VISUALISE YOUR BUSINESS

Tech4T can provide both software and services to map your business data...

Create and view sales territories, analyse trends and evaluate performance by geography.

The above example involved allocating various postcode areas to a rep's name, then importing the database. MapPoint automatically gives different territories different colours but you can change these if you wish. You can also easily amend a territory on screen.

You can use any geographic unit which MapPoint recognises for the country concerned - eg for Great Britain these are:

Counties
Postcode Sectors
Postcode Districts
Postcode Areas

For France as your country, territories can be composed of any one of:

Municipalities
Departments
Regions
Postcodes

You can instantly change the colour of a territory -change the name, and add or delete parts of a territory when in map view. The roads can be removed by changing to data view.

Customers can be imported from a database so you can see which customers are in a territory by using pushpins. Clicking a pushpin can give basic contact details for that customer, or you can add text up to 510 characters, about 100 words.

MapPoint will also calculate an optimised route between customers or other locations, with detailed driving instructions and GPS support.

CREATE YOUR OWN POSTCODE MAP

You can create your own postcode map, county map etc. The above example is in data view. MapPoint enables an easy change to road and data view so you can zoom in to see which towns or villages, or even streets are in a postcode area, district or sector.

You can use shapes, annotations, and custom pushpins to identify specific locations, competitors etc.

You can map territories down to district:

or sector level

VIEW YOUR SALES FIGURES

You can import your sales figures and display the results as a shaded area map.

VIEW DEMOGRAPHIC DATA

Microsoft MapPoint

Tech4T use MapPoint in its KbaseT and FastStats Discoverer targeting and analysis solutions (also see AIM) as we believe it offers exceptional capability for minimum cost. There are two products available - for Europe and North America and below is information about the 2004 European version.

What's New in Microsoft MapPoint 2004

New for Users
Demographic data from Claritas, Europe Version MapPoint 2004 Europe contains demographic data for Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, and Great Britain/U.K.:

Hobbies

Households, number of
Household income
Household size
Households with children
Households, years in same residence
Marriage, divorce, and cohabitation statistics
Occupations
Population age and gender
Population

The country-specific European data variables are available for several levels of geography, including state or province, regional administrative area, and postal district.

Worldwide Demographic Data that can be mapped to the country level of any country worldwide, including those of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Examples from the worldwide data set:

Computer usage
Deforestation rate
Education level completed
Gross National Product and Gross Domestic Product
Imports and exports
Infant mortality
Internet hosting
Labour force participation
Literacy rate
Mobile phone subscription
Motor vehicle ownership
Newspaper circulation
Population
Population age and gender
Population density
Population growth projections
Television ownership
Tourist expenditures

ENHANCED Map Data
Microsoft MapPoint 2004 provides a complete and updated set of geographic data from the two premier map data providers, Geographic Data Technology, Inc. (GDT) and Navigational Technologies (NavTech).

The 2004 Europe map data includes street level data for most of Western Europe and geographic boundaries levels of the state or province, regional administrative area, municipality, and postal district. There are four significant improvements to the European data this year:

New municipality geographic boundaries
European users have frequently asked for a feature that gives them the ability to map by geographic areas the size of cities.

Austria, Gemeinde
Belgium, Gemeente
Czech Republic, Kraj
Denmark, Kommune
Liechtenstein, Wahlkreis, and Gemeinde
Luxembourg, Commune
Netherlands, Gemeente
Portugal, Concelho
Spain, Municipio
Sweden, Kommun
Switzerland, Bezirk, and Gemeinde

Updated map data
Address-finding capabilities and detailed street network data in Sweden, Portugal, Norway, and Finland. Import data down to the street address level in the U.K.

Also included - a worldwide map showing all countries and the location of cities on all continents.

ENHANCED GPS Support
MapPoint 2004 continues to support Global Positioning System (GPS) functionality, but three enhancements add value to the feature in this version.

Pocket Streets, which ships with MapPoint 2004, now includes GPS capabilities.
MapPoint and Pocket Streets now check the GPS device for location information every second, giving users real-time GPS capabilities and the ability to find their exact location while on the road.
Both MapPoint and Pocket Streets now work with a greater number of GPS devices, including any device running NMEA 2.0 or later on COM Port 20 or below.

