How Deduplication Works
We assign a unique contractor_ID to any contractor we see in our system and work to ensure this ID is:- Deduplicated within the dataset
- A unique identifier for each contractor
Contractor IDs in Permits
In our permits table, we include thecontractor_ID whenever there is an associated contractor.
Contractor Groups
If we believe a unique contractor is associated with a larger group or parent company, we also associate thatcontractor_ID with a contractor group_ID.
Example: If we see a local plumber and believe they are a local branch of a regional plumbing company, both would share the same group_ID.
State-Level Deduplication
Currently, we deduplicate contractors per state. This means:- The same contractor ID will not appear across different states
- If ABC Plumbing Inc does business in both CA and AZ, it will have 2 unique contractor_IDs
We are working on creating a national contractor ID system. Check our blog for the latest announcements.
The is_representative Field
For EDL deliveries, theis_representative field indicates whether a contractor record is the main representative of a group_id.
| Field | Meaning |
|---|---|
is_representative = TRUE | This record contains the canonical/preferred information for the entire group |
is_representative = FALSE | This is a related contractor in the group |
Why This Matters
This feature helps:- Prevent double-counting of organizations operating under multiple names
- Avoid reaching out to the same organization multiple times
- Enable more accurate market analysis