Whether you’re running a direct mail campaign, analyzing retail site performance, or identifying high-value customer clusters, location data is one of the most powerful tools available to marketing teams. The challenge? Excel wasn’t built with geospatial functions in mind.

That’s where CDXZipStream, an Excel add-in for ZIP code lookup, geocoding, routing, and demographic analysis, comes in. By embedding location analytics directly into spreadsheets, it transforms Excel into a marketing intelligence tool—without the need for GIS expertise or costly enterprise software.

Task 1: Identify Customer Concentrations by ZIP Code

The Challenge:
Marketers need to know where their customers live in order to optimize campaign targeting and sales efforts. Manually grouping addresses by ZIP code in Excel is time-consuming.

With CDXZipStream:
You can quickly count, group, and visualize customer records by ZIP code. CDXZipStream taps into demographic and geographic databases to append ZIP-level data, letting you:

• See which ZIPs contain the highest concentration of customers.

• Identify underserved regions for campaign expansion.

• Export results into maps for presentations or strategy meetings.

This makes it easy to spot “hot zones” and reallocate resources where they’ll have the greatest impact.

Task 2: Optimize Sales Territories

The Challenge:
Territory planning is critical for sales and marketing teams, but drawing boundaries manually often leads to uneven workloads and inefficient coverage.

With CDXZipStream:
You can design data-driven territories in Excel using ZIP codes, customer density, or demographic data. For example:

• Assign territories based on the number of households or customers per ZIP.

• Balance workloads so that each sales rep has a fair and manageable territory.

• Adjust territories dynamically as new stores or reps are added.

This ensures your sales and marketing teams operate efficiently while maximizing coverage across regions.

Task 3: Calculate Distances to Stores or Locations

The Challenge:
Marketers often need to calculate how far customers travel to reach a retail location—or compare proximity between stores and customer clusters. Excel’s native formulas can’t calculate real-world distances.

With CDXZipStream:
The add-in supports both straight-line distance (ZIP-to-ZIP) and real driving distance using data from providers like Bing or Google Maps.

Practical applications include:

• Determining if customers live within a target drive-time of a new store.

• Optimizing store catchment areas.

• Evaluating whether geographic proximity influences sales performance.

Task 4: Perform ZIP Code Radius Searches

The Challenge:
Direct mail and local advertising campaigns often target prospects within a set distance (say, 10 miles) of a store or event location. Doing this manually requires complex lookup work.

With CDXZipStream:
The Radius Report instantly generates a list of all ZIP codes within a chosen radius. You can then filter your mailing list, ensuring only nearby households receive your campaign.

This saves time and increases ROI by reducing wasted outreach to addresses outside your target area.

Task 5: Append Demographic Data to Customer Lists

The Challenge:
Segmentation is the backbone of effective marketing. But Excel spreadsheets usually lack demographic context—age distribution, income levels, household size—needed for refined targeting.

With CDXZipStream:
You can append U.S. Census demographic variables to your customer list by ZIP code. This allows you to:

• Segment customers by income bracket or age group.

• Match product offerings to local household characteristics.

• Build richer customer profiles for campaign personalization.

Instead of buying expensive third-party datasets, you enrich your existing customer records within Excel itself.

Bringing It All Together

Marketing teams spend countless hours wrangling data in Excel. With CDXZipStream, you can supercharge those spreadsheets with location intelligence:

• Spot customer hotspots by ZIP code.

• Optimize sales territories for fair coverage.

• Calculate travel distances accurately.

• Target customers by radius.

• Enrich records with demographics.

The result is faster insights, smarter segmentation, and campaigns that drive measurable ROI—all without leaving Excel.

👉 Ready to try it yourself? Start with a free trial of CDXZipStream and see how easy location analytics in Excel can be.

In today’s data-saturated world, relevance is the currency of marketing success. That’s why the most effective marketing strategies are those built not just on broad customer personas, but on hyper-local, actionable insights. Enter geodemographics—a data-driven lens that allows marketers to segment and target their audience based on location-specific demographic characteristics such as population density, income level, age distribution, household size, and more.

As consumers expect increasingly personalized experiences, leveraging geodemographic data isn’t just a competitive advantage—it’s a marketing necessity.

The Power of Location-Based Marketing

Location-based marketing uses geographic information to tailor messages, offers, and campaigns to consumers in specific areas. Whether you're a national retailer optimizing new store locations or a regional nonprofit planning outreach in underserved communities, knowing who lives where helps you align your message with your audience's reality.

