Mapping Software - is there such a thing?

[Richard Martin]

This is a bit of a vague request I'm afraid, but I'm after some software and thought I'd give this lively old forum a shot..

I am looking for an editable mapping tool to enable me to plot the locations of our sales reps and attach sales information to those areas, preferably by uploading a data file (csv, xml etc)

I'd then like to be able to search via revenue earned, sales completed, hair colour, shoe size, whatever.


Until now we've been using a large paper map with red stickers and post-it notes and I want to update this system (the post-it notes keep falling off).

Does anyone know of such a tool? Please reply with some suggestions if possible.

We do have a limited budget but all suggestions are useful.

Thanks for reading
Richard.

 

[DotNetWebs]

Hi Richard

Have you had a look at Mapoint:

http://www.microsoft.com/mappoint/products/2006/default.mspx

Regards

Dotty

 

[Mr_Wizard]

Would need to know a little more about the exact requirements but I've used AutoRoute in the past where service companies want to pinpoint the locations of engineers in relation to customer sites. Those 'pins' then have details about the skill sets of the engineers.

That 'might' give you an off the shelf solution with a few compromises - but I'm sure there are some better single product solutions, or solutions where 2 applications interface together (such as AutoRoute and a CRM package).

 

[spreadsheetsdirect]

You can plot postcodes on a map in Excel which you could automatically update from downloads with a macro. With a bit of playing around it would be possible to do a filter for it.

 

[dave_n]

have to second mappoint...great api and straightforward to develop against

 

[DotNetWebs]

...or solutions where 2 applications interface together...

Yes the ideal solution would be to use Mappoint / Virtual Earth / Google Earth combined with a custom back end system.

For example the Virtual Horsham and Visit Horsham applications in my signature both use a common database. When the database is updated the results are instantly available in both. There is a great API for VE (and GE) that make this sort of thing relatively easy.

Regards

Dotty

 

[garyk]

I would look into the licensing for this if this is for a commercial product. Googlemaps, mappoint, multimap all publish APIs which let you easily integrate mapping functionality but that only if you are providing that information for free on a public website.

If this is part of an application that is being charged then you have to pay, and pay big time! Googlemaps starts at 10K per annum!

Gary

 

[OldWelshGuy]

well said gary. We are looking into having a google enterprise licence for one of our sites. Check the T&c always, else you can end up in hot water..

 

[Mister B]

Try MemoryMap Very useful for the outdoors and the last time I looked, the technology was moving at a fair old rate of knots and may be suitable for you now.

Could be a lower cost alternative?

Mister B

 

[KidsBeeHappy]

HI

I resell a program, and i think it may do what you're after.

It is a route mapping program called travelmanager, it has all the usualy route planning/mapping functions. but the bit that i think would be good for you is the database it. The software has inbuild databases for airports, carpaks etc, but it also allows you to create your own databases.

http://www.softwair.co.uk/travelmanager/index1.html
They have the worst website in the world, but their product is very very good. If you phone the number on the webpage and ask for Gary, he can discuss with you if the program will let you record the kind of detail you want in these databases.

Since we've found this product we've used and recommended nothing else for route mapping. It's just whether it can do the functionality that you want.

Anyway, it's licensed for business use, it's cheap (£29.99 + £2 postage), and is definitely worth a shot.

Kind regards
Sandra

 

[DotNetWebs]

...only if you are providing that information for free on a public website...

Good point. I had forgotten about the VE/GE terms for non public facing websites. I looked into it once for another project and the costs were prohibitive.

I don't know much about the Mappoint application (as opposed to the web service), but I would have thought this could be used to display Richard's data if it were stored in Excel/SQL etc. A custom application could be used to manipulate this data.

Correct me if I am wrong but I don't think there is any additional licence cost for using the mappoint application in this way.

Regards

Dotty

 

[Richard Martin]

Thanks for all the replies. I appreciate the feedback.

We are only planning to use this tool in the office, nothing will be published on, or intergrated with the website.

We are looking to set up local business 'hubs' around the UK and this tool will be used to colate sales and revenue data in order to choose the location fo the hubs and to monitor progress in selected areas.

 

[Tim R-T-C]

Take a look at www.graticule.com - the Postcode Analyst software there takes a .csv and plots the locations on a map, as well as doing sales territory details and showing sizes of sales etc.

Might be suitable and there is a free trial available.

 

[Richard Martin]

Just to add a little more information, as well as plotting locations on the maps and adding all manner of sales data, we also need to be able to filter the map to display selected criteria. Eg display all locations with turnover between £x and £x.

Any thoughts?

 

[scooter]

Have you tried a company called Geoplan that do Post code mapping systems and with them you can do allsorts of different tasks

Regards

 

[Richard Martin]

Thanks Scooter, that looks like the kind of thing I'm after.

At least I now know the type of software I'm looking for, a GIS (Geographical Imaging Software) tool apparently..

 

[DotNetWebs]

...as well as plotting locations on the maps and adding all manner of sales data, we also need to be able to filter the map to display selected criteria. Eg display all locations with turnover between £x and £x.

Any thoughts?

Hi Richard

I mentioned Mappoint before, did you take a look at the demo?:

http://www.microsoft.com/mappoint/products/2006/trial.mspx

Run the browser demo and the "Mappoint in Sales" exercise, I think you may find it could be used to do what you want (provided you provide it with appropriate data in a spreadsheet etc.)

Regards

Dotty

 

[VirtualAnalyst]

Hi Richard, did you manage to sort your problem? I may be too late (and I appologiese if I am not supposed to offer my own services as a solution - moderators, please advise as I am totally new to this )

I don't know if it would help you Richard, but I am currently setting up a small business to provide a wide range of 'virtual' analytical services for small companies. I have all the necessary mapping software (MapPoint, Geomedia etc.) along with a whole host of other applications and reporting tools (SQL Server, SPSS, Crystal Reports, All Office applications Excel, Access etc.) for analyzing, visualizing and presenting data. I am a qualified Analyst (over 12 years) and trained in the use of most of the applications mentioned above, and also studied technology and business at graduate/post graduate level. I am also skilled in VBA (programming environment for Office applications).

Would you consider farming out this work? I can do everything you have requested so far - and possibly help you further if you wanted to do more. I would be happy to demonstrate the outputs (based on your data and the criteria you specified) to show you what I can produce, and if it was what you wanted, could produce this work on a regular or ad-hoc basis (specified by you). The benefits of using my services are:

1. You pay only for the work produced
2. You don't need to hire specialist full time staff who can use these products
3. No need to purchase specialist software or equipment - I already have it
4. I can produce all your performance related reporting just as you want it
5. I am an analyst by trade and understand strategy, performanace management, process improvement etc. etc. so understand what you are trying to achieve
6. I am friendly, honest and reliable

If you haven't found a solution, and are interested, please let me know. My website will be published in the next couple of weeks. Would anyone else be intersted in this service?

 

[martin@cc]

Not sure if this helps, but I have a GPS device for when I go running or cycling (so same principal) and it uploads to:

Sanoodi
MapMyRun

 

[TotallySport]

This might not help, but our local taxi firm has software that lets them track their drives and let you know where they are so they can inform the customer if they ring cos they are late, its a good bit of customer services IMO.

Not sure exactly what it does but if you want to ring and ask the number is:

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=e...t=result&cd=1&q=phoenix+taxis+urmston&spell=1