Keep the original and a change log
Save the file as received and work on a separate copy. Record the source, export date and purpose. If you normalize city names or merge records, keep the reason so that the change can be reviewed or reversed.
A filename is not evidence of freshness. Keep an actual verification date separately when one is available.
Import phone numbers and identifiers as text
Spreadsheet software may remove a leading zero or turn a long identifier into scientific notation. Choose a text column type during CSV import, before accepting the preview. Formatting a damaged value afterward will not restore its original digits.
Use UTF-8 and inspect a sample of Arabic names. If all fields appear in one column, check the delimiter. Do not save a replacement until the characters, column counts and identifier lengths are correct.
Review duplicates in the context of the task
| Case | Better decision | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Same name, different address | Check for separate branches | A name alone is not a unique identifier |
| Same source URL, different spelling | Review and normalize after confirming identity | The rows may describe the same business |
| One phone number used by several branches | Preserve branch context | Phone numbers are not always unique |
| A partial and a more complete record | Merge only after checking identity and source | Simple deletion can lose valid information |
Separate missing, incorrect and irrelevant values
A missing website may mean the source did not provide one. An incomplete phone number needs verification. A business outside your sector may have accurate data but be irrelevant to your list. Use specific review reasons instead of labeling every case ‘bad data.’
Leave unknown fields blank or use a documented missing-value convention. Do not infer a person's email from a company naming pattern and present it as a confirmed fact.
Run an acceptance check
- Compare row counts before and after processing and explain exclusions.
- Check Arabic characters, identifier lengths and leading zeros.
- Review a sample of merged rows and missing fields.
- Preserve source links and the reasons for edits.
- Export only the fields needed for the permitted task.
Where AuraData helps
Supported tools let you choose available fields, review results and export CSV. Google Maps searches can use deduplication. These features do not replace a documented quality review or imply a universal data-cleaning service for every database.
Frequently asked questions
Can I restore a lost leading zero by formatting the cell?+
Formatting alone does not recover information already lost. Return to the original file and import that column as text.
Should I delete every repeated business name?+
No. First check whether the rows are branches, different companies or true duplicates.