geoVue goes beyond simple site selection. It optimizes locations. Using its innovative solutions and domain expertise, geoVue develops predictive store trade areas that allow clients to decide which markets to enter, expand or exit, how they should optimize store networks within each market and what sites to choose.
The new toolbar functionality enables geoVue’s iPLAN Lynx users to create iPLAN map layers, market blue prints and other system output. This output can then be exported in native third-party formats and loaded to run within various third-party mapping applications. Using iPLAN Lynx, they can request system output for viewing and create additional analyses for use within ESRI’s Business Analyst, MapInfo’s Anysite and others.
According to David Powell, vice president of Sales and Marketing for geoVue, “iPLAN Lynx now enables companies to maintain their existing site screening tools while benefiting from geoVue’s web-based territory optimization and market planning platform. This allows them to leverage investments in location intelligence they’ve already made, while expanding their capabilities with industry-leading analytical tools.”
iPLAN Lynx is the only market optimization tool on the market today that uses the road network to determine the optimal number of locations that a given market can support. It is the best available solution used to identify the ideal position of each site to get the most from the entire network. iPLAN Lynx combines the power of mathematical models with the experience of research analysts. The market results come back in minutes as an efficient, practical, reliable and valuable way for franchises and chain facility operators to get maximum returns on their real estate investments.
This latest version of geoVue’s iPLAN offers a number of breakthrough features, including:
- High-speed drive-time engine computes millions of drive-time “trips” from each neighborhood in a market to each candidate location. Using this new engine, chains can now optimize entire markets in seconds or minutes vs. hours or days.
- Enhanced usability enables even inexperienced users to run “what if” scenarios, analyze system output and create presentation-quality reports. Now, even non-technical individuals without analyst training (execs, assistants, franchise sales managers, etc.) can achieve top results.
- Works in conjunction with numerous desktop mapping and reporting software offerings (ESRI’s Business Analyst- *.shp format, MapInfo- Mid/Mif format, etc.), so that customers can leverage their existing mapping systems.
- In addition to the existing stand-alone desktop configuration, customers can now purchase hosted ASP web-based solutions or integrated enterprise applications that can be tailored to a retailer’s size and needs, with customized, role-based access to information.
- The Franchise Portal, a Lynx-based packaged solution for franchise companies, allows quick and efficient access of optimized markets, creating efficiency in territory development and accelerating new franchise locations.
geoVue’s iPLAN software adapts to changing market conditions. While a market blueprint is a snapshot in time, iPLAN allows clients to update plans and evaluate “what-if” scenarios as business landscapes evolve. The software allows users to perform the following analyses:
- Market Potential: Identify over- or under-performing locations.
- Market Capacity: Estimate the ideal number of locations a market can support.
- Market Opportunity: Identify the best new locations to maximize market performance.
- Ideal Market Layout: Determine the ideal market configuration to assess relocation opportunities.
- Market Comparison: Assess the impact of adding, closing and relocating stores in a market.
- Market Analysis: Evaluate merger and acquisition opportunities.
The iPLAN Lynx toolbar is available immediately.
About geoVue ( www.geovue.com)
geoVue is the leading provider of dynamic location optimization software
for retailers, restaurants and other real-estate based consumer channels
seeking a higher return on capital investment. geoVue ’ s
state-of-the-art modeling and optimization solutions help its clients
holistically plan store networks and prioritize capital investments
based on predictive, multi-factor trade areas. Clients prioritize
markets to enter, expand or exit; optimize store networks; and localize
marketing and merchandising. geoVue ’ s unique
approach to data and model maintenance provides each client with a
localized, real-time geospatial decision-making framework configured for
its particular customer-centric strategy. geoVue clients “ don ’ t
leave square footage on the table. ”