Google Maps set to Introduce Interactive and New-Normal-Friendly Changes

Adding Images

Google Maps will soon have an enhanced review tool. Users can add images and videos to their reviews of places, restaurants or, events. This feature will help users give a clearer visual view of their experiences. Their reviews will not only consist of written details but help internet users make a better appraisal of the establishment by viewing images and videos before they plan to visit.

Editing

Google is planning to introduce a useful editing tool on Google Maps. This editing tool will allow users to add roads that are not found on the existing Google Map App. Reporting road updates is available in 80 countries and Google Maps is now offering users in these countries this user-friendly interactive tool. Users can correct the directions of roads and draw roads that are not found on the app. Users can also delete non-existent roads or rename wrongly named roads using the feature. Google has also assured its users that they will screen all edits by users for accuracy before the changes are published for other users.

Information Updates

Google is set to make another interactive tool for users. The tool will help them correct the information on the app and improve the accuracy of the information available on Google Maps. This tool will allow business owners or members of the local community to provide up-to-date information about an establishment. The tool allows them to correct the contact information of a business or update the timings mentioned in the app. This update tool offers a challenge to the community and the goal of the company is to keep the information of over 100,000 business establishments up-to-date.

Performance

The performance Insights features on Google Maps will contain updated metrics. These metrics will help a business evaluate its performance easily. They can easily check how many times a search term triggered the business, the number of searches that triggered the business, the search terms used to find the business and, whether the business performed better or otherwise from the previous year. Performance data will be available for a business for six months. Google will soon add new metrics including whether customers found the business on Google Maps or Google Search. Business owners can also check if users found them on their desktop devices or mobile devices.

Indoor Live View

Google Maps has introduced the Indoor Live View tool to help users navigate and find places indoors in places like airports, train stations and, shopping malls. The feature is currently available in a few airports and shopping malls in the US. Google is set to introduce Indoor Live View in airports, transit stations and, shopping malls in Japan and Switzerland soon. While Google Maps has an existing Indoor Maps feature, the Indoor Live View feature is interactive and helps users find shops or amenities like toilets easily in airports and shopping malls.

Compass

In 2019, Google Maps had removed the compass feature for android users because it proved to be unreliable. Google continued to provide the compass feature for iOS users. Google is set to re-introduce the compass feature for Android users. The compass will be a widget on the Google Maps app and the arrow will always point North even when the phone is rotated. Users can see the compass on the right of the Google Maps screen. Users will require a Google Maps version of 10.62 or higher to use the upgraded compass feature.

Weather and Air Quality

Google Maps is offering a new tool for users in select countries. The tool will give users prior information about the weather and air quality in the places they plan to visit. Google plans to source information from its partners in these countries, the Central Pollution Control Board, The Weather Company and, AirNow.gov. Google Maps will provide weather information globally on Android and iOS. Air Quality information will be launched initially in the US, Australia and, India. Google will add other countries after partnering with pollution information partners in those countries.

Grocery Pickup

The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has ushered in a new normal. Under the new normal the way customers shop for groceries has changed. Most customers order groceries online and pick them up at a no-contact location in the store. Google Maps has a new feature where customers can add and register orders placed on the store’s app to Google Maps. Google Maps will send notifications informing customers that their orders are ready for pickup. Google Maps will also inform the staff at the store that the customer has arrived to make order preparation and order pickup easy.

Electric Vehicle-Friendly

Google is set to make its Google Maps app increasingly environmentally friendly. The company is committed to curbing climate change. In this endeavor, it has introduced more electric vehicle-friendly routes on Google Maps. Google has increased the number of charging points shown on Google Maps. Users can also find routes that allow lower consumption of fuel. Electric vehicles with built-in Google Maps offer many convenient features. Google Maps will give the vehicle’s estimated battery charge when the user reaches a destination. It will continuously update battery levels during the journey. The feature will also inform users about the number of charging stops they need before they reach their destination and the location of charging stations along the way.

Google Maps has unveiled a whole new, innovative and, user-friendly set of features. These features will help the app offer accurate information and help users navigate easily indoors and outdoors, give detailed information about locations and, help users cope with the pandemic-related new-normal easily.