan was very committed to ensuring the solution fitted into our business applications, giving us every support throughout the implementation."

Prior to Capscan, The Loft Shop's order processing team would be required to type and re-type each address from the handwritten faxes with no way of validating them, risking mis-typing and subsequently failed or delayed deliveries. An incorrect address could mean it was unusable, resulting in costly multiple phone calls to try and reach the customer and get better information to the driver who is trying to deliver the goods.

"We are now confident that our customer information in SAP® is accurate and can be used for marketing purposes, safe in the knowledge that the mailings will reach valid customer addresses," adds Frost.

Matchcode Data Capture is a data capture and address validation software application, available as a stand-alone application or as a 'plug-in-and-go' interface for use within other software applications, as used by The Loft Shop. It enables users to enter either a postcode or partial address (where the postcode is unknown) and return the full correct address. In this way a complete address can be captured with the minimum number of keystrokes. Matchcode Data Capture ensures that contact databases are only populated with accurate and up-to-date address and names information. It does this by comparing records to the 27 million addresses in Royal Mail's Postcode Address File (PAF).

Managing Director of Capscan, Terry Hiles adds, "Using Matchcode Data Capture The Loft Shop will significantly speed up its order processing, eliminate re-keying mistakes as well as capturing accurate and complete address data, ensuring the swift service they provide is consistent and hassle-free."

About The Loft Shop

The business of the Loft Shop has traded continuously since 1926. Many of the products we sell today have stood the test of time, for example the Colt Cowl was introduced in 1931 and is still available in a vastly expanded range today. The first Loft Shop was opened in 1987 in Croydon to supply a wide range of products for use in lofts and loft conversions with you the customer our number one priority. Our offer has always been the provision of the best service to customers through the following:

Providing products of the highest quality
Maintaining highly competitive prices
Offering guaranteed FREE next day delivery (except made to measure)
Providing the best advice, information, and know how
Offering new and unique products and services
The Loft Shop owns and operates 28 showrooms. The products we offer include roof windows, loft ladders, roof domes, staircases, spiral staircases, chimney cowls and cedar shingles amongst many others.

About Capscan

Capscan is a leading supplier of international address management solutions and data integrity services. The company's flagship product, Matchcode, is a fully functional address management system, available as a stand-alone programme for data capture, a web-based tool for online data capture and as a tool for batch cleansing of commercial databases. Capscan now supports comprehensive address datasets for 240 countries worldwide. In addition, Matchcode UK address data can be integrated with Ordnance Survey data sets to allow mapping and logistics rationalisation. Capscan is also expert in the integration of lifestyle and business data sets into address databases to support and rationalise canvassing or marketing activities throughout Europe. www.capscan.com