Postcode Anywhere Launches Cost-Cutting Public Sector Data Advisory Service

Public sector consultancy will "smooth transition" to new addressing and mapping agreements. End Quote

(1888PressRelease) March 09, 2011 - Worcester, UK - Address and geographic data specialist Postcode Anywhere launches a new advisory service today at Birmingham's public sector procurement exhibition, Procurex. The service aims to reduce the cost of data in light of recent changes to public sector addressing and geographic data licensing.

The announcement comes in response to the imminent impact of the proposed Public Sector Mapping Agreement (PSMA) and National Address Gazetteer database (NAG). Both initiatives respectively aim to give public sector organisations access to unified and consistent addressing and geographic data.

Postcode Anywhere's sales and marketing director Phil Rothwell said: "The PSMA and NAG will offer a single, standardised view on data and present a huge opportunity for improved public services and reduced data procurement costs. But it's unrealistic to expect public sector bodies to know their licensing requirements inside and out - which is where Postcode Anywhere Advisory Services come in.

"In order that public sector organisations benefit from all the potential cost savings, it's vital to carry out an assessment of internal data requirements and external suppliers. With impartial advice from our team of experts, public sector organisations can now determine the most cost-effective way to fulfil their data licensing needs before acquiring the data, smoothing the transition to working with the PSMA and NAG.

"For many users, we can confidently offer cost savings of over a third. The service operates on a strictly no-risk basis, with our independent consultants taking a percentage of first-year savings in commission, on a no-saving, no-fee model. The long-term benefits of the PSMA and NAG initiatives are extensive. In order to realise the possible benefits, the way the public sector procures and manages the data will have to change as well."

Postcode Anywhere's managing director Guy Mucklow added: "Current licence restrictions are fragmented. They inhibit data sharing and leave organisations with multiple licences and duplicated costs. This leads to geographic and address data not being used as widely as it should be, and citizen services suffer as a result.

"Within the public sector itself, no two databases are alike - carrying significant consequences for pan-government service delivery. The process of maintaining multiple records is itself costly and counterintuitive, with the average citizen having to prove their identity to Government at least 11 times every year. Shared services have the potential to be enormously cost-effective, but the consistency of Local Authority databases needs to be improved before we're likely to see any real progress.

"When Local Authorities work with the private sector, which again has its own way of managing data, we see more problems. Take a typical example of a private organisation contracted to assist with an emergency such as burst pipes. The task is made considerably more difficult than it needs to be because both parties use different addressing databases - injuring public sector engagement with external organisations, driving up costs and damaging relationships.

"The proposed changes to public sector data licensing are aimed squarely at rectifying these inconsistencies, but they alone won't translate to a direct cost saving. Postcode Anywhere has the expertise to help Government bodies achieve these aims."

The public sector launch follows the introduction of the company's service for the private sector earlier this year, aimed specifically at reducing the cost of licensing Royal Mail's address database, the Postcode Address File (PAF®), for businesses.

Postcode Anywhere will be promoting their advisory services today and tomorrow at Birmingham's Procurex exhibition at the NEC in Hall 11, stand 24. For more information about Postcode Anywhere Advisory Services, visit the Postcode Anywhere website at www.postcodeanywhere.co.uk/advisory.

Media contact for Postcode Anywhere
Jim Williams - PR Manager, Postcode Anywhere
jim ( @ ) postcodeanywhere dot com
+44 (0) 1905 888 570

Press centre at: http://www.postcodeanywhere.com/press
Press Pack download: http://www.postcodeanywhere.com/assets/PDFs/press-pack-2010.pdf

About Postcode Anywhere

Postcode Anywhere has been providing address services for ten years and is the fastest-growing reseller of Royal Mail's Postcode Address File (PAF®). A multi-award-winning organisation, it has also appeared in successive Deloitte fast-growth European technology company lists. Postcode Anywhere supplies software and services which improve the day-to-day operations of over 8,000 organisations worldwide. Best known as a provider of address auto-fill and verification software, the company offers a range of data-driven services, including route planning and customer profiling. For more information about Postcode Anywhere, please visit www.postcodeanywhere.com.

Recent Awards and Recognition for Postcode Anywhere

• Deloitte Technology Fast 500 EMEA 2008/9, 2009/10 & 2010/11
• Red Herring Top 100 Europe - 2010
• Best Small IT Supplier of the Year - UK IT Industry Awards (finalist) - 2009
• Dell Small Business Excellence Award (UK finalist) - 2009
• Small-Medium Sized Business of the Year (regional finalist) - National Business Awards 2009
• Orange Best Use of Technology (Midlands) - 2008 National Business Awards
• Growth Business of the Year - Chamber Awards 2008
• Small Business of the Year - Chamber Awards 2008
• Customer Service Team of the Year (finalist) - National Customer Services Awards 2008

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