Benefits of Geodemographic Targeting:

• Improved segmentation: Understand where high-income millennials live vs. where multi-generational households are concentrated.

• Better ROI: Direct mail or digital ads targeted to ZIP codes with ideal customer profiles outperform broad campaigns.

• Efficient resource allocation: Focus marketing budgets on areas with the highest propensity to convert.

• Informed site selection: Identify the best regions for opening new stores or launching services based on demographic density.

What Is Geodemographic Data?

At its core, geodemographic data integrates geography with demographics. It provides a breakdown of population characteristics by geographic units—such as ZIP code, county, or census tract.

Common variables include:

• Population count and density

• Median household income

• Age and gender distribution

• Race and ethnicity

• Housing characteristics

• Educational attainment

• Employment and commute patterns

Used wisely, this data paints a clear picture of market potential on a map—making it an indispensable tool for marketers aiming to tailor their strategies to local audiences.

The Marketer’s Dilemma: Complexity vs. Accessibility

Traditionally, accessing this type of detailed data required costly enterprise GIS software or consulting firms. Many businesses—especially small to midsize ones—found the barrier to entry too high.

That’s where CDXZipStream changes the game.

CDXZipStream: Geodemographics in Excel

CDXZipStream is a Microsoft Excel add-in developed by CDX Technologies that provides on-demand geodemographic and location intelligence directly within spreadsheets. It eliminates the need for specialized GIS platforms while putting robust location-based analytics at the fingertips of marketing strategists and analysts.

Key features relevant to marketers:

• Demographic lookup by ZIP code: Quickly pull data like population, income, and age for any ZIP in the U.S.

• Radius analysis: Identify ZIP codes within a set distance from a central location—ideal for localized campaign targeting.

• Batch processing: Analyze thousands of records in bulk, saving hours of manual work.

• Integration with Google Maps, HERE Technologies and Maptitude:  Map customer locations or plan routes without leaving Excel.

Unlike many competitors, CDXZipStream supports both U.S. Census data and American Community Survey (ACS) variables, offering marketers a high-resolution view of consumer landscapes

Use Case: Targeted Direct Mail Campaign

Let’s say you're launching a new luxury fitness product. Your ideal customers are:

• Aged 35–55

• High household income ($150K+)

• Located within 15 miles of urban centers

With CDXZipStream, you can:

1. Pull demographic data for all ZIP codes in your target metro.

2. Filter by income and age to identify ZIPs matching your customer profile.

3. Run a radius search to find locations within your delivery zone.

4. Export a list of qualified ZIPs to your direct mail provider.

The result? A precisely targeted campaign with minimal waste and maximum conversion.

Simplicity + Power: A Unique Value Proposition

What sets CDXZipStream apart?

• Ease of use: If you know Excel, you can use CDXZipStream. No coding, no complex GIS interfaces.

• Affordability: Starting at under $70/year, it offers an unmatched ROI for small marketing teams.

• Data privacy: Since all operations happen inside Excel, sensitive customer lists don’t have to be uploaded to third-party platforms.

Competitive Edge vs. Traditional Tools

Compared to enterprise solutions like Esri’s ArcGIS Business Analyst or Alteryx, CDXZipStream offers:

• Lower cost (no enterprise licensing)

• Shorter learning curve (Excel-native interface)

• Scalability (process thousands of entries with batch tools)

And versus Excel add-ins like Melissa’s Listware or SmartyStreets, CDXZipStream’s broader functionality—especially for ZIP radius and demographic reports—makes it a more comprehensive choice for marketers.

Beyond Marketing: Broader Business Applications

CDXZipStream is not just for campaigns—it also supports:

• Sales territory planning

• Customer clustering

• Franchise location analysis

• Healthcare network adequacy reports

• Nonprofit outreach planning

In all these use cases, the common thread is actionable geographic intelligence—delivered in minutes, not days.

Ready to Map Your Marketing Success?

Whether you're launching a localized digital campaign, planning expansion into new markets, or just trying to understand your audience better, geodemographic data is your compass. And with tools like CDXZipStream, that data is more accessible than ever.

👉 Try CDXZipStream Free for 30 Days and see how easy it is to enhance your marketing strategy with real location intelligence.

Marketing analysts often face the tedious task of researching ZIP Codes, calculating distances, and compiling demographic data—usually done manually in Excel by switching between government websites, online calculators, and mapping tools. But there’s a smarter way. CDXZipStream, an Excel add-in from CDX Technologies, allows analysts to automate and streamline these tasks directly within their spreadsheets.

