Location Analytics in Information Systems: Opportunities for Research and Teaching

Abstract

Location analytics can inform decision-making and long-term strategies in various sectors and industries such as retail, manufacturing, government, defense, transportation, logistics, energy, and utilities for customer experience management, sales, marketing, supply chain optimization, business continuity and resilience, remote monitoring of critical assets, and risk management. Despite organizations gaining a competitive edge through location analytics, its adoption within the academic Information Systems (IS) discipline remains sparse. The absence of spatial methodologies in analytical and behavioral IS research is striking. Furthermore, this lack of integration is evident as spatial problem-solving is scarcely covered in IS curricula, and location data analysis is often relegated as a peripheral skill. Our panel paper delineates the many opportunities location analytics presents for broadening research horizons and enriching IS education. We suggest incorporating location analytics into research by demonstrating how spatial methodologies can bolster IS research rigor. We also explain how integrating location analytics into the IS curricula can prepare students for this growing area of analytics. Foremost, we aim to catalyze a paradigm shift towards more spatially informed IS research and education.