Cash & Carry Sector: Location Models and GIS Decision Support
Although diverse methods / models have been studied and applied in general retail location areas, very few actually related to an important trade sector - Cash & Carry / Warehouse Club. Because of the distinguishing characteristics of this sector, the methods and models successfully used in other sectors cannot be simply transferred. To solve this problem, a thorough study has been conducted to compare the characteristics of the sector with available methods / models. Based on the outcome of this study, the regression model has been identified to be a better choice for the sector. Multiple key regression issues, such as model selection, trade area definition, overfilling and multicollinearity, measurement of competitiveness, subjective judgements and quantitative modelling, etc., have been explored in the configuration of a regression model for the sector. The resulting model based on the data from a British Cash & Carry company has achieved the highest R2 and R 2 (adj) when compared to similar research (based on literature search up to the year 2003). With the emergence of Geographic Information System (GIS), a powerful spatial information analysis tool, retail location enters the era of the use of Spatial Decision Support System technology to enhance the decision efficiency. Meanwhile, a dynamic location analysis system is important and necessary to retailers. This is why a Spatial- DSS is proposed and designed in the thesis. The designed system integrates technologies such as Database Management Systems (DBMS), Statistics Software, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Global Positioning System (GPS), Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), Decision Support Systems (DSS) and others. Although these technologies have been used in various areas before, integrating them to form a coherent unity is new.
Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations