Businesses worldwide are using location technology and maps for different purposes. Companies in the marketing, transportation/logistics, telecoms, real estate, financial services and insurance industries have integrated mapping technology to improve strategic business decision making.
Most businesses use spreadsheets for business data analysis. A spreadsheet will show you “what” and a map with show you “where” and in order to harness the full power of business data, you need both.
Applications of maps in business include:
1) Direct marketing
2) Potential and current customer distribution analysis
3) Sales territory planning
4) Sales force management
5) Market analysis
6) Asset Management
7) Site selection (securing a location with close customers and high demand)
8) Risk analysis
9) Navigation and Route Planning
10) Cost optimization
11) Branch network optimization
12) Competitor analysis
The following questions will help you decide if your business can benefit from the use of maps.
1. Do you have marketers?
2. Do you do any form of direct marketing?
3. Do you have sales territories?
4. Will the knowledge of the exact location of all your competitors be useful to you?
5. Will the knowledge of the exact location of potential customers be useful to you?
6. Will the knowledge of the exact location of current customers be useful to you?
7. Do you have a profile of your ideal customer?
8. Do you distribute your products directly to consumers / dealers / sales outlets?
9. Will the knowledge of actual sales performance for every sales area / region be profitable to you?
10. Does location affect your business significantly?
11. Do you need to know the exact location of your business assets?
12. Do administrative boundaries have any effect on your business?
Answering “Yes” to 40% of the questions above is a sure sign your business will benefit from using maps.