Turning data into
market intelligence.
Market Decisions provides GIS data, market intelligence and research that help businesses understand where people are, where markets are developing and what is happening on the ground.
Explore our data →Better locationsGIS layers & geographic classification
Smarter decisionsShopping centre, retail and market intelligence
Bigger opportunitiesResearch, population and Africa
Shopping Centre Intelligence
Shopping centres, micro locations, population detail and retail tenant classification.
Explore this subject →GIS Geography and Population
Population and government, census history, geographic layers and settlement classification.
Explore this subject →Research and Market Intelligence
Traditional research, digital data and spatial intelligence.
Explore this subject →Sub Saharan Africa Profiler
Country files, capital cities, population density and regional market intelligence.
Explore this subject →Tourism and Aviation
Passenger research, tourism markets, destinations and international arrivals.
Explore this subject →Market insight since 1994.
Founded as a strategic partnership between our clients and us as a research supplier, Market Decisions brings an international perspective to South Africa and a local understanding of African markets.
Our Journey: 1994 to Today
Three decades of insight, research and understanding the movement of people, retail and transport.
- 1994
The Foundations: GIS and Demographics
Market Decisions began with GIS, demographic analysis, supermarket and furniture research, and gravitational modelling to understand people, markets and trading potential.
- 1996–2000
Retail Growth and New Opportunities
We expanded into shopping centre marketing research, secret shopper surveys and through proper field staff training expanded into the calculation of retail demand at South Africa’s newly opened international airports, extending our understanding of consumer behaviour and commercial environments.
- 2001–2010
Aviation Research and International Standards
Aviation became a major area of expertise, combining quantitative and qualitative research with continuous, airline-based passenger monitoring and insights into the airport travel experience.
- 2011–2020
Expanding Our Horizons: Aviation and Africa
Our aviation work broadened to include passenger journey times, cleanliness assessments, service audits and the impact of low-cost carriers. We also developed our understanding of tourism in South Africa and across Africa, alongside the creation of AfricaProfiler as the continent continued to develop.
- 2021–2025
Adapting to a Changing World
Following the disruption of COVID-19 and the decline in airport passenger traffic, we refocused on our core strengths in demographics, GIS, shopping centres and retail. The rise of phygital shopping — the integration of physical and digital retail — and growing demand for deeper insights opened new avenues for research.
- 2026+
New Ventures. New Direction.
Building on three decades of experience, Market Decisions continues to evolve through data, research, training the next generation and exploring new business opportunities with legacy as its core. Our focus remains on delivering meaningful insights into people, places, retail and the changing African landscape — while preparing for the next generation.