So, we all know technology is there to solve problems or make things easier and more efficient in your working day. Using mapping tools and geospatial technology is no different.
Google Maps offers a great starter for 10, you can quickly load some data and display it on a map with a bit of filtering, but with Mapsimise we take your maps and business data to 11. (Sorry about the spinal tap reference, I had to get it in somehow.)
The solution is not about the technology used or the pretty interface or Ui. Although Mapsimise is very clean and easy to use, the important part is the data.
We all have data in our businesses, usually in many different systems and in one or more spreadsheets which in reality probably means an abundance of Excel spreadsheets or similar.
We can all record data in our CRM, be it Salesforce, Sugar or even Microsoft Dynamics. We can import or export, we can move data to other systems like HR and Finance, but all these systems are designed to collect data. The general idea of data processing has not gone away, we all just keep filling in fields.
The purpose of Mapsimise and other BI (Business Intelligence) tools is to present or enhance data you have already collected, to present it in a new way and show connections between different sets of data.
Technology has a habit of creating statements and acronyms along with gobbledegook, but we call this Location Intelligence:-
Location intelligence (LI) is a business intelligence (BI) tool capability that relates geographic contexts to business data. Like BI, location intelligence software is designed to turn data into insight for a host of business purposes.
Let me explain with a few examples why it is important to your business and what problems it solves. Also, how it can help you make better decisions through data relationships and how data connects with eachother.
Example 1 – Locating your Customers
If you were to go into your CRM or your customer database, you are going to get a list of records. Now let’s say if you randomly picked two or three records you would see all the details but what you would not see is how, let’s say, these account records relate in distance or by location to each other. Yes, you could look at the postcode but let’s face it, the postcode is just that - a code. So, unless you have studied the Post Office database you’re not going to know. This is what is meant by Location Intelligence - with Mapsimise we enhance your data and allow you to view it by its location on a map, allowing you to understand easily and quickly how the data relates to its own location and the location of other records. Location information is very relevant and can help sales and marketing teams make better decisions.
Example 2 – Helping Sales with Locations
Why would maps help with sales? Why would location be important? Well firstly let’s look at field sales. It is important to use a resources time wisely and limit cost and travel time. With Mapsimise you can build layers of data that relate to different things. So, in one view you can see suppliers, partners, customers and prospects. A salesperson viewing the related information by location could easily make multiple appointments in the same area, maximising time, and hopefully generating more sales with a lower cost of sale.
Example 3 – Helping Marketing with Event Locations
I recently blogged about Event Management and how it is easy to create an event without knowing the locations of your attendees. If you think about it, it is more efficient to take a presentation or set up an event near your customers, than find a central location and expect them to come. If you had all of your customers and prospects on a map you could quickly identify where there were groups of customers by location. Then you would go on to find a suitable event, near restaurants or facilities and this way your customers are more likely to engage and attend as traveling requires less effort.
If your event is a large trade show say in the middle of London, or Manchester then you could use maps to show which customers are within a 10- or 20-mile proximity and focus on marketing to those.
These are just 3 examples but there are many more. We’ll get around to documenting all the great advantages of Location Intelligence, but for now think about how your data could be visualised and how your teams could gain a huge amount of value from understanding connections and location information about customers.
If you are ready to get started follow the steps below to set up your free Mapsimise account and create your first map. If you need a little help or would like to find out more the do contact us here
How to get started with Mapsimise
If you are ready to get started, it's so easy! Start visualising your data on one or more maps by signing up to your own Mapsimise account and get started. Follow the steps below:
- Firstly, visit our website Mapsimise.com
- Click Get Started
- Select the package that suites your organisation
- Fill in the registration form
- Validate and log in to your Mapsimise account (by email)
- Add your billing information and select the connectors or upgrade from your Go Package
If you get stuck, you can sign into the Help Desk and raise a ticket with Mapsimise Support OR click here.
We look forward to working with you and helping you visualise your data, gaining location intelligence.
