South Africa, July 13 -- The challenge is that retail has changed significantly. Consumers are more mobile, less loyal to individual stores and increasingly move between physical and digital shopping channels.

The traditional idea that a customer simply shops at the store closest to home no longer reflects how people behave.

A consumer may buy groceries near home, stop at a convenience store on the commute to work, visit a shopping centre over the weekend and use an app for additional purchases during the week.

At the same time, community shopping centres, smaller convenience stores and retail offerings at service stations are changing the competitive landscape.

According to Stuart Martin, geospatial industry lead at Esri South Africa...