LOCATION-BASED SERVICES
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the advantages to 10-Digit routing over using NPA/NXX and ZIP codes?
Accuracy and reliability. NPA/NXX and ZIP Code routing use the center of the telephone switch service area or ZIP code, respectively, as a basis for determining the caller location. This method often causes the incorrect location to be returned.
TARGUSinfo uses the full 10-digit telephone number to determine the caller location, so we can pinpoint a caller's actual location within 105 feet.
With our precise routing services, you can:
- Eliminate mis-routed calls
- Capture actionable marketing data on every caller
- Build custom routing logic, including the use of distance or exclusive territories, time of day, location hours and services offered by particular locations
- Eliminate the time-consuming efforts required to maintain and update ZIP- and area-code splits
- Convert more prospects to customers
Please contact TARGUSinfo for more data on scenarios that may be specific to your business.
What makes TARGUSinfo routing solutions unique?
TARGUSinfo uses 10-digit phone numbers to pinpoint a caller's location with unmatched accuracy. But many of our On-Demand Location customers use our solutions because we can also provide contact information on their callers. With TARGUSinfo routing solutions, you can automatically capture callers' name and address information, even if they hang up before being connected to the terminating location or speaking with an agent.
How can TARGUSinfo make my marketing more effective?
We can provide you with complete contact information for everyone who responds to your marketing. So you can increase your pool of interested prospects and improve the results of your CRM and marketing efforts.
How do TARGUSinfo routing solutions help franchise organizations?
We enable you to improve your franchisee relations by protecting individual territories and preventing location disputes. TARGUSinfo provides easy-to-use mapping tools that allow the franchisor to use either "service/trade areas" if they need to route based on exclusive territories, or go with the "radius" method, which connects callers to the closest location. By identifying the exact caller location, the call gets to the correct franchise every time.
With TARGUSinfo's services, franchisees can also receive the name and address of callers that were routed to their location. This data allows them to gauge their effectiveness at converting callers to customers — and provides a marketing list to improve follow-up.
What is the source of your data?
TARGUSinfo is not a traditional single-source supplier, as are White Pages compilers and Directory Assistance providers. These databases have inherent weaknesses in accuracy, completeness and coverage.
We have relationships with over 90 proprietary sources, including a unique membership in the US Telecommunications Network (USTN).
The USTN is the ultimate platform for up-to-date information on all phone numbers, including nonpublic and wireless numbers. By becoming a trusted member of the USTN, TARGUSinfo has built a foundation for data that is exceptionally precise, relevant and actionable.
How often is your database updated?
Data for TARGUSinfo solutions is updated 10 times per day. Over the course of every month, our network is refreshed by more than 90 proprietary data sources.
Do you have access to wireless, VoIP and Direct Inward Dial (DID) data?
Yes, we have access to data on wireless, VoIP and DID phone numbers where available and our coverage leads the industry.
How quickly is contact information provided?
Query-response speed varies with the type of connection our customers choose to use. A typical response to a query is as fast as 100 milliseconds, or 0.1 seconds.
What is the response rate?
TARGUSinfo's mission is to provide, On-Demand, the highest quality and quantity of information possible in response to a client's query. We are the market leader in providing information based on address or phone queries. For example, we have data on 100% of the phone numbers in the North American Dialing Plan.
How do you handle cell phone callers?
Today, wireless carriers do not pass caller location data, so doing a distance calculation is not feasible. However, TARGUSinfo can instantly determine whether a caller is using a mobile phone, so you can provide an alternate and improved customer experience for the mobile user.
What alternatives can you offer cellular callers?
There are several options, including:
- Sending the caller to a call center
- Invoking a speech session to determine caller location
- Requesting the caller to manually enter a non-cellular phone number via the phone's key pad.
In each of these scenarios, a caller location can be determined so the locator request can be accurately fulfilled.
How many locations can be provided?
The client ultimately determines this. In some cases, such as with franchises, a single location is determined and the call is automatically transferred. For others, such as with drop-off locations, there can be multiple locations returned. In this case, the industry standard is three, but up to 10 may be offered.
How can I route callers to their local cable operators?
Many subscription television networks advertise their 800-number nationally but are dependent upon consumers reaching out to their cable provider and requesting service. Matching consumers to cable operators requires pinpointing each caller's location among a complex tangle of cable companies.
Traditional call routing methods — ZIP code and area code/exchange assignment tables — are notoriously hard to manage. What's worse, neither of these designations bears any correlation to the maze of nearly 9,000 cable franchise territories in the US. More than one cable system operator (MSO) may serve any one ZIP code or area code/exchange, so using either traditional method to route callers to cable providers often sends the consumer to the wrong company and prevents the caller from becoming a customer.
TARGUSinfo identifies the caller's telephone number, determines the exact physical location of the home and routes the call to the appropriate cable or satellite provider based on a routinely updated National Cable Operator file.
This unique and proprietary process eliminates any need for clients to maintain large tables for identifying each consumer's cable and satellite provider. TARGUSinfo incorporates any interim changes to provider phone numbers by update that is not possible with traditional ZIP code or area code/exchange routing.
Who are your preferred platform partners?
TARGUSinfo connects to many IVR and telco platforms today, giving you the freedom to go with your IVR or carrier of choice. On many occasions, customers have asked us to build a routing solution from A-Z including the IVR, transport, reporting, and consumer data. In these scenarios, TARGUSinfo is happy to choose an IVR partner that meets their requirements and build a bundled, turnkey application.
I have an IVR in-house. Will your solutions work with it?
Yes. TARGUSinfo services are platform independent, so whether you outsource your IVR, use a carrier solution or use your own in-house IVR platform, TARGUSinfo On-Demand Data can be easily integrated. Best of all, there are no large databases that are required to be installed. So if you decide down the road that you want to move to another IVR or bring the IVR in-house, TARGUSinfo services can easily move with you.
What do I receive from a Consumer Profiling or Caller Prioritization query?
Our network returns an index score based on syndicated product/service profiles or a custom profile developed specifically for your application. We will return some type of information on 100% of the US POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) phone numbers.
What different types of information can you deliver in addition to name address and phone number?
We have literally hundreds of different data elements in our repository. Much of this data provides insight on the telephone number itself, such as: Is it valid? Is it in service? How long has it been in service? Who is the carrier of the telephone? Is it wireless or landline? We also have extended attributes about each phone, name and address, such as: Is it business or residential? What are various demographics associated with this individual? What is the likelihood of this individual to make certain purchases from you? How do they score on a profitability index for your company?
Can you only provide data when it starts with a telephone number?
No, we have lots of applications that begin with a name and address — or a name, address and phone number — where we verify that what you have is valid and confirm that the name, address and phone number belong together. Additionally, if the information you provide looks incorrect, then we can append the correct information to it.
Do you have information on callers on the Do-Not-Call registries?
Yes. TARGUSinfo is licensed to use the DNC flags associated with telephone numbers, both for national and state registries as well as the Direct Marketing Association list.
