Evaluation of the first two years of its four-year plan that was set out in 2009 shows that SuperMap is indeed showing signs of gradual growth in target markets outside of China. SuperMap, the GIS manufacturer originating from Beijing, China, embarked on its plan for international expansion in 2009. In the plan, SuperMap expressed its intention to focus on the Asian and African markets and now, after two years, progress in these markets is visible.
While SuperMap is also active in the markets of Europe, the Americas and Oceania, the Asian and African markets currently hold the most appeal. Dr. Kanghong Wang, vice president of SuperMap, states that one of the biggest Chinese contributions to the geomatics world is the offer of new choices to GIS professionals, to supplement the products that have been on the market for years. SuperMap's vice president spoke to GIM International.
GIM International speaks with Dr. Wang, SuperMap
SuperMap, China's biggest GIS producer, is planning on conquering the world from the Far East by offering new choices to the GIS user. GIM International spoke with Dr. Wang, vice president of the software company, about SuperMap's strategy, his views on the role of Chinese geomatics and the options it offers for clients.
Can you please tell our readers more about the history of SuperMap?
"SuperMap was established 14 years ago, in 1997, by Professor Zhong Ershun, and the GIS platform was developed from the beginning. Professor Zhong came from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, as did a few other people he started the company with. Nowadays, SuperMap's GIS platform is used for several markets and a wide variety of applications. We introduced the first English version back in 2001. In 2009, SuperMap took the plunge and from that moment on the company has been listed on the Shenzhen stock exchange. Now, 14 years after the start of this company, we have more than a thousand employees, with offices in Hong Kong and Tokyo too, and distributors and partners in 14 countries all over the globe."
Can you give me an estimate of SuperMap's market share in the Chinese market?
"SuperMap currently accounts for 23% of the Chinese GIS market. Note that this is just for the general SuperMap GIS platform. If we included all the different solutions SuperMap produces for specific clients, the figure would be higher."
How does that compare to the international market?
"That is very difficult to say right now. We have just started to expand in the world beyond China. We started this process cautiously from our Japanese office in Tokyo back in 2000, and much of the international expansion is still taking place from the headquarters. We are also one of the top five GIS providers in Japan. We have had our four-year plan for international marketing in place since 2009 and that plan runs through to 2013, so please ask us again in a few years from now - it will be much easier to answer the question then."
Can you tell me in which main markets SuperMap is planning to expand?
"Yes - besides in Japan, we are very active in Africa and South-East Asia, and we are gradually growing in the European market. The markets of the Americas and Oceania are also ongoing. There is one more thing I would like to say: we are looking for distributors with local know-how, GIS expertise and sales experience in different countries and regions to join the growing SuperMap business-partner network all over the world!"
What do you see as the most important development in the GIS field?
"The trend of GIS becoming increasingly available for the general public is one of the most important developments right at this moment, and it will continue in the near future. But that said, our main client at the moment is the government, and I expect it to remain so for a very long time."
Other trends?
"Definitely mobile GIS. Going mobile, for professionals and consumers, is an unstoppable trend; we have already introduced versions of our products working on IOS and Android. And let's not forget computing in the cloud - SuperMap has already released a cloud-enabled version of its SuperMap GIS 6R platform."
What is the main role of Chinese companies in the developments you mentioned?
"I think that Chinese products in the GIS market are providing another choice for clients. At GIS-related trade shows, there's little choice in terms of products, and I think that the public is entitled to have the chance to choose from different products. That choice is definitely something that we can provide."
