A marketing information system consists of people, equipment, and procedures to gather, analyze, and distribute market data to marketing decision makers. The system includes an internal records system that provides managers with reports on orders, sales, costs, inventory levels and other internal data to spot opportunities and problems. It also includes a marketing intelligence system of procedures and sources used by managers to obtain everyday information about developments in the marketing environment. Finally, it contains a marketing research system to study buyer wants, preferences, and behavior in more depth.