GIS Software in Out of Home Advertising

Planning Module as the Heart of the Application

The inquiry is then processed by Gewista’s sales team of 80 representatives. The employees use an internal version of the tool that is equipped with more functions. 

“In the internal version we can also upload extensive location lists as Excel files,” explains Andreas Haider, GIS expert and product owner of the tool at Gewista. “Customers often already know exactly where they want their advertising, for example if they have a sales partner network. There is no need to enter the locations individually as we can simply import their list and the tool automatically geocodes the addresses converting them into coordinates, which is essential for spatial representation.” 

Alternatively, a Herold database is also connected to the system that already knows the branch networks of the major providers and can load them into the selection with just a few clicks of the mouse. Each point/advertising media location is also listed in a table below the map and can now be individually selected or deselected. This is how the fine tuning takes place. 

Once the spatial planning has been completed, the availability over the time period must be checked and the exact timing of the campaign determined. This step takes place in another system, the actual Gewista main software for campaign management. The systems are connected by an interface so that the data can be seamlessly transferred and processed. 

“This interface has greatly improved our efficiency,” says Haider, recalling times when the systems did not yet communicate with each other. “We had to enter everything twice and do a lot manually, the process was not stringent. The employees asked for the integration. They got it and are now very happy with it. It saves them a lot of time.”

Campaign Module for Documentation

After the campaign, the customer receives documentation with a listing and photos of the advertising media locations. Haider is also happy about a modern solution here: “We send our customers a link. They can view their campaign online and see the locations clearly on the map and open the photos interactively.” 

Here, the interface between the systems runs in the opposite direction. The detailed data for the campaign is primarily in the main software and is now exported back to GIS for spatial representation. “In the past, we used a desktop GIS to create this documentation statically and provided it to the customer in printed form. With WebGIS, we are not only faster, but also better, because we can now offer interactive functions.”

Always Up-to-Date Data, Cloud-Based Service (Saas)

Of course, Gewista is constantly adding new advertising media locations. The data is updated periodically to ensure the display in WebGIS is always up-to-date. 

A small additional function ensures maximum accuracy when geocoding new locations: If, for example, a new City Light is not located exactly at the address 101 Main Street, but a few meters down the street at the corner, the point on the map can be moved there with the mouse. 

The WebGIS application runs on the WIGeoGIS servers, i.e. in the Cloud. WIGeoGIS takes care of the maintenance. A reliable infrastructure in the Vienna data center ensures secure operation. 

History of a Long Customer Relationship

The last big step, the integration of the two systems, took place in 2018 and, as already mentioned, greatly improved Gewista’s efficiency. However, the cooperation between Gewista and WIGeoGIS goes back much further, namely for more than 20 years. “Back then there were no WebGIS systems, we supported Gewista with their desktop GIS, which they still use for certain tasks today,” remembers Wolf Graf, Managing Director at WIGeoGIS. “Of course, such a long business relationship also reflects the developments in the market. The transition from desktop software to WebGIS and hosting in the Cloud are general developments.”

The switch to the web application took place in 2012 when Gewista launched the first version of the online GIS on its homepage. “We wanted the customer to be able to do the initial planning online, and that can only be done via the browser,” says Haider. “We asked ourselves: How can we modernize this process? Do we use an off-the-shelf WebGIS or do we want a custom WebGIS program? WIGeoGIS was of course at our side to provide advice. Since the requirements in outdoor advertising are quite special, we decided on the second option.”

Satisfied Team

The online tool became such a success that employees also began to work with it. Their requests for more functions and an integration of the systems to avoid double work led to the big relaunch in 2018. “Today’s form is truly indispensable in our everyday lives,” says Haider. “We are not only faster, but also better. Interactive maps simply work best when planning and documenting outdoor advertising.”

Haider consistently receives positive feedback from the sales team. He himself appreciates WIGeoGIS for the helpful advice and support they provide on a variety of other geo and GIS topics. “They simply have a deep understanding of everything concerning geoinformation. The challenges we face in outdoor advertising are after all quite special. WIGeoGIS understands them.”

Andreas Marth, who is technically responsible for the system at WIGeoGIS and Head of the Vienna Service Team, is also satisfied. “With approximately 80 people, we have a large number of users in WebGIS, but few support requests. That is a sign that the system is running smoothly.”

On the Way to Ever Better Processes

Software development never stops. The most recent feature is the information boards, which can be rented permanently as a guide to DIY stores, furniture stores, etc. They can now also be booked through the Gewista GIS. 

In the front end, this is just an additional category for advertising media. In the backend, it means a much more complex database. “This greatly improves the efficiency of our processes,” explains Andreas Haider. “Until now, the availability of these boards in our systems was not structured cleanly enough. Now we can see what’s going on at the push of a button.”