Browse Google Maps without exiting your Business App

Until now, using Google maps required visiting its specific work environment, taking advantage of the geolocalised information already provided, or adding items to a layer of business data. The configuration of the web pages visited through browsers on PCs or Tablets required inserting an iframe with the map, not only limiting the surface displayed, but also functions related to the browsing experience.

A truly simple solution that did not require JavaScript; it was enough to insert the URL previously compiled from Google Maps as the value of the iframe src attribute. All that was left was to define the width and height attributes of the frame containing the map. That was all that could be achieved to insert maps (on site, directions, search or display mode) and panoramic Street View images.

On the other hand, to adapt to the experience provided by smartphone Apps, and given the reduced size of their screens, when one wanted to take advantage of Google Maps the trend had always been to exit the application and go to the Google Maps App to browse step by step in real time, launching the search parameters from the App of origin.

From now on, you can go a step further: Google now provides the chance to use its own maps in the applications of any company that wants to use them. The Browse API makes this possible.

Google’s browsing experience and quality in your Business App.

The use of Google maps via a proprietary application provides access to all the well-known features of its user interface: night browsing, route preview, news on future driving manoeuvres, and even traffic information.

And your customers’ UX (user experience) will completely change. You do not need to exit the App and, therefore, you can keep certain additional elements on the Map’s perimeter, linked to the service you are offering your client.

Lyft is a good example of inserting maps in an App

If you need to see an example of how maps have been inserted into a business App, Lyft s an excellent choice. This passenger transport company decided to incorporate Google Maps in its App in response to the improvements already available in Über. The customers (whether users or drivers) were complaining about how uncomfortable it was to find directions on the maps when you had to exit the Lyft App and go to Google Maps or Waze. In addition, in the case of the drivers, once they finished the journey, they had to go back to the App to collect data on their next passenger.

Could this also improve the user experience of your services? Locating resources and individuals in real time, displaying data from remote sensors… all geographically referenced without exiting your App.

If you are interested in what the Google Maps API can bring to your business with its applied geolocation services, please contact us. We are a Google Maps Premier Partner, and we will be happy to help you on issues such as licensing, implementation and development, customised projects or technical support. With these new Google Maps features, using their maps is much more interesting than before.