The ESRI Business GIS Summit was combined this year with the ESRI UC in order to provide users with the opportunity to not only reduce their travel costs but to take advantage of the full User Conference experience. It was a good move and Mike Johnson,ESRI Business GIS executive said that he saw registrations rise because of that move.
At the opening session,he identified four business activities where corporations can leverage geospatial technology:
- Asset Management
- Planning &Analysis
- Field Mobility
- Operational Awareness:e.g.:one challenge is asset utilization and supply chain efficiency
Demos of ArcGIS Business Analyst focused on three scenarios and trying to apply a methodology to problem solving.
In a retail scenario for market analysis and optimizing store distribution the challenges focused on determining which markets to enter,expand,or exit;creating optimized retail networks,eliminate poor performers and add new location with best potential. The process of site selection has not radically changed over the years and the criteria are basically the same (revenue potential;basic demographics). Now,though,some of the analytical functions that have been added to desktop solutions allow more data to be modeled as perhaps seven or eight different mini-models that funnel into a combined retail model.
What are the current trends in retail? According to ESRI there is cautious growth in retialing. Users of GIS now ask how they can repurpose the investments in GIS to accommodate the existing economic environment such as reviewing leases and optimizing the existing network of stores.
In the transportation sector,many organizations are not leveraging the available data such as height and weight restrictions,driving directions could be clearer and the location of trucks is not always known. Solving the routing problem is not the issue but rather making sure that the optimization process is better than the "manual"method so that a true ROI is demonstrated.
But with fuel costs nearly half of what they were from last year?s record levels are users still enthusiastic about GIS? Again,according to ESRI,those rising fuel costs brought GIS technology advantages to the forefront. And when fuel costs declined,transportation and fleet companies realized what GIS can offer and they want to be prepared now for any future fuel costs increases.
In the insurance sector,the movement is to geocode to rooftop level accuracy. ZIP codes are no longer valid. Insurers need to pinpoint opportunities such that they are neither over exposed or missing large areas where business might be obtained and in doing so leads to better optimization of marketing dollars. Some are losing business because customers are being overcharged;in other areas,marketing dollars are wasted. Therefore,solutions are needed where they can provide a more accurate understanding of risk and to determine accurate pricing for the specific location.