Data Headache: Area Code Changes in Northern Indiana

Mishawaka, IN. A forced change in a business telephone number is never pleasant.  It involves changing everything that has company information on it: letterhead, business cards, forms, sales literature, advertising, signage, and sometimes even company vehicles.  These changes cost time and money, and can be particularly troublesome where the original document files can't be located and paper documents must be used to re-create originals.  Thus, when the 219 area code splits into three areas, only one of which retains the original code, companies across northern Indiana expect to spend time and money on conversion.

One of the conversion issues that is often overlooked in the initial analysis is the need to convert information stored in databases to the new area codes.  Often, companies have thousands of contacts stored in databases - customers, clients, prospects, etc.  While contact managers like ACT! have "global replace" function, the area code migration issue is a bit too tricky for simplistic solutions.  First, one is only changing a portion of the field, not the entire field.  Second, since one value is being subdivided into three possible new values, additional analysis of each contact is required to determine what the new value is.

Another aspect of the headache facing IT staff is that there may be many databases that belong to individual users that may be affected.  While one common policy is to require users to be responsible for correcting their own data, there may be some databases that are so large or so important that IT department involvement may be necessary.

Assuming the database is in a standard format (or can be readily converted to and from a standard format), the technical issues involved in conversion aren't overwhelming in most cases.  Using a lookup table of exchanges, it is quite straightforward to analyze a telephone number, determine what the new area code should be, and replace it.

Despite the comparative simplicity of the data conversion task, it is rarely worth the effort for an organization to create conversion programs for each of the various kinds of database they may have to cope with.  A few standardized tools have been developed.  For example, a free add-on for ACT!, Area Code Adjuster from HotData, lets users convert those databases automatically.  There are also services that will convert your database for you.

Costs associated with conversion vary greatly.  One firm estimates the cost of manual conversion (i.e., an employee reviews each database entry, checks the area code, and corrects it if necessary) at $6 per corrected database entry.  On the other hand, web-based conversion services cost as little as $50 for scanning and correcting 2,000 contacts.

If you decide to employ an outside conversion service, be sure that they have the latest data for the 219 conversion.

Useful links (these sites are not affiliated with CompStar, and we can't vouch for their products or services):

Area Code Updater for ACT! - Free Download from CNET
Area Code Adjusters - Paid Conversion Service
Area Code Wizard - Paid Conversion Service
PhoneSeal Corrector - Area Code Correction Software
Ameritech Information on Area Code Changes in Indiana

CompStar is capable of assisting with database conversion.  For more information, e-mail us or use the form below: 

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CompStar Technologies is a leading Indiana-based provider of networking, technology, and communications services. With offices in Mishawaka (serving South Bend, Elkhart, Warsaw, Michigan City, Fort Wayne, Niles, St. Joseph, and Benton Harbor, Michigan) and Indianapolis, CompStar provides network design / support, network security, wireless networking, business telephone systems, VoIP (voice over IP), and cctv / video surveillance systems. CompStar is the Technology Division of Direct Line Communications, headquartered in Mishawaka, Indiana.