If you're still copying and pasting data ZIP Code by ZIP Code, it's time to explore a better approach.

The Problem with Manual Data Workflows

Manually gathering data for location analysis in Excel often involves:

• Searching online for ZIP Code demographic data (e.g., median income, population).

• Using tools like Google Maps to calculate distances between addresses.

• Re-keying address information into USPS tools to validate or append ZIP+4 codes.

• Switching between tabs, exporting results, and consolidating them in Excel.

This process is not only time-consuming but also prone to errors. A study from CDX Technologies reports that marketers using manual methods often spend 5–10 hours per week on tasks that CDXZipStream can perform in minutes.

CDXZipStream: Automating Excel Location Analysis

CDXZipStream is an all-in-one geographic analysis tool that plugs directly into Excel. Instead of bouncing between websites and APIs, users can enter a ZIP Code, address, or coordinate—and instantly retrieve:

• ZIP Code demographics (e.g., population, age, income, race)

• Drive distances and travel time between addresses

• ZIP+4 address validation

• ZIP radius searches

• Geocoding and reverse geocoding

• Routing and route optimization

With just a few clicks, users can populate thousands of rows with structured, reliable location data—without leaving Excel.

Side-by-Side Comparison: Manual vs. CDXZipStream

Source: CDX Technologies internal benchmarks and client reports.

Real-World Use Case: Direct Mail Campaign Planning

Imagine a marketing analyst tasked with targeting households earning over $100,000 in ZIP Codes within a 10-mile radius of a store. Here's how the process plays out:

Manual Workflow:

1. Identify target ZIP Codes using online radius tools.

2. Search Census data ZIP by ZIP.

3. Manually copy income figures into Excel.

4. Validate addresses through USPS or SmartyStreets.

5. Clean and compile the list.

Time estimate: 6–8 hours.

With CDXZipStream:

1. Use CDXRadius to generate ZIPs within a 10-mile radius.

2. Use CDXDemographics to pull income data.

3. Use CDXGeoData to validate addresses and append ZIP+4.

4. Filter results using Excel functions.

Time estimate: 15–20 minutes.

Accuracy Gains: Fewer Errors, Better Results

Manual entry increases the risk of:

• Misaligned ZIP data

• Skipped or misspelled addresses

• Inconsistent formatting

CDXZipStream pulls from verified databases like the U.S. Census, USPS, and Bing/Google Maps APIs. You can trust the output—and eliminate the need for multiple rounds of error checking.

Flexibility: Works for Marketing, Logistics, and More

While ideal for marketing analysis, CDXZipStream is equally powerful for:

• Sales territory mapping

• Healthcare network adequacy

• Franchise site selection

• Real estate market research

It’s built for business analysts, not GIS pros. If you know Excel, you can use CDXZipStream.

Return on Investment

Starting at $69.95/year, CDXZipStream pays for itself quickly. Consider this:

• One analyst spending 8 hours a week on manual data = 32 hours/month.

• At $40/hour, that’s $1,280/month in labor costs.

• Automating the same tasks with CDXZipStream saves most of that time.

ROI: >1,000% in the first month for many teams.

Final Thoughts: Time to Automate

If your job involves analyzing ZIP Codes, mapping customer locations, or pulling demographic data, stop wasting time with manual lookups. CDXZipStream empowers you to automate data gathering directly in Excel—with speed, scale, and confidence.

Try it free at cdxtech.com, and see how much time you can save.

Organizations that rely on location data—whether for marketing analytics, logistics, or customer segmentation—must decide how best to implement geocoding and location intelligence. Should you invest in developing a custom, in-house solution, or adopt a scalable, ready-made service like the CDXGeoData API? Let’s explore the pros and cons of each approach and see why CDXGeoData stands out as a smart choice for enterprise-grade geolocation.

The Case for Building In-House

An in-house geocoding solution might seem appealing if you have engineering resources and want full control over your stack. You might consider combining open datasets (like OpenStreetMap or Census data) with scripts to geocode, calculate distances, or analyze ZIP-level demographics. However, this route brings several challenges:

1. High Development Time & Opportunity Cost

Building a robust geocoding system is more than writing a script to get coordinates. You'll need to:

• Normalize and validate addresses.

• Handle ambiguous locations and edge cases.

• Integrate various APIs or datasets.

• Optimize performance and scalability.

Even with a basic open-source geocoder, expect weeks of development time—time that could be spent on business-critical features.

