ABSTRACT
The focus of this chapter is the development and application of online market analysis systems (OMASs) to provide automobile manufacturers and dealerships with easy-to-use and effective managerial decision support tools. OMASs make use of information and software from geographical information systems (GIS) and Internet technologies to generate online (Web-based) environments for data management, analysis, and visualization in map format. These platforms are integrated and synchronized with market analysis techniques and customer relationship management (CRM) systems to produce effective approaches for identifying market opportunities and estimating automobile sales performance. In this way, a bridge is established between marketing science, GIS and Internet technologies, and practical problemsolving, with a view to developing competitive advantages for manufacturers and dealers who are able to harness the potential of these systems.
