Geocoding millions of patient addresses each month was once a challenge for Dallas, Texas-based CompanyMileage, due to inaccuracies with the company’s previous geospatial service provider. This was of utmost concern for the company, whose mobile health provider client base relies upon CompanyMileage to precisely pinpoint patient locations and accurately track mileage. Since switching from a previous geospatial service provider to MapQuest for Business in 2012, the company’s geocode inaccuracies and inflexible contract terms are now a thing of the past.
Cracking the code
Founded in 2009, CompanyMileage develops a mobile application used by home health and hospice caregivers throughout the U.S. and Canada. More than 100,000 users complete millions of patient visits each month, using CompanyMileage to accurately log mileage to submit for reimbursement. For some customers, annual mileage reimbursement can total millions of dollars per year.
A bumpy road with an alternate geospatial service provider
Objectives:
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Precisely geocode patient locations, even in the most rural areas, within the CompanyMileage mobile app.
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Enable location-aware ‘type-ahead’ capability to save users from having to key in their full address.
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Accurately track mileage traveled to and from millions of patient locations monthly.
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Access live phone support from the geospatial service provider when needed.
When the company began to ship its mileage tracking mobile app with location services from another geospatial service provider in 2011, the company’s founder, Kevin Winters, noticed issues with the accuracy of geocode results. Rural addresses weren’t recognized, and address suggestions failed to incorporate the proximity of the user’s current location when providing a suggestion. “A user would enter ‘100 Main St.’ and the app would suggest a location in Miami even though the user was in Dallas,” Winters recalled. In addition, pricing with CompanyMileage’s original geospatial service provider was doubling every year. CompanyMileage grew frustrated with poor customer support and slow response time from their previous provider. “With our previous location services provider, I never received live support from a person on the phone,” Winters lamented. He knew it was time for a change.
A long-term relationship with MapQuest for Business
In 2012, CompanyMileage switched to MapQuest for Business as their single geospatial provider. “We chose MapQuest because they give us a great product, great customer service and fair pricing terms,” said Winters. “MapQuest’s Geocoding API was easy to implement, and we were able to make the switch quickly.”
More than five years later, Winters remains pleased with his decision to switch to MapQuest. “We’re looking to continue to build our long-term relationship with MapQuest. The contract terms are transparent and consistent. Support has been incredible, with immediate responses via email and access to live support whenever we need it.”
In terms of product capabilities, accuracy and performance, Winters is equally pleased. “MapQuest provides us with a better scoring system to build address validation rules around, providing a better user experience for our customers,” said Winters. Since switching from the company’s previous provider, remote location accuracy is no longer an issue.
“Our customers saved approximately $18 million last year, due to increased mileage tracking accuracy thanks to MapQuest.”
–Founder, CompanyMileage, Winters
Today the company’s user base logs seven million trips per month. “Our customers saved approximately $18 million last year, due to increased mileage tracking accuracy thanks to MapQuest,” said Winters. “One of our customers performed their own comparison and calculated nearly $2 million in savings, and another customer of ours calculated a 25% reduction in mileage reimbursement due to increased accuracy,” he added.