2. Data Maintenance & Accuracy Risks

Free datasets often lack current updates or coverage for all address formats. For example:

• USPS changes ZIP+4 and delivery routes regularly.

• International support is inconsistent.

• Open data geocoders may lack rooftop-level precision or confidence scoring.

Maintaining current, accurate data requires continuous effort and vetting.

3. Integration Complexity

Want to embed geocoding in Excel workflows? Or serve real-time results via a web dashboard? You'll have to build these interfaces too. And if you want radius searches, drive-time analysis, or demographic overlays, you’ll likely need multiple third-party tools stitched together.

4. Unpredictable Cost and Scalability

While using free tools seems inexpensive, true costs emerge with scaling:

• Server hosting and storage.

• Developer time.

• API rate limits or terms-of-service constraints (e.g., Google’s restrictive usage terms on free tiers).

The Smarter Buy: CDXGeoData API

CDXGeoData is a powerful cloud-based geocoding and location analytics platform designed for ease, flexibility, and precision. It gives both developers and analysts the tools they need—without the overhead of managing complex geospatial infrastructure.

Here’s why buying CDXGeoData is often the better decision:

✅ Enterprise-Grade Services Out-of-the-Box

CDXGeoData offers:

• Forward and reverse geocoding.

• Address validation (with USPS ZIP+4).

• Drive-time and distance routing.

• Demographic and ZIP-level analysis.

• Radius and proximity searches.

These capabilities are accessible through a REST API or an Excel add-in—ideal for both web-based platforms and non-technical business users..

✅ Reliable, Maintained, and Accurate

CDXGeoData integrates with trusted providers like Google, HERE, and Bing for precise data. It also maintains up-to-date USPS datasets for validation, eliminating the burden of managing data freshness yourself.

✅ Pay-as-You-Go Pricing

Forget per-seat licenses or opaque pricing. CDXGeoData uses a simple token-based model:

• Free tiers (1,000+ tokens/month) for evaluation.

• Predictable token costs for each API call (e.g., 2 tokens for geocode, 5 tokens for USPS address validation).

• Batch processing and volume discounts available.

This model is perfect for scaling up or down without overcommitting budgets.

✅ Fast Deployment, Minimal Code

With sample code in C#, JavaScript, VBA, and more, plus prebuilt Excel templates, CDXGeoData dramatically reduces development time. Integrate location analytics in hours—not weeks.

✅ Flexible Across Platforms

Unlike some tools tied to Windows Excel or desktop-only environments, CDXGeoData works on:

• Windows, Mac, or Linux.

• Web applications, cloud backends, or Excel.

• Real-time queries or batch uploads.

You’re not locked into any one ecosystem.

Cost-Benefit Analysis: CDXGeoData vs. In-House Build

Real-World Use Cases

CDXGeoData is trusted by organizations from startups to the Fortune 500. Use cases include:

• Marketing Campaign Optimization: Append demographics and validate addresses to improve response rates.

• Retail Site Selection: Use radius and demographic APIs to evaluate potential store locations.

• Logistics and Service Planning: Calculate drive-time distances and plan efficient routes.

• Compliance in Healthcare or Insurance: Analyze ZIP radius coverage for network adequacy.

These are hard to replicate reliably with a DIY stack—but easily handled via CDXGeoData.

Final Verdict: Don’t Reinvent the Wheel

If your team is considering an in-house geocoding or location analytics solution, weigh the total cost—not just money, but time, maintenance, and risk.

With CDXGeoData, you get:

• Reliable, enterprise-quality data.

• Minimal setup effort.

• Flexible APIs and Excel support.

• Scalable pricing.

It’s not just a smarter choice—it’s a faster path to insights.

Get started today with CDXGeoData and try it free. Or contact CDX Technologies to discuss high-volume or custom integration needs.

Microsoft has announced the retirement of Bing Maps development keys, and it’s going to directly impact many of our CDXZipStream users. If you currently rely on a Bing Maps key in Excel for geocoding, routing, or distance calculations, this change means you’ll need to act before June 30, 2025, or risk losing access to these essential features.

To help you navigate this change smoothly, we’ve published a detailed new guide. It walks through what’s changing, what your options are, and how to switch to alternatives like Google Maps, HERE Technologies, or Caliper Maptitude within CDXZipStream. This post provides a quick summary of that guide, so you can understand the big picture and start planning your next steps.

What's Changing with Bing Maps?

