---
title: "How to Find Interesting Locations in Batch (Optimize)"
url: "https://kb.retailsonar.com/en/article/how-to-find-interesting-locations-in-batch-optimize"
language: "en"
last_updated: "2026-07-02T09:26:35.236Z"
---

# How to Find Interesting Locations in Batch (Optimize)

## When to use this workflow?

Use this workflow when you want to screen multiple locations at once and quickly identify which areas may be interesting to study further — rather than evaluating one location at a time in Location Planning.

This is useful when you want to:

-   Compare many potential sites in one pass
-   Evaluate a list of addresses against market opportunity
-   Detect promising areas before doing a more detailed, single-location analysis

If you already have one specific location in mind, you don't need this workflow — go straight to [\[Getting Started in Location Planning\]](https://kb.retailsonar.com/en/article/getting-started-in-location-planning) instead.

*Note that all information in the following steps regarding "Optimal reduction" and "Optimal characteristics" are not relevant for PropertyScanner platform users.*

## 1\. Make sure you're in the Optimize module

![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/bbccdea3-a25e-4fa5-8fef-e1ecd99a32db)

## 2\. Create a Hotspot project

Follow this card: [Create a project](https://kb.retailsonar.com/en/article/create-a-project) and choose hotspot exercise

## 3\. Select a period

Follow this card: [Select a period](https://kb.retailsonar.com/en/article/select-a-period) and choose "Baseline"

## 4\. Choose a dataset

Follow this card: [Choose a dataset](https://kb.retailsonar.com/en/article/choose-a-data-set). Follow one of the following parts (and skip the rest):

-   "Start with your own data set"
-   "Choose an existing brand from the datastore"

## 5\. Prepare your list of locations

Follow this card: [Prepare your list of locations](https://kb.retailsonar.com/en/article/prepare-your-list-of-locations-in-the-template) and follow Step 1 and Step 2.

## 6\. Upload the template

Follow this card: [Upload the template](https://kb.retailsonar.com/en/article/upload-the-template) and fill out the appropriate columns

## 7\. Calculate the projec**t**

Follow this card: [Calculate the project](https://kb.retailsonar.com/en/article/calculate-the-project)

## 8\. Interprate the results

The resulting table shows, for each location and segment, the **Developable surface** within the different catchment areas: 10 minutes, 15 minutes, and 20 minutes.

![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/56df454c-03bf-4b08-8e99-32ad12ab49ab)

This lets you quickly compare locations and identify where there may still be market room for specific retail segments — the same Developable m² logic used in [the General Report](https://kb.retailsonar.com/en/article/which-segments-have-room-general-report), applied across many locations at once instead of one.

Use the results in the table as a first screening, not as a final answer. Locations or areas with positive Developable surface are good candidates to carry forward into a detailed analysis.

## 9\. Analyze the locations

Follow the steps in the first part of [this card](https://kb.retailsonar.com/en/article/reviewing-and-working-with-your-project-results) to analyze the results in a more detailed way.

## 10\. Export results

Follow this card: [Export results](https://kb.retailsonar.com/en/article/export-results) to analyze everything in excel.

## 11\. How to update your list of locations after calculations

If you want to do adaptations to 1 or more locations, follow this card: [How to update your list of locations after calculation (optionally)](https://kb.retailsonar.com/en/article/how-to-add-remove-or-update-locations-in-your-project)

## 12\. Create the appropriate report

For each shortlisted location, build a detailed business case by creating the appropriate report via the button on the right hand side of a location ![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/9eff47ac-0826-42ba-b080-3e131d914e97)

1.  [\[Which Segments Have Room? (General Report)\]](https://kb.retailsonar.com/en/article/which-segments-have-room-general-report)
2.  [\[Which Segment Opportunity Should I Explore Further? (Segment Report)\]](https://kb.retailsonar.com/en/article/which-segment-opportunity-should-i-explore-further-segment-report)
3.  [\[Which Nearby Retailers Could Relocate to My Location? (Relocation Opportunities Report)\]](https://kb.retailsonar.com/en/article/which-nearby-retailers-could-relocate-to-my-location-relocation-opportunities-report)
4.  [\[Which Retailers Are Missing From the Area? (Expansion Opportunities Report)\]](https://kb.retailsonar.com/en/article/which-retailers-are-missing-from-the-area-expansion-opportunities-report)

## Related articles

-   **Possible Excel import failures**  
    Learn [what to check](https://kb.retailsonar.com/en/article/check-file-upload-progress-and-validation-errors) if your Excel template cannot be uploaded or processed correctly.
-   **Outdated results after baseline changes**  
    Understand [why Optimize results may become outdated](https://kb.retailsonar.com/en/article/baseline-changes-leading-to-outdated-results) when changes are made to the baseline after calculation.