For instance, the location of a restaurant may have existed on a digital map for years. But now someone can link up-to-date menus from one database to the restaurant’s unique identifier, a telephone number from another database, recent restaurant reviews from another, a service that enables reservations from another, and maybe even weather data to track outdoor dining temperatures. All of that data seamlessly shows up to the consumer looking for the right place to eat on a map or local search application. The restaurant can rest assured that consumers are getting the right and best information.
Businesses need the best information, too, to make smart decisions. AddressCloud, for instance, is an Overture member that helps insurance companies assess geographic risk. AddressCloud gets data from more than 40 databases, such as those tracking earthquake, fire, and crime risk, processes it and then delivers risk assessments. With a unique identifier for each building, the right data will get attached to the right entity to enable accurate assessments.
Another non-building example of why unique identifiers matter: On any given street, there may be a bus stop served by multiple buses and transportation carriers. With a unique identifier attached to the bus stop, any service provider will more easily be able to attach its data to that bus stop to better inform users, as well as local officials, as to what services will be available at that stop at any given time.
