FAQs
General Questions
What is reverse geocoding?
Reverse geocoding is a process that converts a location’s latitude and longitude into a legible address or the name of something—a place, for example. Due to the sheer number of mobile devices, reverse geocoding has become a critically important feature for many industries. Today, any mobile device equipped with a Global Positioning System (GPS) feature (e.g., a smartphone) has the potential to provide interested companies with information on a consumer’s location and preferences. This type of valuable information can be leveraged by organizations and transformed into profit for the company and better service for the customer by providing a wealth of lucrative offers and services tailored to a consumer or consumer’s lifestyle.
How does Precision Reverse Geocoding work?
Precision Reverse Geocoding is triggered by an event that identifies where you are on the Earth by using a mobile device’s signal to pinpoint your location. For example, if you don’t know the address of your location, but you know the name or type of establishment, reverse geocoding’s technology recognizes your location and transforms that data into an actual address.
Only one other company offers reverse geocoding. Only Pitney Bowes offers Precision Reverse Geocoding.
Just how accurate is Pitney Bowes Software’s Precision Reverse Geocoding?
Ninety-five percent of our reverse geocodes, or location stamps, from a mobile device are within eight meters of the actual location. Such precision enables businesses to think in terms of not just local marketing offers, but hyper-local marketing offers as well.
Because of the high degree of precision, not only can we can determine a location, but we can also tie it to critical variables (flood planes, risk zones, emergency calls, etc.) and expand to multiple countries. Our solution is currently available in 50-plus countries worldwide.
How is Pitney Bowes Software’s Precision Reverse Geocoding more precise?
When most people think of geocoding, they automatically think of forward geocoding, which takes an address and translates it into latitude and longitude coordinates. This information can then be entered into a company’s business process to, for example, write an insurance policy, analyze location-based tax information, or determine where crimes or natural disasters are occurring.
With Precision Reverse Geocoding, Pitney Bowes Software is turning the tables by taking a location and providing the address information—hence, the name Precision Reverse Geocoding. In fact, we are leveraging the top spot that we have held for years—being the best forward geocoding company in the world—and extending it to include the new and significant Precision Reverse Geocoding feature.
What can I do with Precision Reverse Geocoding?
It is important to note that most people are already using reverse geocoding in their daily lives. Any type of “what’s near me” application employs reverse geocoding functionality. If you take that consumer-use concept and apply it in a business scenario, the uses are virtually endless. By using reverse geocoding on mobile devices, companies can provide targeted, personalized offers that maximize engagement; enhance brand image via timely offers and information; enable apps based on purchase and preference information; provide easy-to-integrate geographic insight; and connect social network users to businesses in more personal ways.
Let’s look at one of many use-case examples. You are a customer of a particular insurance company. This company notifies you that it has a new mobile application that, whenever you need to file a claim, all you have to do is press a red button on your device. Then, when you need to report an accident, water in your basement or a tree through your roof, you just press the red button and the company knows the address of your exact location. This feature eliminates confusion, since you may not know the exact address of your location, especially if you are reporting an auto accident or a downed power line. However, reverse geocoding knows your address and transmits the information as needed.
How is Precision Reverse Geocoding different from forward geocoding?
Forward geocoding is a process that takes an address and provides latitude and longitude coordinates or a physical location for that address. Reverse geocoding is the opposite by converting a known location’s latitude and longitude into a legible address or the name of something—a place, for example.
Do I need forward geocoding to use Precision Reverse Geocoding?
At Pitney Bowes Software, our geocoding software license includes forward geocoding and Precision Reverse Geocoding. At this time, you are unable to purchase Precision Reverse Geocoding as a stand-alone system.
How long does Precision Reverse Geocoding take to set up?
It is a feature of the software. All you have to do is just turn it on.
Is Precision Reverse Geocoding right for my company?
If you have a need to precisely understand where something is located and/or happening, in lieu of having an address, then Precision Reverse Geocoding is exactly the technology for you.
What are other companies doing with Precision Reverse Geocoding?
Reverse geocoding is being implemented and used in a wide variety of industries—from insurance to communications to public sector and more. The following industries contain brief examples to show how Precision Reverse Geocoding is being put to valuable use.