NEW Usability Enhancements
As a result of extensive usability testing, MapPoint 2004 users will benefit from several new features that make using maps easier.

Improved driving directions
MapPoint directions are better than ever at getting you where you need to go. When passing through a complicated intersection, such as one with a hard right turn and a soft right turn, MapPoint will accurately guide you to the right.

Also, when direction instructions happen very close together, for example, take a left and then a right 20 yards later, MapPoint puts the directions all in one line so you don't miss the turn as you read the next direction. And if you cross a time zone, MapPoint will now let you know in the driving directions. Full-page maps. Print full-page maps that extend almost to the end of the page and make it easier to take more of the map with you on paper.

The ability to extend the map to the end of the page is an addition to the other printing options that include printing driving directions, turn-by-turn maps, and strip maps. One-way arrows. Arrows show you the direction of one-way streets and make it easy to find a good route by just looking at the map. Clear the Find history. A feature in MapPoint saves a history of your previously found addresses and places so you can easily find them again.

You now have the option to clear this list of previously found items. Pushpin symbols. Pushpins designate a specific map location and are a core feature of MapPoint. MapPoint now offers 60 new pushpin symbols bringing the total number of symbols in the product to 316. Users still have the ability to create custom symbols of corporate icons or logos or any other image using .bmp or .ico files.

NEW/ENHANCED Business Listings and Points of Interest
In Europe, the 400,000 points of interest will make it as convenient as ever to find the restaurant, service station, or ATM near you. Business listings and points of interest come from providers NavTech, GDT, Acxiom, and Woodalls.

UPDATED Pocket Streets
Shipping on the CD with MapPoint 2004, Pocket Streets now supports GPS devices so you can plot your exact real-time location (see GPS Support section). The latest version will run on Pocket PC 3.0 and higher, and has been updated to run on the next version of the Pocket PC, Windows Mobile 2003, as well as Pocket PC Phone Edition devices.

New for Developers

Programmability for Developers
The three ways developers can build MapPoint solutions are as follows:

Write an extension that adds new functionality to MapPoint. This new functionality usually appears as a new menu item. Writing this requires use of automation and COM Add-ins.
Write an application that automates MapPoint. This requires use of automation. An example would be a Word macro that could automate MapPoint to drop a map into a document.
Write an application that embeds MapPoint into your own application. This requires use of automation and the MapPoint ActiveX® control.

The following are new and enhanced features that developers can take advantage of using one or more of the above automation methods.

NEW Get a location from a U.K. Ordnance Survey Grid reference string

NEW Automate the export of maps to Pocket Streets.
NEW Register COM Add-ins for all users of a machine (use HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE for all users or HKEY_CURRENT_USER just for current user).
NEW Automate full-page map printing through the API.
ENHANCED MapPoint integrates better with Microsoft Visual Studio® .NET, which means easier creation of MapPoint COM Add-ins and automatic recognition of MapPoint in the Visual Studio wizard.

Map & Demographics Coverage Detail

Europe Version

4.2 million kilometers of routable roads
Demographic variables
Great Britain: 48
Germany: 46
Spain: 46
Netherlands: 44
Italy: 40
France: 39
Austria: 31
Switzerland: 30
Worldwide: 45
400,000 Points of Interest
Restaurants: 128,000
Petrol stations: 75,000
Hotels: 58,000
Auto dealerships: 36,000
ATMs (U.K.): 33,000
Points of interest/attractions: 23,000
Sport centers: 21,000
Parking lots: 20,000
City halls: 13,000
Railroad stations: 8,000
Rental car agencies: 6,000
Pubs (U.K.): 6,000
Vehicle service stations: 5,000
Nightclubs: 5,000
Golf courses: 4,000
Wineries: 4,000
Cinemas: 4,000
Theaters: 4,000
Colleges and universities: 2,000

Microsoft MapPoint 2004 business mapping software is a business mapping tool designed to enable all types of knowledge workers to analyze, visualize and communicate business information using maps and geographical information.

