Many organizations rely on location intelligence software to make informed strategic decisions that move their businesses forward. But what is the right location intelligence software for your company? There are many options on the market, and each software provides a slightly different feature set.
The Global Location Intelligence Market was valued at $20.4 billion in 2023, and is expected to rise at a strong CAGR of over 14.8% between 2023-2030, according to industry analysis by RationalStat. As these numbers indicate, location intelligence is becoming increasingly vital for businesses, driven by the widespread use of smart devices and investments in IoT and network services.
This trend was recently accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic when a larger number of companies discovered location intelligence systems and used them to navigate the unpredictable and ever-changing business landscape.
According to Precedence Research data, the biggest power users of location intelligence tools are sales and marketing professionals, with 20.7% of the market share, who primarily use them to optimize their segmentation and get the best results from their targeting.
However, if we take a look at location intelligence users by vertical, the transportation and logistics segment emerged as the top revenue contributor, capturing a significant share of 19.4%. This alignment is hardly surprising, considering that location intelligence is extensively employed to enhance route optimization, monitor shipments, and bolster operational efficiency within the transportation and logistics sector.
Below, we provide basic information on location intelligence software and its role across different industries. We also provide a rundown of your 10 best location intelligence software options for 2024 and beyond. Explore the list to find the best location intelligence software for your unique business.
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Location intelligence software, also called “spatial intelligence software,” is a business intelligence solution that provides location analytics to identify the relationship between certain objects based on their physical locations. You can also think of any software option as a map-based analytics platform for location data, data management, and related customer data.
Location intelligence tools enable users to visualize trends on maps and graphics to optimize certain business opportunities. Users can easily spot patterns and trends from these location analytics with the help of features like density analysis, distance and travel data, and geospatial mapping for determining terrain., among other features.
The use cases for location intelligence software are as varied as the industries using it:
Because location intelligence software often collects and processes personal information from website visitors, it must be used in a way that complies with applicable data privacy laws. This is achievable by adding a basic privacy policy to your website.
Businesses across a wide range of industries use location intelligence software to optimize operations and maximize revenue. However, the ideal location intelligence software for your business may be different than the perfect option for a business operating in a different industry. Here’s a look at your best location intelligence software options for 2024 and beyond, including notes on what software options work best for different use cases.
Maptive is the best all-around software for business data mapping. Its standout feature is its user-friendly interface, making it an ideal choice for both novice users and experienced professionals. Boasting advanced features and backed by a responsive customer service team, Maptive ensures a seamless experience. Plus, the platform’s continuous updates guarantee access to the latest in location intelligence capabilities, all without the need for any coding expertise.
It’s a great option for real estate firms, sales teams, healthcare businesses, transport and supply chain operations, plus more. Maptive offers a robust feature set that can support your team in analyzing spatial data, using predictive analytics to make business decisions, and so much more.
Maptive offers tools that can help any type of business, including drive time maps, heat maps, territory mapping tools, demographics, geographic boundary mapping, and data grouping, plus full customization of visualizations. Maptive will also soon launch CRM integrations so that you can connect the platform to your existing CRM.
To learn more about Maptive’s mapping software and its business data mapping capabilities, schedule a demo. You can also start exploring Maptive through a free trial.
Alteryx is your best bet for advanced machine-learning-based location intelligence software. Be aware, however, that there may be a somewhat steep learning curve as you and your team get up and running on how to use Alteryx, but it can provide value as a location intelligence tool.
Alteryx provides a robust platform for data analytics, encompassing tasks such as address cleansing and standardization, customer location exploration, and insights into demographics and purchasing behaviors. Additionally, the platform offers tools for developing marketing strategies and automating processes.
What’s interesting about Carto is that it’s a location intelligence platform that is good specifically for spatial analysis. Spatial analysis is the practice of evaluating the relationships between locations, their attributes, and their features.
Businesses turn to spatial analysis tools like Carto when they need to understand the interplay between locations, their characteristics, and associated data. In these instances, businesses will find spatial analysis more valuable than just general location intelligence as it allows them to move beyond “where” to “why” and “how” in relation to specific locations.
If your organization has this type of unique need for spatial analysis, Carto can be a good option. Its location intelligence platform allows you to store, enrich, analyze, and visualize your data in order to make spatially aware decisions.
Not all businesses need complex location intelligence software that’s going to deliver rich insights. Some need basic mapping capabilities, which makes a simplified and basic tool like Scribble Maps helpful.
