I was recently researching how to implement post code and address look-up on websites and on Microsoft Dynamic CRM. This feature is widely used in auto filling address details when a customer input their post code and sometimes the house number. This is also used in some desktop applications, plug-ins to Microsoft Dynamics CRM, in store locator functions, bank details verification and in applications where the customer inputs their post code and the system can accordingly specifies which region or area the customer falls into. For example, quote websites, i.e. websites offering quotes for nationwide website visitors, will most probably need to know which region the customer is part of so if he is from the North East of England, the server may be much cheaper for example than in London.
After a bit of research, I found out that there several UK post code suppliers. The major supplier is of course as expected Royal Mail. Royal Mail provides a service called Postcode Address File (PAF®). The problem though is that Royal Mail will not give you any application, they will just give you some raw data on a CD and they will be sending you updates for this data every month, 3 months, 6 months and even some daily changes depending on your choice. The data is great and I think it does have almost all Britain’s postcode areas and addresses. Regular updates also ensures that the information is up to date. The raw data though needs to be manipulated by an application. Some hard coding will be required which is not too difficult to do but if you are not an experienced developer or have no development background, this will be an issue for you. I will try to address the coding of such functionality in Microsoft .NET (C# and VB.NET) in a later post.
Alternatively, I found out about quite a few online companies that provide solutions for the raw data. So, basically they create web-services which manipulate Royal Mail (PAF ) raw data and all you need to do is to write simple code to return the details you require. So you pass on the post code to them for example and they send you back the full address details. Many of them will even give you example code making your life easier. If you do not need this for a website, you can always opt for their other services such as an online application for you that you can login to and get the address information you require.
Pricing of these post code data providers varies with most of them if not all providing the service using credits. So each credit gives you one address information request. Credits are sold in packs with prices averaging around £50 for 750 credits pack. Do not buy the first one you see, ask around and shop around. Royal Mail though has a different licence structure with prices starting from £85 for a single workstation and £2 for every extract up to £££thousands of pounds for a multi-organisation multi-server licences.
If you need more information, recommendation and links to the best providers of this post code and address information services, please get in touch and I will get back to you. I have now managed to nail down the best providers and got good offer from them. Just get in touch!