MapPoint 2004 combines powerful mapping and analysis tools with the simplicity of Microsoft Office. It provides users with a unique combination of high-quality maps, comprehensive and up-to-date demographic and consumer data, easy-to-use visualization tools, and intuitive wizards - all at an affordable price.

Information-rich maps are an effective way to analyze and communicate because they generate instant understanding by doing the following:

Restoring clarity that can be lost when too many numbers are delivered in tabular formats
Reinforcing data relationships that increase comprehension
Providing a common geographic visual that spans functional or knowledge barriers

Microsoft MapPoint 2004 is directed toward business professionals, such as sales and marketing managers, information managers and business analysts, as well as independent software vendors that want to enhance their applications by integrating mapping functionality.

These individuals and teams come from a broad range of industries including retail, hospitality, transportation and logistics, real estate, and financial services.

MapPoint 2004 New and Improved Features

Visualizing Business Information
Enhanced! Demographic data and New! consumer profile data.

MapPoint 2004 European Edition includes more than 4.2 million kilometers of routable roads, in addition to street-level data for most of Western Europe and geographic boundary levels of the state or province, regional administrative area, municipality and postal district.

Enhanced! Custom and multi-symbol pushpins
Users can create their own pushpin icons and use them on their data maps. Or they can choose from 316 symbols, including more than 60 new symbols, that best represent a series of data.

Data Mapping Wizard
Users can create maps with their own data. Step-by-step instructions guide customers on how to apply their sales information and demographic variables to a variety of map types. They can define the data range, legend label and ramp color palette to give their maps the look they want.

Import/Link Data Wizard
Step-by-step instructions help users import or link information from Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access and the Microsoft Outlook messaging and collaboration client to a MapPoint-based map.

Custom Territories
Users can create maps using customized boundaries, such as sales districts or delivery areas, and analyze, visualize and communicate information about those regions.

Enhanced! GPS support
Three enhancements add further value to this feature in MapPoint 2004:

Microsoft Pocket Streets, which ships with MapPoint 2004, now includes Global Positioning System (GPS) capabilities
MapPoint and Pocket Streets now check the GPS device for location information every second, giving users real-time GPS capabilities and the ability to find their exact location while on the road.
Both MapPoint and Pocket Streets now work with a greater number of GPS devices, including any device running NMEA 2.0 or later on COM Port 20 or below.

New! One-way streets
Arrows show the direction of one-way streets, making it easy to find a good route by just looking at the map.

Enhanced! Driving directions
Detailed instructions take drivers more easily than ever through complicated sequences. Rapid successions of instructions, such as for turns that follow closely together, are placed together on one instruction line to help drivers avoid missing their turn.

Enhanced! Customized output
Customers can print route maps and carry them along on their travels. They can choose from five map styles: strip maps with directions, turn-by-turn maps, directions-only maps, map overviews and new full-page maps.

Updated! Pocket Streets
Shipping on the CD with MapPoint 2004, Pocket Streets now supports GPS devices so travelers can pinpoint their real-time location. (More information can be found in the section on GPS support.) MapPoint 2004 will run on Pocket PC 3.0 and higher, and has been updated to run on the next version of the Pocket PC software, Windows Mobile™ 2003, as well as Pocket PC Phone Edition-based devices.

Communicating Business Information Effectively Using Maps Ability to save as Web page
Customers can make maps more accessible to co-workers who don't have MapPoint. More dynamic maps enable users to drill down into data and map regions.

Drawing tools
Customers can create maps that fit their needs and personalize them with circles, ovals, scribbles and free-form shapes.

Map annotations
Customers can add custom directions or highlight important areas on maps using the familiar tools on the drawing toolbar.

Output to Microsoft Word and PowerPoint presentation graphics program
Customers can easily copy and paste maps into presentations and proposals.

Output to Microsoft Publisher
Customers can incorporate maps into custom brochures and marketing materials.

Integrating Maps Into Everyday Work With Microsoft Office XP Office add-ins
Customers can open basic mapping functions such as data mapping or finding addresses through easy access points in Office applications.

