Geographic information system (GIS) is a system developed to store and manage geographic data. The architecture of GIS allows companies to collect, store and manipulate this information. The are many applications of GIS, more specifically in the domain of logistics, it can also be used by different organisations in planning and managing activities. Longitude, latitude, and elevation data can be recorded in GIS using x, y, and z variables and this geographic data can be compared with other datasets.
The three ways of using GIS within an organisation is tracking geographic information of customers, planning logistics, and analysing business operations in different locations. Firstly, businesses can use GIS to track the geographic information regarding their customers, for example, the location or region in which the majority of sales occur. This data can help optimise the sales and advertising campaigns by targeting the region that is the most profitable.
Secondly, as was mentioned, businesses that rely on accurate logistics can rely on GIS digital mapping to plan their operations, for example, by tracking and managing deliveries of products. Finally, GIS can be used to analyse the supply and demand based on regional activity. As was mentioned GIS systems allow comparing data such as sales to the geographic locations, and companies can analyse the activities of their branches or profitability of a particular area by combining information from GIS with other data.
Additionally, it can be used to visualise information regarding assets and improve management of assets since the managers can develop strategic plans using the geographic data. Overall, GIS is an essential element for any contemporary business enterprise that allows managing geographic data.