Innovation and entrepreneurship in GIS Technology

A talk on “Innovation and Entrepreneurship in GIS Technology” by Dr. S. P. Sekar, Formerly Professor of Geography, Anna University, Chennai, was conducted as part of the BECH-Awareness Series 11 at the Bharathidasan University by Bharathidasan University Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Career Hub (BECH).  He explained GIS as A geographic information system (GIS) is a system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present all types of geographical data. The key word to this technology is Geography – this means that some portion of the data is spatial, and the technology used in entrepreneurship as Whether it's setting up virtual workspaces where employees can interact and develop ideas, or connecting to international businesses through the use of video conferencing, technology can be used as an outlet which allows businesses to collect feedback from their customers, which can use to improve or alter a product.

GIS used in Business

A geographic information system (GIS) delivers real-time, location-based insight. GIS can capture and analyse any data with a spatial context, from the location of a company's trucks and drivers, to the spending habits of people on a particular block, to the effects of weather patterns moving across the country. A working GIS integrates five key components: hardware, software, data, people, and methods. Hardware is the computer on which a GIS operates. Entrepreneurial Ventures in GIS: A Few Tips to Increase Your Chances of Success

Geographic information systems are not exactly a new concept as they have been around for over a decade at this point. However, it wasn’t until only recently that we started to see more widespread adoption across various industries.

This has presented those with a significant knowledge about GIS systems with an opportunity to launch their own companies and cater to the largely untapped small business market. If you have any such plans of your own, we have a few tips that could boost the chances of your entrepreneurial venture’s success by quite a bit.

Get the education need first.

It is quite possible that you already have extensive experience in GIS technology from the actual work, rather than any formal education, but you may still need a degree before you decide to launch a company of your own. Education in geographical information systems is important to fill in the knowledge gaps which often exist in professionals without the formal education. To be able to handle GIS coordination and the duties of a survey manager as an employee is not quite the same as transforming into a business leader, who has to handle pretty much everything.

Also, there is the credibility factor to consider. Unless you have the proper education to back you up, your clientele may not be convinced about your credibility as a GIS business owner to begin with. Consider Outsourcing Your Wide Format Plotting Requirements

When you are only starting out and do not have the equipment to handle wide format plotting on your own, it might be cheaper and more effective to outsource it. Any local blueprinting service with a good reputation should have the equipment to get the job done. In the GIS industry, customer service is more important than the initial sale

This probably isn’t news to anyone who has worked in the field before, but it’s always good to be reminded of the fact that GIS services are more about how they Perform after the initial sale, rather than the sale itself. Regular updates, maintenance and addressing customer grievances should be a priority. This is necessary for both holding on to the present client base, as well as for getting the references that will allow you to expand that client base.

Thanks to GPS and intelligence, satellite mapping, geographical information systems now have applications across multiple fields, which range from marketing and engineering, to mining, archaeology, public health and even the military. As long as you keep the tips we just mentioned in mind, a venture in GIS really does have excellent potential in 2019, which will likely reach even greater heights in the coming years.

Prof. M. Ravichandran, Director i/c, Bharathidasan University Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Career Hub (BECH) of welcomed the gathering and Dr. N. Prasanna, Dy. Director i/c, Bharathidasan University Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Career Hub (BECH) proposed the vote of thanks. The talk was attended by a great number of students and faculty from various departments of the university.