But can't I use Google Maps for that?

In my position as CTO at Living Map, I am often asked the question of whether Google Maps or Apple Maps would be suitable for a client’s mapping needs. While it's a valid question, the answer is not always straightforward. In the following post, I aim to delve deeper into why a tailored map is often the superior choice for businesses seeking reliable and customisable mapping solutions.

A unique design and user experience

Google Maps looks like Google Maps, and Apple Maps looks like Apple Maps. In contrast, a tailored map can be very closely aligned to a brand. From colour palette and icons, to landmark illustrations, a tailored map can be shaped to suit a very specific brief and use case. This is especially convenient when embedding maps within websites or apps where they need to seamlessly blend with the overall design. With a custom map, it is possible to define the style that’s required, rather than being forced to use a style defined by a third party.

Your map, your data

Relying on a third-party provider is not a viable solution when there is a desire to control what appears on the map. These providers typically maintain ownership of point-of-interest data, routing networks, and what appears on the map at any given time. In addition, factors such as self-promotion or payments for advertising can cause points-of-interest?to be shown with a higher priority over those that don’t.

Employing a tailored map, however, affords the ability to determine precisely what appears on the map. This includes the capability to define facilities, points-of-interest, retail units, and information points. It is possible to categorise and tag each feature to optimise searchability, as well as display essential information such as an icon, photo, heading, content, link, and opening hours in information panels. Additionally, display priority of map features can be customised for various zoom levels to meet specific use case requirements.

Outdoor, indoor, or both

The leading map providers are just beginning to explore the possibilities of indoor mapping. However, their efforts are currently limited to a handful of high-traffic venues, such as major airports and transportation hubs. Therefore, if you require an indoor map, your sole option is a specialised indoor map provider.

With a tailored map, there is the capability to map entire indoor spaces, including every room and every floor of a building. It is also possible to selectively display information to users, allowing for the hiding back-of-house rooms, non-walkable spaces, and non-accessible floors. Furthermore, it is possible to integrate outdoor mapping to create a relative backdrop for an indoor space, and incorporate multiple buildings into a single map to showcase an entire campus, with wayfinding from a room in one building to a room in another.

No hidden costs

In 2018, Google launched its revamped?"Google Maps Platform" which came with a significant increase in fees for the use of Google Maps in website embeds. This sudden change caused a financial burden for many businesses, as they were required to pay thousands of dollars per month to use the service that was once almost free.

With a tailored map solution, there can be transparency and honesty in pricing. All costs are revealed up front, and fees remain as initially quoted throughout the entire duration of a contract term. This ensures that businesses can easily budget for map creation and usage as a predictable operating expense.

Analytics, without a GDPR headache

Cookie notices are an essential component of GDPR compliance, but they can be a source of irritation for users. To comply with the law, any website or web app that uses tracking cookies must display a popup requesting permission from the user.

At Living Map, we recognise the importance of protecting our users' privacy. For this reason, we do not use cookies to collect usage analytics, nor do we employ Google Analytics as a method of data mining. Instead, we have created functionality to anonymously observe user behavior and record metrics, which are critical for measuring KPIs and evaluating ROI. These metrics do not identify any personal details about the user, and so respects their privacy. To our clients, we present this data in simple, easy-to-use dashboards that do not require an advanced degree in economics to understand.

Data in, Data out

Siloed data can be a major hurdle for businesses, leading to numerous inefficiencies and annoyances. When data is siloed, it cannot be effortlessly transferred or utilised from one system to another, which can cause wastage of time and effort. Copy-and-paste mistakes can further compound the problem, leading to errors that can have serious consequences.

'Custom Connector Interfaces' can overcome this challenge by acting as the bridging link between a map and data source. Whether accessing a pre-existing content management system, or using third party sources to populate map data, tailored solutions can be provided that allow the importing and exporting data as per requirements. These Custom Connector Interfaces can be run on a schedule, be loaded in real-time, or be operated manually; giving the flexibility to manage data in a way that suits map requirements.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while Google Maps and Apple Maps are popular choices for businesses seeking mapping solutions, a tailored map solution offers many advantages. With a bespoke map, a unique user experience can be designed that aligns with a business's brand, whilst maintaining control over what appears on the map. Tailored maps offer the flexibility to map indoor spaces, integrate with outdoor mapping, and avoid hidden costs associated with third-party providers. Furthermore, providers of custom maps tend to respect users’ privacy while still allowing for anonymous tracking of user behaviour for analytical and KPI metrics reporting. Finally, Custom Connector Interfaces can be used to manage siloed data efficiently, ensuring that businesses can utilise their data within their map, as well as extract data from their map for other systems.