Abstract
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are being used increasingly widely to provide quick and effective access to geographical data. They can be used for planning, marketing and the development of business strategy in all sectors. Examples of the use of GIS in business organisations are given. A GIS comprises: a database of spatially related data; a database of map data; a hardware platform; software for data analysis; data query and map design; and an interface usually using very high resolution graphics to display map data. These features are reviewed for the GIS marketplace in the United Kingdom. GIS are becoming more widely used in the development of business strategy and must increasingly be viewed as part of the armoury of information systems available to organisations.