Geocoded National Address System as Core Infrastructure for Smart E-Commerce: Comparative Analysis and Policy Implications for Iran

Abstract
Digital transformation has increasingly positioned geospatial
data as a core infrastructure within postal networks, logistics,
and the digital economy. Despite the growing importance of
such data, no composite index has yet been proposed to measure
geospatial data maturity in a cross-country comparative
framework. This study introduces the “SDMI” index, which
evaluates three dimensions—geospatial data governance,
technical capacity and infrastructure, and commercial
integration—for ten selected countries. Relevant indicators
were derived from international sources including IGIF, ODIN,
2IPD, and LPI, and data were harmonized using a moving
average for the period 2019–2022. The results indicate that
Singapore, South Korea, and Germany fall within the group of
Enablers, while India and Vietnam are categorized as Starters.
The study’s four-fold typology shows that institutional
coherence in data governance, geocoding coverage and address
standardization, and GIS integration in logistics operations are
the key determinants of geospatial maturity. Sensitivity
analysis further confirms the robustness of the index to changes
in weighting. These findings suggest that countries can fully
benefit from smart logistics and e-commerce only when
institutional, technical, and commercial dimensions of
geospatial data are developed simultaneously. Finally, the
study presents policy recommendations for enhancing
geospatial data maturity in Iran.
Keywords

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