Microsoft is phasing out Bing Maps as a standalone service. Free “Basic” keys—which many CDXZipStream users rely on—will stop working after June 30, 2025. This is part of Microsoft’s broader plan to merge Bing Maps into Azure Maps, their cloud-based mapping platform.

If you’re using Bing Maps features in CDXZipStream like CDXLocateBing or CDXRouteBing, they will no longer function unless you switch to a new provider or pay for a Bing Maps enterprise license before the cutoff.

Can You Keep Using Bing Maps?

Yes, but it’s not free anymore. Microsoft is offering the option to purchase an enterprise license that will allow continued use of Bing Maps until June 30, 2028. However, this comes at a steep price—entry-level enterprise packages start around $999/year for 40,000 requests, and pricing varies based on your usage.

For most CDXZipStream users, especially small businesses or casual users, the cost of continuing with Bing Maps simply won’t make sense. That’s why we’re recommending that users transition to another supported mapping service as soon as possible.

What Are Your Alternatives?

CDXZipStream already supports three other geocoding and routing services that you can switch to now: Google Maps, HERE Technologies, and Caliper Maptitude. Each has different features, pricing, and free usage options. Here’s a quick comparison:

🗺️ Google Maps

• New Free Tier (as of March 2025): Includes 10,000 requests/month for geocoding and routing APIs.

• Pay-as-you-go pricing starts at about $5 per 1,000 additional requests.

• Excellent data quality and global coverage.

• Easy setup with a Google API key via the Google Cloud Console.

• Ideal for users with light to moderate monthly usage and a preference for Google's ecosystem.

📍 HERE Technologies

• Offers a generous 30,000 requests/month free tier, making it one of the best values available today.

• Additional requests are very affordable—just $0.75 per 1,000 requests.

• High-quality international data and routing options.

• A great choice for users with higher monthly volumes or looking for low-cost scalability.

• CDXZipStream integrates smoothly via the HERE API key.

💻 Caliper Maptitude

• One-time software purchase (~$695) with unlimited local geocoding and routing.

• Runs entirely offline with no per-transaction fees.

• Ideal for high-volume users, those with data privacy concerns, or businesses that prefer not to rely on online services.

• Requires installation of desktop software and U.S. map data.

Each of these alternatives is already supported in CDXZipStream, and you can switch over at any time with just a few steps. We’ve created support articles, API key setup instructions, and guides to help make this as smooth as possible.

Why Not Azure Maps?

Microsoft has positioned Azure Maps as the future of their mapping services—but after careful consideration, we’ve chosen not to support it in CDXZipStream at this time. Here’s why:

• Very limited free usage: Azure only offers 1,000 requests/month, much less than Google or HERE.

• Higher pricing beyond the free tier (around $4.50 per 1,000 requests).

• Complex setup that requires creating Azure resources and working within their developer portal.

• Not user-friendly for the average Excel user who just wants to geocode addresses quickly and reliably.

For these reasons, we’ve focused our efforts on integrating services that offer better value, simplicity, and ease of migration.  We may revisit this decision in the future.

What You Should Do Now

If you're a CDXZipStream user currently using a Bing Maps key, we strongly encourage you to start planning your migration now. Here’s a quick checklist:

1. Evaluate your usage – How many address lookups or route calculations do you make each month?

2. Choose your provider – Google for ease, HERE for value, or Maptitude for high-volume fixed cost.

3. Get your API key – It’s a quick process through Google or HERE’s developer portals.

4. Update CDXZipStream settings – Enter your new key and start using the new mapping source.

5. Test and monitor usage – Make sure it’s working smoothly before the Bing Maps cutoff date.

We also suggest reading the full guide on our blog for step-by-step instructions, screenshots, and deeper insights on each provider.

Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute

Remember, June 30, 2025 is the deadline when Bing Maps development keys will stop working. If you do nothing, geocoding and routing features in CDXZipStream tied to your Bing key will stop functioning on that date.

By planning ahead and switching to one of the supported alternatives, you’ll avoid disruptions and may even find an option that’s more cost-effective and better suited to your needs.

Questions? We're Here to Help

We know transitions like this can feel complicated, especially if you’re not a tech expert. That’s why we’ve made switching as easy as possible in CDXZipStream, and our team is ready to help if you run into any questions. Feel free to contact us via our support page or drop us a note on the blog.

Whether you choose Google, HERE, or Maptitude, we’re confident you’ll find a smooth path forward with CDXZipStream. And as always, thanks for being a valued customer.