Introduction

In an increasingly interconnected world, understanding the "where" of business data is as crucial as the "what" and "when," making Geospatial Analysis and Mapping in Business Intelligence (BI) an indispensable capability for organizations seeking to uncover hidden patterns, optimize operations, and gain a significant competitive edge through location intelligence. By transforming traditional business metrics into rich, interactive maps and spatial visualizations, this discipline empowers decision-makers to identify geographic trends, optimize resource distribution, understand customer demographics by region, and mitigate location-based risks, moving beyond conventional tabular reports to truly visualize and act upon spatial relationships. This training course is meticulously designed to equip business analysts, data analysts, BI developers, marketing professionals, logistics managers, urban planners, and anyone involved in location-dependent decision-making with cutting-edge knowledge and practical skills in understanding geospatial data types, mastering spatial analysis techniques, leveraging leading BI tools' mapping capabilities, designing insightful geographic dashboards, and effectively communicating location-based insights to drive strategic growth and operational efficiency. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of how to harness the power of spatial data to unlock profound business insights and visualize success on a map.

Duration

5 days

Target Audience

• Business Analysts
• Data Analysts
• Business Intelligence (BI) Developers
• Marketing Professionals
• Sales Managers
• Logistics and Supply Chain Managers
• Urban Planners & Real Estate Professionals
• Retail Managers
• Public Sector Analysts
• Anyone working with location-based data

Objectives

• Understand the fundamental concepts of geospatial data and location intelligence.
• Master various types of geospatial data and their applications in BI.
• Learn to perform core spatial analysis techniques (e.g., buffering, hot spot analysis).
• Develop proficiency in using BI tools to create interactive maps and geographic dashboards.
• Understand how to integrate spatial data with traditional business data.
• Explore use cases for geospatial analysis in various industries.
• Develop skills in interpreting and communicating location-based insights.
• Learn about best practices for data quality and visualization in mapping.

Course Content

Module 1. Introduction to Geospatial Analysis and Location Intelligence

• Defining Geospatial Data: What it is and why it matters in BI
• Location Intelligence: Connecting "where" to business decisions
• The synergy between GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and BI
• Benefits of mapping and spatial analysis for business insights
• Overview of common geospatial BI applications

Module 2. Understanding Geospatial Data Types and Sources

• Vector Data: Points, lines, polygons (e.g., customer locations, roads, sales territories)
• Raster Data: Gridded data (e.g., satellite imagery, heatmaps)
• Coordinate Systems and Projections: Ensuring accurate mapping
• Sources of Geospatial Data: Open data, commercial providers, internal systems
• Data formats: Shapefiles, GeoJSON, KML, CSV with coordinates

Module 3. Core Spatial Analysis Techniques in BI

• Proximity Analysis: Buffering, nearest neighbor analysis
• Overlay Analysis: Combining multiple layers of spatial data (intersect, union)
• Spatial Aggregation: Summarizing data by geographic areas
• Hot Spot Analysis: Identifying statistically significant clusters
• Basic geocoding: Converting addresses to coordinates

Module 4. Mapping Capabilities in BI Tools

• Power BI Mapping: Built-in maps, ArcGIS Maps for Power BI
• Tableau Mapping: Native mapping features, custom geocoding
• Looker Mapping: Geo-visualizations, integration with mapping services
• Choosing the right mapping tool or visual for your data
• Customizing map layers, colors, and labels

Module 5. Integrating Spatial Data with Business Data

• Joining Geographic Data with Business Metrics: Sales by region, customer density
• Creating Custom Geographic Hierarchies: Sales regions, delivery zones
• Data Blending for Spatial Analysis
• Handling different levels of geographic granularity (zip code, city, state)
• Ensuring data quality and consistency for integrated spatial analysis

Module 6. Geospatial Use Cases Across Industries

• Retail and Site Selection: Optimizing store locations, market penetration
• Logistics and Supply Chain: Route optimization, fleet management, delivery zones
• Marketing and Sales Territory Optimization: Targeting campaigns, sales force alignment
• Real Estate and Urban Planning: Property analysis, demographic trends
• Public Sector: Resource allocation, emergency response, public health mapping

Module 7. Designing Interactive Geographic Dashboards

• Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for Spatial Analysis: Location-based metrics
• Layout and Navigation: Intuitive design for map-centric dashboards
• Interactive Map Features: Zoom, pan, drill-down on map elements
• Integrating maps with other chart types for a holistic view
• Best practices for visual storytelling with maps

Module 8. Advanced Topics and Future Trends

• Real-time Geospatial Analytics: Tracking moving assets, live events
• Predictive Geospatial Modeling: Forecasting location-based trends
• Introduction to 3D Mapping and Visualization (conceptual)
• Location-based services and IoT data integration
• The future of geospatial AI and its impact on business intelligence.

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 7 working days before commencement of the training.