📘 Help Desk Article: Address Field Availability & Location Mapping Accuracy
Overview
Some users may notice that when creating a new location, certain address fields — such as Street Address, City, State, Zip/Postal Code, or Country — are not available or left blank. While most locations still map correctly, some may appear in the wrong country or region.
This guide explains why this occurs, how the system determines location placement, and the best practices to ensure accuracy.
Why This Happens
When address fields are missing or incomplete, the system relies on automatic geolocation (auto-geo) to interpret the location name and determine its coordinates.
If the name is unique globally (e.g., “Marcoola” or “Esperance”), the system typically places it correctly.
If the name is shared by multiple regions (e.g., “Windsor,” “Springfield,” “Newcastle”), the auto-geo function may choose the most common global instance rather than the intended one.
In the example case, “Choice – Windsor” was placed in Canada instead of Australia because the Country and State were not specified.
Root Cause
Auto-geo ambiguity: The geolocation algorithm resolves to the most probable match when multiple locations share the same name.
Incomplete address data: Missing Country or State fields limit the system’s ability to narrow down the correct match.
Global data variance: Some locations exist across different continents, leading to higher ambiguity without regional context.
Workarounds
If address fields are unavailable or limited:
Add the Country manually wherever possible.
Include a unique city or region name in the Location Name field (e.g., “Choice – Windsor AU” instead of “Choice – Windsor”).
Verify map placement after creation by viewing the map preview.
Adjust coordinates manually if supported by your account setup.
Best Practices
Always include Country: This is the minimum required field for accurate global geolocation.
Add State or Region for large countries (e.g., Australia, U.S., Canada).
Use consistent naming conventions: e.g., “Brand – City, Country.”
Audit existing locations: Review and correct any that may appear outside their intended region.
Example
Location Name | Country | Map Result | Notes |
Choice – Windsor | Blank | Windsor, Canada | Incorrect |
Choice – Windsor (AU) | Australia | Windsor, NSW, Australia | Correct |
Choice – Brisbane | Blank | Brisbane, Australia | Correct (unique name) |
Conclusion
While the auto-geo system works well for unique locations, specifying the Country field ensures consistent accuracy across all regions. This simple step prevents mapping errors and maintains clean, reliable location data.