The ease-of-use of mobile apps like Google Maps and Strava (which is now being used for urban planning) has inspired a lot of companies to start thinking differently about location technology. Consequently, many IT professionals are being asked, and discovering how, to create location-based applications.
“IT is now being required to build spatially-aware or enabled applications, without a history of working with these technologies,” says Clarence Hempfield, vice president of location intelligence (LI) at Pitney Bowes. “That means organizations like Pitney Bowes have had to deliver these capabilities in such a way that a non-GIS expert can build and deliver geospatial applications, without the foundation of years of working with the technology.”
This rapid consumerization of GIS technology has allowed anyone with a smartphone to use aspects of GIS technology with a few taps of their fingers, revealing valuable location data that they use to find new stores, assist with driving directions and more — and consumers are expecting companies to follow suit.
Why location is fundamental to all business processes
While many businesses have been hesitant to invest in location intelligence software solutions, expecting a degree of difficulty in implementing this technology, some GIS tools can be effectively used by IT professionals. Thanks to the increasing demand for location-based applications, solutions have been developed that can be used by both Fortune 500 companies and store owners of a local coffee shop.
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