Because so much of the industry's information is tied to geographic locations, spatial components serve as the key relationships. Today, most companies either have a GIS or are in the implementation process. It's like realizing the benefits of CAD over manual drafting. In today's environment, decisions are made in a matter of minutes, not days or weeks. Eliminating the confusion of having multiple data sources with varying accuracy.
Companies also realize that it takes more than just hardware and software to become more efficient.
Companies must streamline data collection, storage and maintenance as well as data use for function-specific requirements. This convergence is where substantial savings reside and the true value of a GIS is gained. Therefore, it's the change in the overall process that provides the desired savings, not just the fact that a GIS was purchased and installed. GIS technology should be used to streamline daily processes and reduce the effort to move information throughout a corporation. Possibly the most important benefits are derived when field personnel have access to view, enter and update data from the field.