Speaking to Channel Africa on Monday, AfriGIS Chief Executive xecutive Officerfficer Rochelle Mountany outlined the company’s approach to addressing the challenges of geospatial data management and its impact across various sectors.
AfriGIS operates at the intersection of geospatial science and data analysis, helping businesses and governments harness the spatial context of their data.
Mountany explained: “We assist organisations in understanding their assets, customers, and risks within the context of their geographical environment. For example, spatial analysis can reveal flood risks, underserved areas, or untapped opportunities that might otherwise remain hidden.”
The company not only provides analysis but also compiles and validates extensive datasets, which it has developed over decades. These datasets cover the entire African continent, offering standardised and reliable information to address the continent’s diverse and complex needs.
Operating across multiple industries, AfriGIS serves government departments, financial institutions, logistics providers, and retailers, among others. Mountany highlighted how geospatial insights enable organisations to make better decisions, such as where to establish new facilities or optimise resource allocation.
One of the key challenges, Mountany noted, lies in Africa’s unique geographical and administrative structures. For example, standard postal codes—a common tool in Europe—are often non-existent or inconsistent across African countries. “We’ve developed a standardised approach to address these discrepancies, ensuring that organisations can effectively map their operations and expand into new regions,” she said.
AfriGIS also works to educate its clients on Africa’s unique conditions.
A case in point is South Africa, where a single postal code can encompass dozens of suburbs, making it unsuitable for precise analysis. The company’s African-focused solutions aim to avoid importing methodologies unsuited to local contexts, thereby ensuring data accuracy and relevance.
Mountany concluded by reaffirming AfriGIS’s mission: “We solve Africa’s challenges with African solutions, ensuring that our data and insights empower organisations to grow sustainably and effectively.”
--ChannelAfrica--