Insurance
Water in your basement, a tree has fallen on your home, or you were involved in a car accident. Being able to automatically transmit your exact location to your insurance provider is critical to customer service and helps dramatically from a service perspective.
Public Sector/911
You notice suspicious activity, you see someone in physical danger, you witness a crime, or you are a victim of crime. By using your mobile device, you can report these activities to the proper authorities, who then use Precision Reverse Geocoding to find the location where the crime is taking place and possibly save lives.
What IT support is required?
Implementing a geocoding solution certainly involves the IT group. IT personnel must understand, at a minimum, which servers are required, the number of locations/data centers involved, the number of people requiring support, and how the customer data will get into the system.
In terms of the support required for Precision Reverse Geocoding, IT personnel must understand how to link the information they are capturing to other critical information existing within the company infrastructure.
Will it work with my current system?
The answer is most often, yes. Pitney Bowes Software provides a very open infrastructure and architecture, making it easy to connect to and integrate with your current information systems.
How do I use my current data to make the most of Precision Reverse Geocoding?
Precision Reverse Geocoding uses the signal from a mobile device to pinpoint a location. That location can then be integrated into your data and cross-referenced to provide everything from targeted marketing to assistance.
How will using Precision Reverse Geocoding benefit my customers?
By using Precision Reverse Geocoding on mobile devices, you can provide targeted, personalized offers that maximize engagement; enhance brand image via timely offers and information; enable apps based on your customer’s purchase and preference information; provide easy-to-integrate geographic insight; and connect your social network users to your company in more personal ways.
Demo Questions
What does the Precision Reverse Geocoding demo do?
The Precision Reverse Geocoding demo gives you an overview of the technology’s capabilities. The demo enables you to input a series of latitude and longitude coordinates or location information for a single point, and then Precision Reverse Geocoding provides the address.
Why can’t I use the Precision Reverse Geocoding demo for multiple records?
The Precision Reverse Geocoding demo is intended to be used to demonstrate the technology’s capabilities for a single record. If you would like to evaluate our technology for multiple records, please contact us at 1-800-327-8627 or send an email to PBSinsidesales@pb.com.
I’d like to show IT the demo. Can I invite them to try the Precision Reverse Geocoding demo?
Absolutely—but for a single record only. If a more elaborate testing environment is required, Pitney Bowes Software will be glad to help.
I can’t get the Precision Reverse Geocoding demo to work. Who should I contact? You can send us an email to PBSinsidesales@pb.com. Users will be limited to one interactive geocoding/reverse geocode at a time, so you can’t perform any automation functions.
IT Questions
I’ve completed the demo. What are my next steps and who can I contact?
Once you have completed the Precision Reverse Geocoding demo and are excited by the results, the next step is to send us an email to PBSinsidesales@pb.com
What are the details of the free trial offer?
Spectrum On-Demand API Trial. 60 days with a limit of 1,000 geocodes/reverse geocodes per day during the trial period.
Industry Questions
How can I use Precision Reverse Geocoding?
By using Precision Reverse Geocoding on mobile devices, you can provide your customers with targeted, personalized offers that maximize engagement; enhance brand image via timely offers and information; enable apps based on purchase and preference information; provide easy-to-integrate geographic insight; and connect social network users to your business in more personal ways.
What are others doing with it?
Precision Reverse Geocoding is being implemented and used in a wide variety of industries—from insurance to communications to public sector and more. The following industries contain brief examples to show how Precision Reverse Geocoding is being put to valuable use.
Insurance
Water in your basement, a tree has fallen on your home, or you were involved in a car accident. Being able to automatically transmit your exact location to your insurance provider is critical to customer service and helps dramatically from a service perspective.
Public Sector/911
You notice suspicious activity, you see someone in physical danger, you witness a crime, or you are a victim of crime. By using your mobile device, you can report these activities to the proper authorities, who then use Precision Reverse Geocoding to find the location where the crime is taking place and possibly save lives.
Help. I don’t see my industry on the list.
Please give us a call at 1-800-327-8627. We’d be happy to discuss how Precision Reverse Geocoding can turn latitude and longitude into business possibilities.