Mapping & GIS
We use mapping tools for analysis and visualisation, and for preparing geographic data for modelling within consultancy assignments - they enable various logistics network design and location analysis such as:
- Facility relocation and weighted "centres of gravity"
- Visualise size of flows
- Allocate customers between fulfilment centres or depots
Read our talk through of a typical logistics mapping project.
For £27 you can buy our ebook on UK Logistics Location Strategy - fill in our contact form and someone will be back to you very shortly.
We have also helped clients in sales and marketing:
- Identifying customer hot spots
- Prioritising sales leads
- Competitor adjacency analysis
And in areas such as managing territories for field engineers.
What is Maptitude and what else can it do?
Maptitude Geographic Information System (GIS) software is cost-effective comprehensive desktop mapping software from Caliper. With Maptitude you can:
- Know exactly where your customers are and what sites are best for your business
- Identify hot-spots, geographic patterns and trends that cannot be seen in database tables and spreadsheets
- Use demographic data to model what additional business is likely to look like for your company
- Ask questions of your data based on its location, specific attributes and/or what else is in the vicinity
- Enhance your reports and presentations with maps and charts
You can see some of the other imaginative analysis and presentation options in Maptitude here on Caliper's website.
Maptitude Training
Maptitude includes extensive geographic data so you can get started as soon as you install the software. You can learn how to use Maptitude yourself - there is built-in help, the user manual is also comprehensive including many tutorials, and then there are plenty of helpful videos on Maptitude's site and on YouTube. However many people find that a more time-effective method is to undertake training.
Aricia provides UK-based in-company training aimed at getting you started with Maptitude and more tailored training for specific needs. Aricia's training is suitable for business users who need to create maps and analyse data in a geographic way, but who are not GIS experts (and don't particularly want / need to be!). The training is a mixture of some subjects that are covered in depth and awareness of other features so that the user can return to them as required.
Or, if you need assistance with something specific, we can help you with on-the-project coaching, so you come away with useful results immediately. Minimum 2 hours (=£220+VAT) or pro rata - we try to keep Friday mornings free for this.
Maptitude Tips
We usually change one of the tips every week or so:
Tip A: You don’t always have to import data. If you want to quickly add a particular location as a freehand item, such as a DC or HO, Control F brings up a search panel where you can type in, for example, Town or Postcode – just select the specific option or Address if you have all the details and then tick the box to have a marker. Or if you’re creating a drivetime zone, Maptitude will let you add a location by pointing.
Tip B: The facility location tool allows you to select from 3 options: one looks to provide the best overall access to your customer base, one seeks to make sure that you’re still giving great service to those furthest away (useful if you’re police, ambulance etc) and there's an option to locate away from your customers if you’re not favourite as a neighbour (perhaps a waste transfer station).
Tip C: Made a number of Selections on your map and you’re now looking at the Dataview and wondering which selection is which? Just open the dropdown (where you select the Working Layer when you’re using the map) and you can see a nice, neat list!
If you'd like an alert when a fresh tip is posted, follow on Twitter:
Follow @KirstenTisdale on Twitter