Match Code Generator: Organization Name and Address

The combination of organization name and address usually constitutes a good match code since organization names on their own are often not unique. For example, a supermarket chain can use the same organization name for each of their sites, so another piece of data is needed to achieve a unique 'name' to identify a site. A similar case can be made for matching on addresses alone.

Recommendations

Metaphone 3 (which expands on Soundex) Organization Name Token can be used to compare names based on their pronunciation. It works well on English words, non-English words familiar to Americans, first names, and family names commonly found in the United States. For more information on Metaphone 3, search the web.

Consider the following for better matching results:

  • Handle most aliases in the normalizer, but completely ignore some aliases in the match codes while applying a high non-zero missing word score in the matcher. The Organization Name and Address Match Code Generator has the option to add a Name Alias replacement table which can be used to handle abbreviated organization names and names appended with terms like 'Inc.' that are often omitted.

  • Add the smallest number of match codes to improve the performance of the system. Although the Organization Name and Address Match Code Generator can add up to four match codes for every organization (indicated by the checkboxes on the configuration screen):

    • Avoid enabling both the 'Metaphone3 Organization Name Token + ZIP code' and 'Metaphone3 Organization Name Token + ZIP code + Street name' since the first is a superset of the second.

    • If ' Metaphone3 Organization Name Token + ZIP code' is expected to create a lot of equal match codes where records should not be merged, instead use the 'Metaphone3 Organization Name Token + ZIP code + Street name' match code.

Considerations

An Organization Name Aliases table can be used to remove name elements that should only be removed in match codes. This can allow a matcher and match code generator to share an organization name normalizer.

Configuring an Organization Name and Address Match Code Generator

After adding the match code generator in the Match Code Generators flipper of the Decision Table dialog (defined in the Match Criteria topic here), configure it as follows:

  1. Click into the Match Code Generator column and click the ellipsis button () to access the configuration dialog.

  2. On the Match Code Generator dialog:

    • For the required Organization Name Normalizer, use the dropdown to select the associated normalizer or enter a case-sensitive ID for the normalizer. Refer to the Data Element: Organization Name Normalizer topic here.

    • For the optional Organization Name Aliases, click the ellipsis button to select a Name Alias replacement table. Refer to the Considerations section above.

    • For the required Address Normalizer, use the dropdown to select the associated normalizer or enter a case-sensitive ID for the normalizer. Refer to the Data Element: Address Normalizer topic here.

    • For the optional Match Code Prefix, enter a prefix to identify the source of the match code.

    • For the optional Metaphone3 Organization Name Token + Zip code, check to create this match code. Refer to the Recommendations section above.

    • For the optional ZIP code digits (from the previous Metaphone3 option), enter the number of ZIP code digits, starting from the beginning, to include in the match code. When this entry is 0, the entire zip code is used in the match code.

    • For the optional Metaphone3 Organization Name Token + Metaphone3 City, check to create this match code. Refer to the Recommendations section above.

    • For the optional Metaphone3 Organization Name Token + Zip code + Street name, check to create this match code. Refer to the Recommendations section above.

    • For the optional ZIP code digits (from the previous Metaphone3 option), enter the number of ZIP code digits, starting from the beginning, to include in the match code. When this entry is 0,  the entire zip code is used in the match code.

    • For the optional Metaphone3 Organization Name Token + Metaphone3 City + Street name, check to create this match code. Refer to the Recommendations section above.

  3. To test the configuration:

    • Click the ellipsis button () for each Select Nodes parameter and select two objects for comparison.

    • Click the Evaluate button.

    • The Common Match Codes parameter displays 'Yes' when the same match code is generated for the selected nodes. When 'No' is displayed, either one or both nodes have no value, or when the generated match codes are not the same.

      Adjust as indicated by the Evaluator results and repeat the evaluation if necessary.

  4. Click OK to save and display the configuration in the Match Code Generators flipper.

  5. Ensure the Active checkbox is checked to create match codes with this generator.