MapInfo, a $225m+ provider of software, information and services in location intelligence offers a new opportunity for organizations to reach their performance targets. Location intelligence is a newly defined business focus and software solution set that has evolved from the historical niche GIS market of the 90 s into a mainstream conversation and opportunity for business. The use of location is critical for any product- or services-focused organization that is looking to proactively identify opportunities, analyze competitive threats, and utilize existing resources to improve customer profitability. Marketing, sales, service and supply chain areas should integrate location and geographic/demographic information into their management and business analysis operations. Applications like consumer lifestyle, direct mail, budget allocation, store maturity rate and clustering, brand/category and sales forecasting are all potential operational areas that can be enhanced. MapInfo improves customer intelligence and supports operational performance management through a set of software and services. The application developers can use MapXtreme for Microsoft and .NET environments, while Java and web services approaches can use MapInfo Envinsa. Strategic analysts who want full decision support capabilities should look to the flagship product MapInfo Professional that provides a full array of geographic and demographic information, including analytical services, to support custom needs. The market for location intelligence is rapidly growing in demand and in competitive differentiation. MapInfo is leading this charge and is demonstrating how to integrate location into critical applications for BI and performance management. BI vendors have been historically slow to integrate mapping and location as part of their mainstream activities. MicroStrategy and MapInfo have worked together in joint product integration and customer development. MapInfo will need to work with the larger BI vendors and the large ERP/CRM providers to make location mainstream. Organizations looking to become more competitive within their operations and finance functions should examine how location intelligence can improve their ability to truly address their performance management initiatives. MapInfo, through its unique and innovative technologies for business and IT, has accelerated organizations ability to improve business processes and resulting performance. BI, from a business and technology perspective, will not be complete without leveraging Location Intelligence to bring new levels of efficiency and effectiveness to your business. Source: www.intelligententerprise.coma>