topic Re: Need Help Building a Fuzzy Match Workflow to Match Vendor Names Across Two Inputs in Alteryx Designer Desktop Discussions

Need Help Building a Fuzzy Match Workflow to Match Vendor Names Across Two Inputs

PassION_es — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 05:50:58 GMT

Hi Alteryx Community,

I hope you can help me with a workflow I’m trying to build in Alteryx Designer (version 2024.2).

I have two input datasets:

Input 1

Contains a free‑text field (DESC1 OR DESC2) with embedded vendor names. Example (see attached dummy file - input 1 tab)

Input 2

Contains clean vendor names (see Input 2 sheet)

Goal

I need to match the vendor name embedded inside Input 1 with the clean vendor name in Input 2 using Fuzzy Match, then produce an output like in the Output tab.

Re: Need Help Building a Fuzzy Match Workflow to Match Vendor Names Across Two Inputs

alexnajm — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 10:47:12 GMT

I would look at this article - it has a workflow to help you get started! https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Tool-Mastery/Tool-Mastery-Fuzzy-Match/ta-p/45485

Re: Need Help Building a Fuzzy Match Workflow to Match Vendor Names Across Two Inputs

binu_acs — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 18:33:42 GMT

@PassION_es Attaching both python and Fuzzy match version, python is more accurate compared to fuzzy match tool

Re: Need Help Building a Fuzzy Match Workflow to Match Vendor Names Across Two Inputs

flying008 — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 01:33:31 GMT

Hi, @PassION_es

Another way for you: (don't need python or fuzzy match tool.)

Re: Need Help Building a Fuzzy Match Workflow to Match Vendor Names Across Two Inputs

PassION_es — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 07:31:00 GMT

Hi @flying008 , thanks for this. However, it did not match the correct output. we have a lot of vendors with some of these have almost similar names such as "United" (United Emirates, United Lab) and such as a vendor name with "Corporation/Corp" on it. It did not match the correct vendor if you will only get one single word from the description or vendor masterlist.

Re: Need Help Building a Fuzzy Match Workflow to Match Vendor Names Across Two Inputs

flying008 — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 07:40:50 GMT

Hi, @PassION_es

Unless you can provide more sample data or precise matching thresholds, we cannot offer further help.

Re: Need Help Building a Fuzzy Match Workflow to Match Vendor Names Across Two Inputs

PassION_es — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 07:54:09 GMT

Hi @flying008

I have added 4 vendor names having the same single word at the end (but some similar names are not always located at the end).

Re: Need Help Building a Fuzzy Match Workflow to Match Vendor Names Across Two Inputs

PassION_es — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 07:59:52 GMT

Hi @binu_acs ,

The output produced should be the same in the dummy file:

Re: Need Help Building a Fuzzy Match Workflow to Match Vendor Names Across Two Inputs

binu_acs — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 14:57:39 GMT

@PassION_es The python script works for me

Re: Need Help Building a Fuzzy Match Workflow to Match Vendor Names Across Two Inputs

flying008 — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 00:52:56 GMT

Hi, @PassION_es

You don't even need to modify any part of above workflow, and the output will still be exactly what you want.

Input01		Input02
DESC 1	DESC 2	Vendor Name
IN025-00050023-UNITED IND		DUMMY BANK PHL
IN0b0-00011501-DUMMYBAN		UNITED INDONESIA INSURANCE CORP
ACCRUAL	YOLANDAURSU -001 -PROF FEES FEB-2026	ANGELO JAYVEN
	AMOT NIMO - PEUT SYSTEMS LIMITED	URSUA, YOLANDA
PH001235-ATU Group, Inc.		JL MOLINA
		URLIFE LIMITED
		PEUT SYSTEMS LIMITED
		ATU Group, Inc.
		LAMI-AN INC


Output
DESC 1	DESC 2	Vendor Name
IN025-00050023-UNITED IND		UNITED INDONESIA INSURANCE CORP
IN0b0-00011501-DUMMYBAN		DUMMY BANK PHL
ACCRUAL	YOLANDAURSU -001 -PROF FEES FEB-2026	URSUA, YOLANDA
	AMOT NIMO - PEUT SYSTEMS LIMITED	PEUT SYSTEMS LIMITED
PH001235-ATU Group, Inc.		ATU Group, Inc.

