Why address standardisation is essential for your business
Address standardisation is the process of converting addresses into the standard or normalised format of the local postal authority.
Jasmine Robinson Madden
Introducing reverse geocoding in Postcoder
We’re excited to share something new for developers using Postcoder: reverse geocoding. This feature unlocks a new way to help your app users fill-in their address quickly and accurately using their device's GPS location. Let’s break down what this means, why it’s a game-changer, and how you can start using it.
What is reverse geocoding?
Reverse geocoding takes a set of coordinates and converts them into addresses. If your app has access to your user’s location, Postcoder can now reverse geocode that position to return a list of nearby addresses, ordered from nearest to furthest.
Improving your UX
We know that developers are often on the lookout for ways to create smoother, faster user experiences. Reverse geocoding can help with this, especially in your mobile apps, for two reasons:
- Quick address lookup: Users can select their address from a list without having to start typing their address or postcode. Less typing equals fewer errors and happier users.
- Improved conversions: Simplifying form entry makes it easier for customers to complete tasks - whether it's checking out, booking a ride or registering for a service.
Industries like food delivery, ride-hailing, retail, and logistics can particularly benefit from this feature. Think about how much smoother it could make booking a delivery or setting a collection address through your app.
UK and Ireland geolocation
Postcoder’s reverse geocoding API is designed specifically for the UK and Ireland. It’s built to work seamlessly alongside our existing address and autocomplete endpoints, making it the perfect complement for apps where quick and accurate data entry is essential.
It's straightforward to set up in your code:
- Define the coordinate position: Access your user's device location in the usual way (great if your app already has location permissions).
- Specify a range: Define how far out you want to search (choose an integer between 10 to 100m, or just go with the default of 25m).
- Make your API call and display the results: You'll receive a list of one or more complete addresses, returned in distance order.
Note, to use this feature, you’ll need access to AddressBase and/or Eircode. You can enable it on your API key using the Features page within your account or by contacting us directly.
Ready to give it a try?
If you’re already a Postcoder customer, it’s easy to get started. Just head over to the API reference for instructions.
New to Postcoder? No problem. Sign up for a free trial and start exploring all the ways you can streamline address capture in your app or website.
Next up
We’re always working to make Postcoder better, so stay tuned for more features and improvements coming soon. In the meantime, we can’t wait to see how you use reverse geocoding in your apps. Got questions or feedback? Contact us - we’re here to help.