Press Room 2004

Routing, scheduling and map-based planning innovations from MapMechanics at Logistics Link 2005

December 2004... Vehicle routing and scheduling systems really can be powerful and flexible, and make use of the latest developments in digital mapping and real-world operating conditions, while at the same time offering accessibility, user-friendliness and ease of set-up and integration. Map-based analysis is also easier and more practical then ever before, harnessing and improving the efficiency and reducing the costs of network planning and logistics operations. For the full story click here.

Practical and strategic innovations at Technology for Marketing show

December 2004... The power and versatility of geographically-related planning and analysis in the marketing world is demonstrated by a selection of brand new and recently-released products on show on the MapMechanics stand at the Technology for Marketing show, which runs at Olympia, London from 8-9 February 2005.

For the full press release click here.

Street-level mapping of further-flung locations from MapMechanics

December 2004... A wide selection of additional digital road and street map datasets, many covering remoter parts of the world, have been added to the range offered by Kingswood MapMechanics, the leading UK-based specialist in digital mapping and geographic information systems. Afghanistan, Iraq and Colombia are among the countries covered in the company’s latest digital mapping releases, along with many locations that are less often in the news. For the full story click here.

Slicker OS MasterMap imports and updates with GeoConcept Modules

December 2004... Using automated processes developed by MapMechanics, it is now possible to import periodic OS MasterMap “change-only” updates seamlessly into the core dataset; to remove duplicate objects where overlapping sections of mapping are being used; and to reposition user-defined objects that may have been slightly misplaced on earlier, less accurate maps. For the full story click here.

GeoConcept underpins demand-led passenger transport system

November 2004... Suppose you’re taking bookings for a community bus service, for a staff transport operation or for a vehicle hire business. Which vehicle should you allocate to ensure you get each job done quickly, efficiently and cost-effectively, and also meet all your public service or contractual commitments? What happens if subsequent bookings completely upset your schedule? For the full story click here.

Map Analysis picks GeoConcept to underpin education sector Web portal

November 2004... Maps generated by GeoConcept Internet Server that illustrate and analyse patterns and trends in local and regional education can be downloaded directly over the Internet by clients using a brand new portal Web site launched this month. It is the product of Map Analysis Ltd, a geographic information systems consultancy specialising in the education sector. For the full story click here.

Why geographic information from MapMechanics delivers

October 2004... Digital mapping and geographical information can deliver intelligence quickly, clearly, economically and selectively to the people who really need it, in the office or out in the field. That’s not a “message from the sponsors” – it’s a report consistently delivered by current users of mapping and GIS products, and is based on their real-life experience. It came through loud and clear at a Corporate Briefing event organised this month by Kingswood MapMechanics. For the full story click here.

Drag-and-drop, synchronisation and map advances in TruckStops

October 2004... Vehicle operators routing and scheduling their delivery or collection fleets with TruckStops can now see their journey plans displayed on screen against the familiar background of detailed colour mapping of their own choice, and have much more freedom to amend the optimised journeys interactively on screen. The interface has also been brightened and modernised, and the route details, gannt chart and map windows are all synchronised for ease of use. For the full story click here.

GeoConcept helps BOC streamline cellar gas distribution

September 2004... Territory managers in the BOC group’s Sureflow business who are delivering gas cylinders for drinks dispensing can now plan and manage their own journeys far more efficiently, thanks to a new system in which the GeoConcept geographic information system from Kingswood MapMechanics plays a major role. BOC has also gained from a corporate management point of view, since it has been able to introduce a wide range of new reports on key performance indicators such as vehicle utilisation and distance travelled per journey. For the full story click here.

Kingswood MapMechanics launches new mapping tool "Enhanced territory management"

September 2004... A new digital mapping tool, MM Territories, has been launched by Kingswood MapMechanics to help door-to-door delivery businesses build common-sense walkable delivery rounds quickly and automatically. Unlike previous “broad-brush” systems, which may work with fairly large territories, this one aims to ensure that quite small delivery rounds actually work in the real world, taking proper account of the local environment and on-the-ground location of individual addresses. For the full story click here.

Centralising geographic systems, sharing data and access

August 2004... The strongest, most capable and most versatile range of geographical and information management solutions yet offered by Kingswood MapMechanics goes on display on stand C22 at this year’s GeoSolutions show, which runs at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham from 29 to 30 September. Among solutions highlighted on the stand is the company’s recently-announced Intranet Intelligence, the most powerful and practical solution so far to the challenge of sharing corporate geographical data effectively and economically. For the full story click here.

Enhanced drive-times stand up to scrutiny of Wal-Mart board

July 2004... By introducing an advanced drive-time calculation system from MapMechanics, using real-life road speeds to determine catchment areas, retailer ASDA (part of the Wal-Mart group) is improving and speeding up the process of evaluating the market potential for proposed new stores. Strategic Development Manager Neal Stevenson says, “it is undoubtedly the biggest single development in routing systems t hat I’ve experienced in my career.” For the full story click here.

Publication underlines Kingswood MapMechanics’ leading industry role

July 2004... The publication of a new, completely redesigned and more accessible 64-page edition of the unique, free Data Catalogue marks a departure for Kingswood MapMechanics, one of the UK’s leaders in digital mapping, geographic information systems and logistics solutions.

For the full story click here.

TruckStops fine-tunes Tuberex exhaust deliveries for Lloyd Fraser

June 2004... Most fleet operators who introduce routing and scheduling systems either use them periodically to fine-tune fixed delivery rounds, or run them every day to work out the best routes for the following day. Logistics group Lloyd Fraser, working on a long-term contract for exhaust systems manufacturer Tuberex, is using the TruckStops routing and scheduling system from Kingswood MapMechanics to combine elements of both approaches. For the full story click here.

