By: Rochelle Mountany - CEO of AfriGIS

Context is the foundation for good decision-making and the key to unlocking meaningful insights in a world overflowing with data. At AfriGIS, we leverage geospatial information science (GIS) to give businesses and organisations the contextual understanding they need to ask better questions, leading to better answers.

Often, when clients approach us, they know their data but not its full potential. They ask us to map their customer locations or assets, but they haven’t considered the bigger picture—what surrounds those locations, what overlaps with them, or what risks might arise in their vicinity. For example, a business may know where its customers or stores are but has never visualised these elements in the context of a map. Once we help them see their data spatially, they begin asking questions they hadn’t considered before: Are there underserved areas nearby? What environmental factors could impact operations? How do locations relate to each other?

This is where AfriGIS excels. By enriching data with precise geospatial components, validated through our proprietary processes, we transform fragmented information into actionable insights. This means going beyond generic markers like postal codes and assigning accurate, real-world coordinates. Whether determining insurance premiums, evaluating flood risks, or analysing behavioural patterns, our insights provide unparalleled precision.

Geospatial Science as a Tool for Progress

The applications of geospatial information science (GIS) are as varied as they are impactful. For financial institutions, GIS can address critical issues like financial inclusion. By identifying unbanked communities and mapping access to banking facilities, GIS can help banks strategise outreach, verify residential addresses for Know Your Customer (KYC) processes, and open doors to economic participation for those traditionally left out.

In the public sector, geospatial insights can improve service delivery, such as locating tax offices or magistrates' courts closer to the communities they serve. Similarly, in industries like e-commerce and retail, geospatial science can enable businesses to optimise delivery routes, identify promising new distribution locations, and better understand their customer demographics. By giving companies a comprehensive, data-driven view of their environment, we empower them to make informed, impactful decisions.

Addressing Africa’s Unique Challenges

In Africa, the challenges of data standardisation and validation are significant. Open-source datasets often misplace entire villages or inaccurately define municipal boundaries. It’s so important that we work to address these gaps by creating a continent-wide, standardised dataset that integrates the unique addressing systems of every African country. This foundational work ensures that businesses operating across borders can rely on accurate, consistent data.

Whether helping an FMCG company optimise distribution hubs or enabling a logistics firm to map out cost-effective delivery routes, validated geospatial data provides clarity and consistency in a context where it is often lacking. This ability to harmonise data across diverse markets is a game-changer for businesses looking to expand into Africa.

The Cost of Inaccuracy

The implications of imprecise data are far-reaching. Inaccurate location data can hinder emergency responses, misguide infrastructure investments, and compromise service delivery. Consider a scenario where a rural community must travel hours to reach a government office or court. If public services were analysed through the lens of geospatial science, these inefficiencies could be identified and resolved, creating a more equitable distribution of resources.

Similarly, granular geospatial data is essential for personalised services. While some use cases require broad strokes, like understanding regional customer trends, others demand pinpoint accuracy, such as determining property-specific flood risks. It’s important that the data we use every day meet both ends of this spectrum, empowering clients to scale their insights appropriately.

Building the Future of Geospatial Innovation

At AfriGIS, our vision extends beyond data mapping. We aim to expand our channels to market by partnering with businesses that solve complex problems and can benefit from geospatial insights. These collaborations will allow us to embed geospatial science into diverse industries, from weather forecasting to financial services, amplifying the impact of our work.

Our focus going forward is on delivering African solutions for African challenges. By investing in local data validation and standardisation, we’re equipping businesses with the tools to operate effectively across the continent. From village-level granularity to national-scale analyses, we provide the context needed to navigate Africa’s dynamic markets.

By placing data in its geospatial context, we help our clients uncover the answers they need to thrive. As we look ahead, our mission remains clear: to provide the accuracy, reliability, and depth of insight that South Africa and the continent need to drive sustainable development. Context isn’t just the foundation of good decision-making; it is the bridge to better solutions—and at AfriGIS, we’re building that bridge, one data set at a time.