Re: Need Help Building a Fuzzy Match Workflow to Match Vendor Names Across Two Inputs

PassION_es — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 04:14:42 GMT

@flying008 can you share your yxmd or yxzp file? Because the workflow i created based on your video resulted to incorrect outputs. Thanks.

Re: Need Help Building a Fuzzy Match Workflow to Match Vendor Names Across Two Inputs

PassION_es — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 04:21:52 GMT

Hi binu_acs,

I have tried the recent workflow you posted and there was an error I encountered during running. It came from the Python tool. Please see attached notepad for the error posted from the results window of alteryx.

Do I need to install a python environment and others in my local drive before running the python? Thanks.

Re: Need Help Building a Fuzzy Match Workflow to Match Vendor Names Across Two Inputs

PassION_es — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 04:49:46 GMT

Hi Binu_acs,

I tried to use copilot to troubleshoot. I copy pasted the revised script providing by Co-Pilot using "from difflib import SequenceMatcher" instead of "from rapidfuzz import fuzz". It runs without error. However, not all desired results were produced. Attached is the revised yxmd workflow.

Re: Need Help Building a Fuzzy Match Workflow to Match Vendor Names Across Two Inputs

flying008 — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 06:06:54 GMT

Hi, @PassION_es

Due to security policy restrictions, I am unable to upload any workflow files. Please upload the files as you created based on the animation, and I will review the options to confirm the differences later(assuming you have disabled AMP mode).

Re: Need Help Building a Fuzzy Match Workflow to Match Vendor Names Across Two Inputs

addressbox — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 07:13:12 GMT

Great discussion on building a fuzzy match workflow for vendor names 👍 Handling variations like abbreviations, spelling differences, and extra words is always tricky. Pre-cleaning data (removing terms like “Ltd”, “Co”, etc.) before applying the Fuzzy Match tool really improves accuracy.
Also, adjusting match thresholds and using grouping helps refine results further.
For exploring more data and real estate insights, Addressbox is also a useful platform.

Re: Need Help Building a Fuzzy Match Workflow to Match Vendor Names Across Two Inputs

PassION_es — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 07:25:50 GMT

Hello @flying008 ,

Here's the dummy yxmd file. Please note that this workflow now works on my dummy file and it produced the desired results. However, upon using this in an actual inputs with larger datasets, it did not produce the correct vendor name. Could you pls check my workflow? Thanks

Re: Need Help Building a Fuzzy Match Workflow to Match Vendor Names Across Two Inputs

flying008 — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 08:52:39 GMT

Hi, @PassION_es

1. Please upload the template data for your error. Your workflow file itself depends on the imported xlsx file, but you did not upload it, so I cannot reproduce the scene of the error. (Your workflow tool settings are fine.)
2- Please disable AMP mode.

Re: Need Help Building a Fuzzy Match Workflow to Match Vendor Names Across Two Inputs

PassION_es — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 09:51:03 GMT

Hi @flying008 ,

See attched dummy file and workflow. I disabled also the AMP.

Re: Need Help Building a Fuzzy Match Workflow to Match Vendor Names Across Two Inputs

binu_acs — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 10:47:29 GMT

@PassION_es rapidfuzz is the best option, i updated the code to install this module, can you try now

Re: Need Help Building a Fuzzy Match Workflow to Match Vendor Names Across Two Inputs

PassION_es — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 10:52:40 GMT

Hi Binu_acs,

I think I am having issues with the version for embedding python. I am currently using alteryx 2024.2 version.

Please see attached screenshots: