We have all used Google Maps at some point of time in our lives. While we may not all be dependent on the tool, I’m sure we all have a sense of how amazingly useful it is. This Google Maps APIs Use Cases article will introduce you to some use cases that have brought a phenomenal change in our lives.
Google Maps isn’t just for directions (although it is a major feature), it is also a really useful tool for locating businesses. Admit it, you have, at least once, wondered if there were any good restaurants nearby; and just opened Google and searched “Restaurants near me”. You could even find businesses like Football Field Builders if you could afford the idea of a football field built in your house. Google even has various user-friendly features to do so.
“A map is the greatest of all epic poems. Its lines and colours show the realisation of great dreams” (Gilbert H. Grosvenor). In 2005, when Google Maps was formally launched on the World Wide Web platform, one could not relate to the quote above. Today, 13 years down the line, I think I can safely say we all know exactly what it means.
Google maps APIs now conveniently serves as the map platform for the majority of the location-based applications. It is a key element and is integral to their business models. Jack Dangermond, co-founder of ESRI, has correctly said – Knowing where things are, and why, is essential to rational decision making.
Google Maps has allowed us to get a better understanding of our surroundings in order to make well informed data-driven decisions.
Google Maps API Use Cases
Cab Hiring
This platform is being adopted by almost all the leading cab providing services in the world. In this fast-paced life, we often get caught up with many overwhelming responsibilities. Having suffered the dreadful ‘unproductive’ minutes of simply standing and waiting for a taxi to pass in the sweltering hot sun, I sure am grateful for this new approach in the transportation industry. I believe most of you are familiar with this new platform – where we can easily book taxi rides for ourselves, friends and family while conveniently performing the routine tracking of the cab in real-time. With pre-filling the destination of the journey, we can even make sure the drop off is at the exact location. I think it is safe to say that Uber is the app that completely changed how the world hails a taxi.
XOOCAR, an Indian based company, focuses primarily on innovative transport solutions. It has implemented Google Maps API into its platform and managed to significantly grow its user base. Click here to read more.
Hotel Bookings
Booking a hotel of your choice has never been easier! With so many choices for your intended location and price range, you can effortlessly find and book a hotel that is within your means. It doesn’t matter if you are travelling for work or vacation, booking a hotel close to the location of your scheduled meetings or travel list makes navigation in a foreign land so much more convenient. With maps, you are even given the location of nearby landmarks – this can help you immensely in navigating certain whereabouts around the location and is an extremely useful feature for vacation goers!
With the introduction of Airbnb in 2008, hotels are facing major competition. According to research done – in the 10 cities with the largest Airbnb market share in the US, the entry of Airbnb resulted in 1.3% fewer hotel nights booked and a 1.5% loss in hotel revenue. Airbnb offers listings in 191 countries and its total number of listings – 4 million – is higher than the top 5 major hotel brands combined. Airbnb, with the help of Google Maps API, has revolutionized the lodging market.
Retail Shopping
Retail Shopping was never such a pleasure, as now you can maximize your shopping experience through the advance planning of where to scout for what, through a map-based application. Now, in a day, you can visit several retail shopping centers by having a better understanding of what is available at certain malls/outlets and so get more options for your shopping experience. In today’s fast-paced life maximizing your time and efforts are keys to efficient living.
With the latest technological advancements, consumer experience both – in-store and out-store – is being constantly monitored. In Japan, Toshiba has developed a way for customers to virtually try on clothes using a digital changing booth. Shopping without having to go through the hassle of taking off our clothes and physically trying them on? A BIG YES FROM MY SIDE!
Logistics
The use of map-based platform and real-time tracking of vehicles have added immense value to the logistics business case. It has not just resulted in the timely delivery of consignments, but also helped check any form of mismanagement in transportation. Most of the packers and movers, courier agencies and transportation companies now rely on map based real-time tracking platforms to track their assets and ensure customer satisfaction.
It is essential for a delivery company to know the shortest route of delivery. With numerous packages to deliver every day, this small improvement could have a profound impact on the delivery efficiency and would allow for better resource allocation. From enabling lower costs on fuel to increasing the number of deliveries within a set time period, the ‘Shortest Route Calculator’ is accessible via Google Maps API. Businesses can appropriately write their own application around Google Maps to suit their own specific business needs.
Fitness
Getting a workout done is one of the biggest challenges for a majority of the population around the globe. However, by creating more social, fun and immersive experiences, people are more likely to maintain their regular workouts. To encourage that, iFit has integrated Google Maps API into their treadmills and gym bikes. This integration creates a competitive gaming atmosphere around fitness. When users are on their treadmills or bikes, they can bring up Google Maps and simulate the terrain on which they running after setting their desired route. Runners/cyclists can compete with their friends and family to see their time compared to others.
With the introduction of oBike, CitiBike and the other various bike-sharing platforms, the fitness-cum-transportation industry has also risen. These bikes located all across cities enable faster and a healthier means of travel for the people. With the introduction of Google Maps API in this platform, commuters can easily search the location of bikes nearest to them.
Propel your business further with complete access to the world’s most complete geo-location reference data set. Millions of apps and sites are using Google Maps API to power their businesses. For more real-life showcases of Google Maps API, please click here.
Click here for information on Google Maps APIs.
