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“If you were a customer, how would you approach the purchase of new geotechnology for your organisation?”

By Vector One ⋅ April 18, 2008 ⋅ Post a comment

This week we attempt to answer the question, ""If you were a customer, how would you approach the purchase of new geotechnology for your organisation?"

This column is sponsored by ESRI

I would be approaching this question differently than I might have only a few years ago. Geotechnology advances rapidly in terms of new developments and new innovations. Not long ago we may have focused on the technology itself, as the means for purchasing it.

I would be considering a geotechnology purchase not as an end in itself, but in relationship to my needs and goals. - The Processes. Particularly those oriented around Internet services and the future."

Standardisation is something that is important to me. But, I am not willing to sacrifice performance for it. True, there is dance between the two. I see performance as a differentiator. It allows me to perform functions and routines other software may not. Standards, to me, also include defacto standards. Most readers can suggest a handful. There are a few company's that have pursued OGC, ISO and other standards compatibility into their product design. This is important going forward, particularly where your organisational needs involve governments and the sharing of public information.

The drive toward internet based geospatial web services is slowly unfolding, it will take a while. The technology here is not the issue, the capability, connectivity and affordability of the Internet in different parts of the world is still a major issue - more bandwidth is needed. Several companies are offering services over the web and it can be frustrating traveling around Europe and trying to access them as they are not available everywhere - the infrastructure needs expanding. But I would not put too heavy a black mark on this point, it will come.

If I asked you today, "let me put your whole operating online," including processing, analysis and reporting. How would you feel about that? Is your organisation at that stage where this leap can be made? Do you want to make it? Why would you want to take the step?

At the present time, I think our magazine is about 90% operating as a Service Oriented Architecture (SOA). When we began I remember the sounds of nails digging into a chalkboard as the adjustment took hold. But, now we can report from anywhere in the world and all our documents are shared. Is this an issue for your organisation? Privacy concerns, particularly with sensitive data remain an issue for some folks, therefore desktop approaches are still highly relevant, aside from other factors.

I would really be attempting to understand what it is my organisation is doing now - the processes - and trying to connect the dots to create more efficient operations. New technology should creature opportunity, not reinvent the same wheel. New technology (depending on what it is of course), should, in my view - pay for itself quickly. If you have done your homework right.

Consequently, I would take a strategic approach when buying geotechnology for periods about 3 and 7 years out. Where will this device or software get me over the course of those time periods? How will I know or recognise it? Where will the company or person who sold it to me be when I am needing help? Obviously I don't understand every nut and bolt of a new product, does it come with manuals, educational support?

One thing I have noticed over the years is that the best results are achieved when marketing or sales people sit with customer's to understand what exactly the customer is doing now and what the future might involve. Don't be afraid to call these folks and invite them to answer all your questions - and show you. If you do not feel comfortable, then take that as a signal to ask more questions or gain more help until you do.

I would be looking for these things in particular,

1) Performance - I need to compete with other people. Stability is closely linked to this, but I consider functionality as part of performance. The Platform.

2) Standardisation and defacto standards - The trend of toward openness, collaboration, sharing. Data quality and transformation are integral components here.

3) High level of SOA orientation - By putting my organisation on the web, the dynamics of my organisation will change. I will need toolsets that provide ease-of-use and perform complex processing that I don't necessarily need to know every technical detail about. I assume huge cost saving here.

4) Pursuing aggressively to get my questions answered. You'll need to defend why you are spending some else's money, should'nt you get your ducks lined up?

5) Understanding the work processes - I don't see any geotechnology plan coming together unless this one is really nailed. It is critical to understand what your business does. Let other people help you identify that.

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Read what Matt Ball has to say on this topic here.