Location analytics is driving decision making more and more every day. We see it all the time as more and more customers start using our Planned Grocery platform or they take advantage of our streaming plan where we stream our Planned Grocery data directly into their existing mapping platform. Technology is transforming the way we shop, eat, and drive and this affects real estate in a big way. The companies, analysis methods, and data sources mentioned in this book are just some of the ways to better understand location analytics.
The big takeaway is that you need to understand that there are layers of spatial data. These layers may be proprietary to your organization, they may be free, they may come with your GIS software, or they many have an annual licensing fee. These layers can be easily shared through the organization and with the right software they can be analyzed to provide better location awareness to the organization. First you need to clearly define your organizations problems they are trying to solve. Then look for the data and analysis tools to get those results.
I am excited about the growth in the location analytics and data scientists’ fields. I recently spoke with a data scientist who worked for a Wall Street investment company and thought to myself that I wished this job title had existed 25 years ago! In the computer mapping job field, you must be a data scientist first to know what data to use and what data not to use. You will be asked lots of questions about data that does not exist. So, you need to know what data is out there and what data you can create on your own. Location analytics is an exciting and growing field. If you find a job in this field, I hope that it challenges you and brings you as much joy as it has me over the years.