GIS applications to support business development

Gas distribution business is known in Portugal at Lisbon and small communities around the country. With the introduction of the natural gas distribution, starting in 1997, a new business area appears, giving the technicians the opportunity to develop great importance new tools, to help decision support concerning priorities and paths. Creating a team where people with knowledge in GIS and strategic marketing works together, gives the opportunity to check the variables and functions directly involved into the definition of business main streams and create the models and systems that are important to the business. Along this paper will be presented the steps and results the team got, as well as the future evolution.