When these different pairs are compared, the records in each pair score highly enough to be reported, when using default name and address matching weights.
Grouping
All four records can now be amalgamated into the same match set by grouping pairs together, having used just three match keys. Although you can use as many match keys as you want, which could trigger comparison of records 2 and 3, and 3 and 4, this isn’t necessary as record 1 bridges the other three. Additional data attributes such as email and/or phone can also be included in either key or weighting stages to complement the name and address grouping.
The Importance of Scoring
Unlike competing applications and simple database queries which are prone to delivering false matches, 360Science's mAPI uses a proprietary scoring mechanism that allows you to automate matching based on your own parameters controlling what constitutes a match and what doesn’t. Whenever the mAPI compares any two records, each item or group of items compared is given a score which then rolls up into a cumulative score for the entire match.
These match scores allow the engine to determine which matches are likely to be true, which matches are likely to be false and which matches are too close to call. Using a scoring methodology is the only way to get true control over matching and automate the decision process.
Why 360Science finds more TRUE matches (and minimizes false matches)
Let’s go back to our original four records. These are fuzzy matches. Often, matches are more obvious, but still are not detected by other software.
Fortunately, 360Science will find them, give you a choice and put you in control. Here’s how...
- The mAPI matches entire records - using all available data to determine potential matches
- 360Science does not rely on extended match keys that are prone to missing matches and delivering false positives
- 360Science uses multiple sophisticated approaches to ensure that differences arising from all these causes are identified - ultimately finding matches that would otherwise go undetected
- 360Science intelligently scores matches to confidently determine which records are a true match and which records are NOT
Ultimately, the true value of a matching engine is measured by how many true matches and how many false matches it finds on your own data – which only a fully-featured evaluation or equivalent trial can determine.