New benchmark research will explore impact of geographic context for business practices.

SAN RAMON, CA, December 19, 2012 - Ventana Research believes Location Analytics is an important emerging technology and has commenced new research focused on it. This research program will identify trends, market opportunities and organizational requirements associated with Location Analytics. The research will provide insight on competency and maturity of organizations use of location and geographic context as well as their current and future business and technology requirements and best practices.

Location Analytics uses information about geography to advance the quality of actions, decisions and responses to opportunities. In addition, using this technology will add value to important technological innovations including business use of big data, business analytics, business collaboration, cloud computing, mobile technology and social media. The technology can use location and geographic information from a variety of business systems, including enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM) and supply chain management (SCM), from the Internet, websites and databases, making it easier to leverage and capitalize on existing technology.

As consumer expectations grow within the Location Analytics market, mapping and deployment of new applications will make it possible for businesses to strategically use geographic context. In the past, this technology was only available to specialists using geographic information system (GIS). In recent years, it has become accessible to a wide variety of businesses and individuals. When Location Analytics is used properly, companies will save time and money, while increasing profitability, competitive advantage and reducing risk.

"The value of adopting technology like Location Analytics is that it can provide a competitive advantage and help meet the highest standards of customer experience which is critical to organization's effectiveness," said Mark Smith, CEO & Chief Research Officer, Ventana Research, "Our benchmark will help provide awareness and education on the value of location through our advisory, assessment and education services."

To learn more about Location Analytics or participate in the research, please visit: www.ventanaresearch.com/locationanalytics. The research is being sponsored by ESRI and supported by our partner Directions Magazine. Ventana Research, a leading business technology research and advisory services firm, provides qualified research participants with a financial incentive, complimentary report and presentation of the research findings as well as access to a free educational webinar on key findings from the Location Analytics benchmark research.

About Ventana Research

Ventana Research is the most authoritative and respected benchmark business technology research and advisory services firm. We provide insight and expert guidance on mainstream and disruptive technologies through a unique set of research-based offerings including benchmark research and technology evaluation assessments, education workshops and our research and advisory services, Ventana On-Demand. Our unparalleled understanding of the role of technology in optimizing business processes and performance and our best practices guidance are rooted in our rigorous research-based benchmarking of people, processes, information and technology across business and IT functions in every industry. This benchmark research plus our market coverage and in-depth knowledge of hundreds of technology providers means we can deliver education and expertise to our clients to increase the value they derive from technology investments while reducing time, cost and risk.

Ventana Research provides the most comprehensive analyst and research coverage in the industry; business and IT professionals worldwide are members of our community and benefit from Ventana Research's insights, as do highly regarded media and association partners around the globe. Our views and analyses are distributed daily through blogs and social media channels including Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Google+.

To learn how Ventana Research advances the maturity of organizations' use of information and technology through benchmark research, education and advisory services, visit www.ventanaresearch.com.

Media: Copies of benchmark research report and interviews are available upon request.