Some say that as much as 90% of the data a business holds has a geographic element to it, such as the addresses in customer or supplier records. For many industries, strategic savings can be made by understanding the geographic dimension to this data and planning business activities accordingly. Oracle Certified Partner eSpatial provides tools that make it easier for companies to build geographic information systems (GIS) into their core business applications.

"For a long time, GIS was about large companies like Intergraph supplying dedicated platforms," says eSpatial CEO Philip O'Doherty. "Our technology is about creating an IT-centric GIS structure, which in the modern world means web-enabled platforms and no client side software to the maximum extent possible. We provide an enterprise geospatial suite that works off Oracle's core geospatial platform in Oracle Database 10g. Using our software, businesses can more rapidly build and deploy spatial applications."

eSpatial developed its first application in 2000, using Oracle Database 8. "Every other specialist niche of IT had moved from proprietary languages and file types to more open environments using a database as the base platform," says O'Doherty. "When we decided to develop on Oracle, we recognised that this would be the future for GIS as well and took a strategic decision to be at the forefront of that development."

Today, eSpatial has migrated its applications to Oracle 10g and uses the Oracle Application Server. "As Oracle moves the technology forward, we have to support that," says O'Doherty. "The geospatial capabilities in 10g significantly enhance the offering from Oracle and the market appetite to use Oracle is becoming greater. Oracle has significant market share and is an easy choice for customers."

Oracle's reputation also brings credibility to eSpatial's applications. "It's not just about the geospatial functionality," says O'Doherty. "It's all about the security, scalability and performance of the Oracle platform. We would sell all of Oracle's message as part of our message. It's equally applicable to applications using our software because we're truly embedded with it."

eSpatial often works with systems integrators and specialist consulting firms in supplying a complete IT solution to a business, including Oracle Applications. "Oracle is very helpful in recommending people we should talk to and providing references when we do make contact," says O'Doherty. "Oracle's guidance regularly helps us to identify targets."

As a Certified Partner, eSpatial receives increased personal interaction, promotion and benefits from Oracle compared to the entry-level Partner programme. "We've made the bet on Oracle and we shouldn't be half-hearted about it," says O'Doherty. "Becoming a Certified Partner is important - it shows a commitment to customers and makes a statement."

As a partner with a particular interest in the spatial functions of 10g, eSpatial has benefited from free training and extensive guidance from Oracle's specialist team. "We've been to Nashua to meet the spatial development team and have a dialogue and line of access when we need help," says O'Doherty.

Together, Oracle and eSpatial have engaged in marketing activities to target the European utility market, where eSpatial benefits from the support of a dedicated marketing manager for the industry sector.

O'Doherty advises other ISVs: "Oracle is a good company to work with. Particularly in the last few years, the focus on the partner has increased. They're good to work with from a technical and a marketing perspective. Previously the pricing made it hard to compete with Microsoft SQL Server in certain engagements, but changes in price points in recent years have made it easier to compete. That's something ISVs should know about."

Asked about the best thing to emerge from the partner programme, O'Doherty says: "It's all about winning business - the business we win justifies the work we put into the programme. We're still a young enough company and have a lot of work to do, but we will continue to be committed to Oracle. We believe the investment will be rewarded more and more in the future."