Abstract

From Gut to Data--How to Make Informed Decisions
Track: Commercial Business
Authors: Julia Marsh

Five years ago, Southern States Cooperative (SSC) was not using GIS to make informed decisions about the locations of its stores. Instead, the company relied on previous experience and their collective guts. Today, the company is making decisions using analytical data.

The Business Analysis Department started from scratch when they were giving a sample version of software and asked to see if it was useful. Today, they use Business Analysis to create trade territories, profile customers, determine market share and find new locations.

This presentation will discuss how SSC starting using the data, how they are using the data, and how the GIS team got management buy in to the process. It will focus on the struggles and pitfalls of beginning to use data to make informed decisions.