Smart tags
Helpful cues in Excel and Word allow customers to enhance their business data with MapPoint.

Data source support
Customers can take advantage of the variety of data formats supported by MapPoint, including Microsoft Access, Excel and Outlook, as well as a Microsoft SQL Server database.

Inserting map objects/in-place editing
Customers can insert and link maps to other Office applications and easily make changes to maps in that application.

Exporting data to Excel
Customers can export map information directly into Excel spreadsheets.

Office XP user interface
Customers can get a head start with MapPoint using familiar tools from Microsoft Office such as personalized menus, toolbars, keyboard shortcuts and ToolTips.

Customization
MapPoint 2004 offers developers greater flexibility in creating custom MapPoint-based applications through support for automation, an extended object model and COM Add-ins.

Enhanced! ActiveX Control
Developers can seamlessly embed subsets of MapPoint functionality into customized solutions, including the ability to export maps to Pocket Streets or customer relationship management solutions.

Enhanced! COM Add-ins
Developers can increase business operation efficiency by applying customized applets to MapPoint, making it an extensible platform for solution providers. Also New!: Developers can register add-ins for all users of a machine at once.

Enhanced! Visual Studio .NET 7 and 7.1 integration
MapPoint integrates better with Visual Studio .NET 7 and 7.1 for easier creation of MapPoint COM Add-ins.

Automation support
Developers can automate map capabilities in customer-created Office solutions; MapPoint 2004 supports a more robust object model based on the familiar Visual Basic for Applications.

Documentation

Comprehensive HTML-based help system

Tutorial

System Requirements
To use MapPoint 2004, users need the following:

PC with Pentium II or higher processor; Pentium III recommended
Microsoft Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, Windows Millennium Edition (Windows Me), Windows NT 4.0 with Service Pack 6.0 or later, Windows 2000 Professional, Windows XP Home Edition, or Windows XP Professional or later operating system
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 browser software; Internet Explorer 6, Service Pack 1 included

For Windows 98 and Windows 98 Second Edition:

32 MB of RAM (64 MB recommended) for the operating system; other applications running simultaneously may require additional memory

For Windows Me or Windows NT Server 4.0:

64 MB of RAM for the operating system; other applications running simultaneously may require additional memory

For Windows NT Workstation 4.0:

64 MB of RAM (128 MB recommended) for the operating system; other applications running simultaneously may require additional memory

For Windows 2000 Professional, Windows XP Home Edition, or Windows XP Professional:

64 MB of RAM (256 MB recommended) for the operating system; other applications running simultaneously may require additional memory
1.1 GB of available hard disk space for standard installation (550 MB for minimum installation); a user without Windows 2000 or later, Windows Me, or Office 2000 SR-1 or later will require an extra 50 MB for System Files Update (hard disk usage will vary depending on configuration)
4x or faster CD-ROM drive
Super VGA (800x600) or higher resolution monitor with 256 colors (a monitor with higher resolution and more colors recommended)
Microsoft Mouse, Microsoft IntelliMouse® or compatible pointing device
Additional items or services required to use certain features:
128 or more MB of RAM recommended for optimal Territories performance
Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 or later or Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2002 (using Windows Forms) or later required for MapPoint ActiveX Control
Microsoft Exchange, Internet SMTP/POP3, IMAP4 or MAPI-compliant messaging software required to use Send To as Attachment; Microsoft Outlook 2000 or later required to use Send To as Picture
GPS functionality requires a GPS device that supports NMEA 2.0 or later, configured to use COM Port 20 or below
Some Internet functionality may require Internet access and payment of a separate fee to a service provider; local and/or long-distance telephone charges may apply
14.4Kbps or higher modem
Microsoft ActiveSync® 3.1 required for installation of Pocket Streets
Pocket Streets installable only on Pocket PCs running Microsoft Windows CE 3.0 or later

Microsoft, the Office logo, MapPoint, Outlook, Windows Mobile, PowerPoint, ActiveX, Visual Studio, Visual Basic, Windows, Windows NT, IntelliMouse and ActiveSync are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

GDT and the GDT logo are trademarks of Geographic Data Technology Inc.

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.