Capscan, a leading supplier of UK and international address management solutions and data integrity services, have announced the launch of the new enhanced version of its 'nearest' look up solution - Nearcode for commercial and public sector contact centres.

The web-based Geographical Information System delivers an invaluable software tool for the agent desktop, enabling them to quickly respond to customer enquiries regarding the locations of specific outlets and services.

With Nearcode on the desktop the agent uses a simple search box to enter a postcode, partial postcode, place name or grid reference. A sorted list of the nearest locations that meets the customers' requirements is rapidly returned and can in turn be relayed to the customer. The agent is also able to specify the number of outlets within a certain radius, as well as listing all of the locations in or around a designated area.

Nearcode is ideal for all contact centres that receive high-volumes of inbound calls asking for the location of a shop, cinema, theatre, office, hotel, car rental outlet, garage service, surgery, dentistry and hospital etc. Agents do not need to waste time searching through paper-based documents, or relying on an agent's geographic knowledge of an area to resolve the enquiry.

Managing Director of Capscan, Terry Hiles comments: "The new version of Nearcode has improved the quality and flexibility of search that the agent is able to conduct on behalf of the customer, crucially, without compromising the speed at which the information is returned."

Another significant benefit of Nearcode is its ability to be easily integrated into a website as an efficient self-service store-finder application.

Hiles adds, "With Nearcode on the agent desktop and online the agent can resolve the enquiry and also direct the customer to the website for similar future request, thus helping to minimise call volumes, whilst improving the quality and consistency of service across multiple communication channels."

For the IT administrator Nearcode is easy to maintain, as the back-end database requires no re-building when updates are made. This means that existing records can be amended or deleted and new records can be added, simply and easily.

Further, the new version also allows for 'Natural Boundary checking' and will assign grid coordinates automatically to your custom locations based upon their postcode.