Are the Data Analytics programs, reports and spreadsheets overwhelming you?

After all the data analytics are completed and the reports submitted, is the impact of what is happening in your market clear? If the answer is no, then maybe you should “look” at the data in a different way. Use the location component of the data to create a picture that everyone can understand.

The simplest way to create a picture is to put the data on a map. Now you can see where your customers are located. More detailed data analysis is possible when this information is combined with a layer that shows population trends, distribution of income and any other attributes that are applicable. Viewing and sharing the map is easy. Google Earth is an excellent platform for displaying data and distributing it to everyone in your organization.

Most of the data needed to create this type of display is probably already available in a customer information spreadsheet or database file. The first step is to clean the file of duplicates and geo-code the entries. Other sources of information or attributes can then combined with the file. The next step is to create KML files that are compatible with the Google platform. Finally, display the information and distribute it.

Data analytics from customer files produce information that is invaluable. In order to reap its full benefits, the information must be presented in a format that is assessable to all the stakeholders. The choice is clear, a report and a chart, or a map that displays the information.

Send us your data and we will transform it into information.

Even Historians Do It!

What do they Do? They use Geographic Information Software (GIS) to analyze and present data. I recently watched a program on television about the history of a small English town. The program detailed the development that have occurred in the last two hundred years. They tracked changes in the population and correlated it to the economic activity during that period of history.

The narrative was interesting and so was the explanation of the reasons for the growth and contraction of the town. All the statistics were well presented but it was not until they showed a map of the area with the trade routes and the changes in the population imposed on it that the picture was clear. The location of the town was a key contributor to its economic fortunes.

Displaying any data graphically helps explain complex ideas and engages the audience. GIS techniques can be used to simply map customer locations or produce location intelligence - detailed trend analysis integrated with demographics. This kind of information was once only available to organizations with large IT budgets. Now anyone can Do It - with GIS tools for data analysis and Google products to display the results. 

Population Distribution in Southern Ontario

 Here is a sample of the distribution of the population in Southern Ontario. Using a table present this type of data is good, a graph or pie chart is better, showing it using a thematic map overlaid on a Google Map is best.    

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Google Maps Mania: The Canadian Census on Google Maps

Google Maps Mania: The Canadian Census on Google Maps

Here is another great application using Google Maps and Census data.

Google Maps Mania: Agricultural Zoning on Google Maps

Google Maps Mania: Agricultural Zoning on Google Maps

Location Intelligence vs the Map on the Wall

I just returned from a meeting with a potential client.  As I entered his office, I immediately understood. There is was on the wall, a map with push pins and areas colored in with markers. No one understood it but him and during his last vacation, nobody could figure it out.  Could this be you and your organization?

It got worse. The company sold products and services every day but did not have a profile of their customers. Each “pin” showed the customer location but did not tell them when the last orders were shipped and gave no indication of when they might be ready to order again.  

The solution was to take the data out of the filing cabinet and combine it with the location data. A custom map was created that showed customer locations and with the click of the mouse, all the data on each customer. This information is now being used to design marketing campaigns for under served areas and to help forecast demand for products and services. Using location intelligence is fast and easy and makes you money.

Location Intelligence, Risk Management and Insurance

Have you seen a map of all the lakes and rivers in Ontario?  In many places the water table is so high any unusual rainfall could result in wet basements.  Do you know where most tornadoes occur or where the probability of wildfires is highest?  Would you like to know where the problem areas are located so that you can make an informed decision? 

 Map showing areas that are susceptible to flooding (red)

This kind of information also known as Location Intelligence could save money and improve the time needed to respond when and if there is a problem.  Assessing the risk associated with insuring properties located in areas that are prone to natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes and others is one of the cornerstones of the insurance industry.  When a request is made for coverage in an area, Location Intelligence can be used to assess the risk of insuring the site.

 Map of homes 200m from the Fire Hall

 Creating Location Intelligence begins with geocoding the address of the property of interest.  The geocoded address is then overlaid on a base map that shows the weather pattern of choice.  Other information such as the location of areas of soil contamination or the locations of houses with damp basements that are susceptible to mold can also be easily added.  In fact, all the values included in Risk Analysis Tabulations can be overlaid on a map of a local area to assess the risk attached to an area. 

The risk factors are presented as layers on a map which can be turned off or on as required.  This approach gives insurers the means to visualize countless databases of historical information and present them in a way that can be readily understood.  It allows insurance companies to manage exposure to risk, by managing the risk density of a particular area.  

Location Intelligence is not only an analytical tool but can be used to create a picture that can be used to assess risk factors and so improve decision making.  This kind of intelligence can be yours, contact us.  

If you cannot Find it, We can Build it!

Have you accessed some of the several terabytes of maps that are currently available, and still not found what you want?  Although they cover most of the earth’s geometry. sometimes they just do not provide the details many customers need.  That is where we come it.

 If you need a map for a particular area with specific features, or you need a hypothetical view of how a project matches the topography, there is an easy solution.  The data you want can be captured, processed and displayed in whatever format works best.

We can use satellite imagery, existing hard copy maps, digital representations, just about any data as a starting point.  The next step is to integrate it with the information to be displayed.  Voila you have your map.

Get a step ahead of the competition.  Your custom map can then be used to display customer locations, plan delivery and sales routes and any other creative project you may have.