Demographic data proves invaluable guide to best target markets round the country

June 2004... Demographic data from Kingswood MapMechanics has proved a decisive factor in the rapid growth of specialist TV and consumer goods retailer Buy As You View. Having more than doubled its customer base in five years, the company now aims to increase it by over 50 per cent more in its current five-year plan – taking it to four times its size in the late 1990s. For the full story click here.

Handheld digital mapping, with desktop computing power behind it

June 2004... People who need computerised mapping when they’re out and about – and that means a fast-growing proportion of the nation’s mobile workforce – now have an attractive new option at their disposal: GeoConcept Pocket, a version of the world-class GeoConcept geographic information system that runs on Pocket PC handheld devices. For the full story click here.

Internet mapping systems lies at heart of mobile phone-based location service

May 2004... A powerful Internet mapping system supplied by Kingswood MapMechanics lies at the heart of Track@Phone, one of the fastest-growing new mobile phone-based people and asset location and tracking systems. Track@Phone allows subscribing businesses and individuals to find the location of anyone with a mobile phone who has agreed to participate, using data derived from the relevant mobile phone network operator to plot its position. For the full story click here.

Affordable network planning, more interactive routing and scheduling

May 2004... New solutions from Kingswood MapMechanics, the mapping, routing, scheduling and logistics solutions specialist, can be seen on stand (B42) at the Institute of Transport and Logistics’ annual exhibition. Visitors will see how they can plan their delivery territories and depot network resources more quickly, easily and affordably than in the past, and benefit from a more intuitive and interactive approach to scheduling deliveries. For the full story click here.

Price reductions mark fundamental change in digital map data market

April 2004... Major price reductions are announced in many of the most popular sets of digital map data supplied by Kingswood MapMechanics, the specialist in mapping, geographic information systems and logistics solutions. In some cases the map data now costs only a third of the previous price. The reductions apply to some of the most widely-used digital map datasets in Britain, including ranges from the AA, Ordnance Survey, NAVTEQ and Andes. For the full story click here.

OptiSite adds network modelling power to geographic information system

April 2004... If you need to re-plan store or depot locations, sales or service territories or franchise allocation, then OptiSite could be your solution. This new and affordable system for helping businesses allocate resources more effectively on a geographical basis has been launched by Kingswood MapMechanics, one of the UK’s leading specialists in business analysis and geographic information systems. For the full story click here.

TruckStops brings dramatic improvements for fine food distributor

March 2004... West Country Fine Foods, a specialist distributor of premium chilled and frozen foods to the hotel and catering market, has introduced the TruckStops routing and scheduling system from Kingswood MapMechanics to plan its deliveries nationwide, and says it has already had a dramatic effect on costs, customer service levels and operating efficiency. For the full story click here.

Intranet Intelligence unlocks corporate data, preserves local control

March 2004... Intranet Intelligence, a genuinely new, affordable and practical approach to sharing corporate data within an organisation, coordinating resources centrally while preserving interactive and fully customisable local access, has been unveiled by Kingswood MapMechanics, one of the UK’s leading specialists in business analysis and geographic information systems. Intranet Intelligence at last delivers the elusive corporate ideal of providing uniform access to dispersed data. For the full story click here.

‘Map your position without postcodes’ feature enhances Web sites

February 2004... Does your online “how to find us” map really show the correct location, even when the grid reference derived from the postcode may be misleading, or there is no postcode in the first place? Two companies with a strong interest in Internet mapping, Kingswood MapMechanics and World.Net, have come up with a practical solution that allows businesses to pinpoint their location interactively online without using postcodes at all. For the full story click here.

Configurable Internet mapping helps ITIS streamline road congestion displays

January 2004... Hampshire County Council has installed a new countywide system to enable control room staff to see traffic congestion trouble spots at a glance. MapMechanics developed the new application with ITIS Holdings to enhance its system called TAG Traffic Alert Generator,which overlays real-time traffic information on maps for use in control rooms. For the full story click here.

Kingswood MapMechanics’ Census street-level data redefines drivetime analysis

January 2004... A radically new “real-world” approach to drivetime calculation and catchment area definition is now available to organisations doing work such as retail planning and site location analysis. It has been developed by Kingswood MapMechanics, the UK-based specialist in digital mapping and geographic information systems. For the full story click here.

Leading doordrop company overhauls territory definitions

2003... Circular Distributors, the UK’s leading doordrop marketing company, has completed what is described as “a major overhaul” of its territory definition process. The compnay can now create delivery areas by unit postcode for the first time, gaining new power to update and refine distribution routes in-house. For the full story click here.

Scheduling more efficiently in a fraction of the time

2003... Milk processor and haulier Robert Wiseman Dairies has significantly increased the number of milk collections it makes, and the company has paid tribute to the essential role played in the planning process by the TruckStops routing and scheduling system,which was supplied by MapMechanics. For the full story click here.

Find-a-football-pitch website majors on interactive mapping

2003... The site has been developed for the Football Foundation, Britain’s biggest sports charity, by PWC and PMP, a leading consultancy in the sports world, and presents the results of the most comprehensive survey of English football pitches ever conducted. Already the site lists over 22,000 grounds with around 45,000 football pitches, and the Foundation is currently encouraging schools to check the accuracy of their details, or submit unlisted facilities for future inclusion . For the full story click here.