Sambus Company Limited, a wholly-owned Ghanaian IT firm, has challenged businesses in the country to adopt the use of smart technologies such as Geographical Information System and Global Positioning Systems in their activities to increase their market share and productivity. Currently, a large number of businesses including banks, oil marketing companies and retail operators are at the verge of expansion and merging within a highly competitive market and a fast growing population. The GIS is a computer system capable of capturing, storing, analyzing and displaying geographically referenced information; (data identified according to location). The technology makes use of the huge array of satellites orbiting the Earth which take digital images of the planet. Changes to the planet's surface can be tracked using the satellites and can be used to map data collected on the surface. The data are often taken from more traditional sources, such as medical records. The use of GIS softwares like BusinessMap, Business Analysts and ArcPad Mobile GIS will enable businesses to create custom business maps and perform analysis that would help them identify patterns, trends and understand relationships not apparent from tables and charts. At a Sambus Company-organized seminar on: "Leveraging the power of GIS business strategy" a Senior Manager of Sambus in charge of GIS, Mrs. Amerley Ampofo said the GIS is a valuable tool for businesses due to its capability to assist in market surveys and research, and can help to reduce turnaround time and increase productivity of firms. "The GIS tool can also help in house numbering, personal credit data for loan management, monitoring and management of resources such as wildlife, forestry among others, allowing emergency planners to easily calculate emergency response times in the event of a natural disaster, or find wetlands that need protection. "In fact, it is a system that provides the power to answer critical business questions quickly, accurately, and visually. "The future success of businesses will therefore be determined to a large extent by the competitive advantages of investing in and implementing smart technology like Geographical Information System," she said. The cost of businessMap GIS software is estimated at US$500. In Ghana, Sambus is the sole distributor of GIS and GPS systems and prides itself as an integrator able to provide the broad spectrum of IT solutions ranging from web-based systems, smart card systems, Geographical Information Systems, GPS, Remote Sensing Technologies and Financial Management Solutions. Sambus has been in operation for 16 years and has experienced consistent annual growth. The Company has won numerous Industry Partnership awards. Hewlett Packard Corporation adjudged the company as its overall best Partner in Ghana for the year 2003 beating 25 other HP Partners and again in 2004 and 2005. The company was also adjudged as ESRIGIS software Best Partner for the whole of Africa in 2003. Source: Business and Financial Times