RECORD MATCHING AND COMPARISON · Workflow idea
When information is split across lists, a shared identifier can help reveal how records relate. Combine the sets, keep only new entries, or focus on records that already appear in both.
01 / The starting point
Separate record sets that need to be combined or compared using a matching rule
“Compare the lists using an agreed matching field and prepare the combined or filtered set the team needs.”
02 / The work
Helps a team reconcile information from separate lists and focus on the records relevant to its next decision.
Identify the lists that need to be brought together and confirm what each one represents.
Use a shared identifier that distinguishes the same person, item, or event across both lists.
Choose whether the result should combine both sets, show only new items, or show existing matches.
Look for repeated identifiers, missing values, and records that could not be matched confidently.
Keep the resulting records together in a form the team can review or continue working with.
03 / The result
One organized result that reflects the chosen rule: combined records, new-only records, or matches already present in both lists.
Research & strategy · Example outcome
One organized result that reflects the chosen rule: combined records, new-only records, or matches already present in both lists.
Matching depends on a reliable shared identifier. Check duplicate, blank, or inconsistently formatted values so unrelated records are not treated as the same person or item.
04 / Make it yours
A few choices shape the work around your team.
Choose the two information sets and confirm they are appropriate to compare.
Select the shared identifier and decide how differences in spacing, case, or formatting should be handled.
Specify whether the team needs a combined list, new records only, or matches already known.
Check examples of matching, non-matching, and duplicate values before using the result.