Batch Processing

💾 Mass Correction: A Deep Dive into Batch Processing

Batch Processing is a data management method used to execute large volumes of similar tasks—such as updating, verifying, or cleansing millions of address records—in a single run, or "batch." Crucially, this process is run on existing, stored data (often legacy databases) and is typically performed during off-peak hours, without requiring immediate human or system interaction.

In the context of address data quality, Batch Processing is the fundamental method for tackling data decay. When a company acquires a new database, migrates data from an old system, or simply needs to clean records accumulated over years, batch validation is the necessary large-scale operation that transforms unreliable customer information into a usable, standardized, and verified asset.

Batch vs. Real-Time: A Difference in Strategy

The key to understanding Batch Processing is recognizing its strategic difference from Real-Time Address Validation:

Feature	Batch Processing	Real-Time Validation
Data Source	Existing, stored customer records (Legacy Data).	New data entered by a user (Point of Capture).
Timing	Scheduled during off-peak hours (Asynchronous).	Instantaneous (Synchronous).
Purpose	Data Cleansing and historical correction.	Data Prevention and UX optimization.
Volume	Millions of records processed simultaneously.	Single record processed per keystroke/click.

 

While real-time validation protects the front door by stopping new errors from entering, Batch Processing cleans up the basement by fixing historical problems. Both strategies are essential for a complete Master Data Management (MDM) approach.

Technical Execution and Workflow

Executing a successful Batch Address Validation requires a high-performance system designed for stability and throughput.

1. Data Preparation and Secure Transfer

The process begins with the client exporting the target address data (often millions of records) from their CRM or ERP system. This file is then securely transferred to the verification service via protected channels like SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol).

2. Asynchronous Processing

The entire batch job runs asynchronously. The system does not block or tie up the client's resources. Instead, Loqate’s engine uses highly scalable cloud infrastructure to process the file—standardizing, correcting, verifying against national postal files (like the USPS NCOA), and enriching every address record.

• Throughput: Specialized engines are required to ensure high throughput—the ability to process hundreds of thousands of records per hour—to complete the cleanse quickly.

• Consolidation: The process often includes deduplication and fuzzy matching to identify records that are nearly identical but slightly misspelled, ensuring they are correctly flagged before being returned.

3. Reporting and Data Return

Once the cleanse is complete, a detailed report is generated showing the status of every record (corrected, unverified, or confirmed 'goneaway'). The clean, standardized data file is then returned to the client via secure SFTP for re-import into the client's internal systems.

Strategic Benefits of Bulk Data Cleansing

Batch Processing delivers profound, enterprise-wide benefits by resolving accumulated data decay in customer records.

• Financial Savings: Cleaning legacy data eliminates the enormous costs associated with years of accumulated bad addresses, reducing wasted direct mail spend, avoiding postage penalties, and minimizing the risk of non-delivery fines.

• Regulatory Compliance: Batch validation is crucial for compliance projects, such as running databases against Mortality Suppression files or National Change of Address (NCOA) lists, ensuring the organization meets legal and ethical mandates regarding customer records.

• Single Customer View (SCV): By correcting and standardizing addresses across all records, batch processing guarantees the consistency required for MDM systems to accurately merge data. This resolves decades of data ambiguity, creating a reliable Single Customer View (SCV).

• Data Enrichment: Batch validation creates a trustworthy foundation for Data Enrichment. Once an address is verified, the clean record can be enriched with precise geocodes, property intelligence, or demographic data, maximizing the analytic value of the entire customer database.³

   

By utilizing Batch Processing, businesses transform their historical data liability into a reliable, high-value asset ready for strategic deployment. Loqate's address verification solution can be installed in a few clicks and get all the batch processing you need done in a matter of minutes. Get started today with a 45-day free trial, and see how easily it gets to work for your business.