Keep in mind that Scribble Maps is not the best option for companies that need location intelligence software on a daily basis. Rather, Scribble Maps is a great option for organizations that need a stripped-down version of location intelligence tools that can provide general information and guidance. If that describes your organization, Scribble Maps might be the right software at the right price.
Esri ArcGIS is a geographic information system (hence the GIS in the name) that offers unique capabilities and flexible licensing for applying location-based analytics to business practices. This location intelligence tool gives users insights via contextual tools to visualize and analyze data. Users can collaborate and share through maps, apps, dashboards, and reports.
For advanced GIS mapping, Esri ArcGIS is one of your best software options. Keep in mind that for more advanced tasks like automation, customization, or complex geoprocessing workflows, some level of coding knowledge can be beneficial. Esri offers scripting languages like Python and ArcGIS Arcade that can extend the functionality of ArcGIS. If you’re looking for location intelligence software that’s a little more well-rounded, you will want to explore others on this list.
If your organization is already using Salesforce as its CRM, it is relatively fast and easy to get up and running with Salesforce Maps as your cloud-based mapping software. Salesforce Maps is specifically a good tool for sales and service teams who need to optimize their routes and get live updates from the field. It can be applied to other use cases, but field sales teams are the most natural fit.
With Salesforce Maps, you can visualize data, plan smart visits, and focus on high-value leads and appointments. In addition, Salesforce Maps saves time previously spent on planning and administration, allowing you to focus on other tasks. These features make Salesforce Maps a quality option for companies already using the platform as their CRM.
Salesforce Maps isn’t the only option for Salesforce CRM users. You can also choose Geopointe as your location intelligence software, which allows you to improve your business trip planning and execution. With features like calendar-based scheduling, routing, and nearby search, Geopointe makes it simple and straightforward to plan and execute trips for maximum efficiency.
Geopointe can also help you intelligently manage your sales territories. With features like the shape editor and automated assignment, Geopointe makes it easy to map out and manage your territories — ensuring that they are equitable for all reps. In addition, Geopointe offers customizable reporting and analytics, seamless integration with Salesforce, and mobile accessibility for on-the-go functionality, making it a versatile alternative for Salesforce CRM users seeking comprehensive location intelligence capabilities.
Some location intelligence software options fit well with specific industries. KeepTruckin, designed to fit the needs of the transportation sector, offers real-time tracking, AI-powered safety insights, and a connected vehicle network.
One of its more interesting features provides insights that can help prevent accidents before they happen. This could include driver behavior monitoring–especially through AI-powered dashcams–and alerts for potential safety hazards. It also offers a network of connected vehicles, which helps users create benchmarks for safety and efficiency alongside others in North America.
HyperTrack is another location intelligence software option that works best within a specific industry — logistics in this case.
HyperTrack helps businesses of all sizes improve asset utilization, satisfy customers with live order tracking, and accelerate time to market. Its logistics cloud powers real-time location experiences in both web and native app experiences. Use HyperTrack’s APIs, SDKs, and embed views to quickly implement customized solutions.
Trusted by logistics firms, the platform optimizes delivery routes, maximizes asset utilization, and enhances operational efficiency with its real-time tracking capabilities.
For organizations looking for accurate travel time calculations, especially across various modes of transport and on a global scale, Traveltime stands out as a robust solution.
With the ability to calculate times using both public transport and multimodal data, Traveltime delivers rapid results, processing travel times in 60 milliseconds or less. Plus, it offers customizable parameters to accommodate specific use cases, making it a top choice for precise travel time calculations.
However, Traveltime is not useful for tasks such as route optimization, demographics analysis, or visualizing data on maps–so if you need functionalities beyond just travel time calculation, then other location intelligence tools might be better for you.
As we have established throughout this article, there’s no shortage of location intelligence software to consider when you need location-based insights for your business. The only question is: What features and functionalities do you need?
The best intelligence software for location data that fits your organization will be the one that helps streamline your work, create efficiencies within your business, and ultimately drive more revenue.
The booming location intelligence industry offers a golden opportunity for businesses to gain a competitive edge. By adopting these innovative tools early, companies can unlock valuable insights and optimize operations, putting them ahead of the curve.
If you’re interested in exploring Maptive as your location intelligence software of choice, get in touch with us to learn more and start your free trial.
Brad Crisp is the CEO at Maptive.com, based in Denver, CO and born in San Francisco, CA. He has extensive experience in Business Mapping, GIS, Data Visualization, Mapping Data Analytics and all forms of software development. His career includes Software Development and Venture Capital dating back to 1998 at businesses like Maptive, GlobalMojo (now Giving Assistant), KPG Ventures, Loopnet, NextCard, and Banking.
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