Geospatial Advisory
Geospatial technology is complicated.
Even the most versatile executive will have a challenging time riding the wave of geospatial, earth observation, cloud, and AI innovation, buffetted by the winds of varying internal and external innovation curves. Sparkgeo has been balanced on the edge of practical innovation since 2010, throughout the modern geospatial web revolution. We can help.
- Modern geospatial strategy
- Build vs buy decisions
- Organisational geospatial modernization
- Implementing cloud-native technology
- Industry consolidation
- Mergers & acquisitions
- Venture and institutional financing
- Expert geospatial technology witnesses
Modernization
Modern geospatial is a term the Sparkgeo team uses to describe the suite of options available to explore location and mapping-related technologies. The opportunities afforded by the complementary assets of the Cloud, Openness, AI, Smart devices and the new space sector are mind-boggling. But, understanding how these modern systems should be architected to achieve that new level of productivity is complex, and changing every day.
Sparkgeo’s advisory capability offers clarity of thought and a structure to the complexity. Our method of divergent then convergent thinking allows requirements to be captured and then refined within the context of the industrial comfort level with innovation. Not every company sits on the same innovation curve.
Organizational Evolution
But, how does an enterprise-scale company move from one state to another, what does modernization look like? Strategy is all very well, but is the innovation juice worth the implementation squeeze? Many advisory firms will deliver a strategy document but leave the execution and implementation to others. At Sparkgeo we know that implementation is where the real work lies.
We have consulting and technology teams to deliver custom or off-the-shelf technology and help institute the necessary organizational changes. Ideas are great, but they are nothing without a deep sense of responsibility for organizational execution.
Cloud-Native Technology
The most important development in software in the last 20 years is the development of cloud technology. This doesn’t mean every organization should instantly move to the cloud, but cloud-native practices can create astonishing organizational improvements. Every executive should understand how, why and where to use cloud technology.
Open Approaches & Hybrid Architectures
Open data, open standards, open source technology. Every company should have an “Open Strategy,” however, most companies will be operating in a hybrid environment:
- Open-source technology interfacing with proprietary technologies
- Open data stored beside sensitive proprietary data
Hybrid architectures are the most commonly encountered yet so infrequently discussed. Sparkgeo is a vendor-agnostic geospatial organization, albeit with some acknowledged industry preferences. We can provide meaningful, unbiased advice on where to lead your organization and how to manage a complicated and often emotional vendor environment.
Will Cadell
Founder & CEO
I bring two decades of geospatial industry experience, one of which was as a freelancer evolving into an entrepreneur. I’ve seen a lot of geospatial, either firsthand or secondhand.
Learner.
Being curious, I am constantly learning. With a formal education in electronic engineering and remote sensing. I augmented my technical education with a diploma from Oxford in Strategy and Innovation.
Leader.
I founded Sparkgeo in 2010 to put maps on the internet. Since then, I have hand-picked my team, and we have been working with some of the biggest brands in technology and pivotal geospatial institutions. Our team is excited to work with numerous markets and verticals, giving us an uncanny knowledge of the broad use of geospatial technology today. Sparkgeo operates from 2 continents and serves a global technology market. Creating technology to:
Creating technology to:
- Bring the power of geography into the hands of non-expert users
- To raise the expectations of computing for modern enterprises
- Unlock the value of the flood of pixels captured from low earth orbit
Advisor & Fellow.
I am happy to help, but limited by time! I advise Cultivation Capital’s Geospatial venture fund and try to help as many startups as possible with industry and market knowledge. More broadly, I support enterprise companies and financial institutions on the uses and value of geospatial technology, especially within the context of climate and space. I have acted as a Teaching Fellow for Oxford MBA’s Smart Space Elective, discussing the unsettled nature of the geospatial analytics market, and I support the Taylor Geospatial Engine as an Industry Fellow.
Speaker.
As a regular speaker on the international geospatial circuit, I have also been lucky enough to discuss geospatial technology at bigger global events like COP 27.
North 51.
I am a co-host of North America’s only geospatial thought leadership event, North51. This is the only event for cutting-edge geospatial ideas, colliding innovation, strategy, and geography. Attracting senior industry leaders and learners, N51 has built a reputation for curated and relevant industry conversations – the right geospatial conversations at the right time.
Will acts as an expert industry advisor and connector. Opening the doors of the modern geospatial sector for the broader enterprise community.
Additional Resources
Modern Geospatial
We have introduced complementary assets, inchoate demand, and adjacent possibilities in the past few months. We have talked about innovation curves, market segmentation and market sensing.
Enable Simplicity
It’s not that we are using “the cloud,” it’s that we can offer what “the cloud” can offer. Better, we can offer what the cloud offers and wrap it up as if nothing has changed.
Finding Strategic Innovation
Strategy can be developed internally and externally. We can look at what we have and determine how best to focus on it. One approach is the VRIO tool to look inside your organization and note what is Valuable, Rare, Inimitable, and Organized.
Undiscovered Countries
More non-traditional geospatial consumers are becoming geo-curious. How can our community help to develop geospatial strategies for organizations with little intrinsic geo-experience?
Organizational Focal Length
Thinking too big; thinking too small. How can you adjust your personal focal length to focus on the correct scale for your project, business or organization?
Steeped in Complements
Last time we considered dominant designs. Those accepted forms that we have become so used to. Interestingly some designs have become so familiar that even when the previous necessities of those designs have evolved, sometimes the form remains the same.