Google Maps for companies
Functions, applications, and integration of the Google Maps Platform
The foundation for customized applications
With Google Maps Platform, you can develop customized map-based applications for your company. Whether a static or interactive map, mobile or browser-based, with the Google Maps Platform you can integrate customizable maps into shops, websites, apps, and business software.
Take advantage of the leading role of Google Maps among your target audience: With a billion users per month, Google Maps is one of the most popular map providers – and offers you an infrastructure that enables easy scaling.
All maps services from one source
The Google Maps Platform comprises Maps, Places, Routes, Environment and Analytics.
Google Maps is typically the foundation of any map application used to display location-based data. Using custom markers, lines, colors, polygons, and images, you create a layout tailored to your company.
Google Places offers comprehensive location data for over 100 million places worldwide. Through addresses, opening hours, contact details, as well as ratings and reviews, users receive important guidance and decision support.
Using Google Routes, you receive comprehensive data and real-time traffic information to show users the shortest or fastest route from A to B.
With Google Environment, you can access and utilize current environmental data—from protecting allergy sufferers to the optimal planning of solar collectors.
Maps Analytics gives users access to Places, Environment, Roads, and Street View data in BigQuery. This makes it easier to conduct geospatial analyses in a privacy-compliant manner.
How Google Maps enhances business applications
Maps – for interactive maps aplications
- Store locator and branch search
- Interactive maps for a travel booking portal
- Localization of cars, bicycles and scooters
- Display of free spaces in a parking lot app
- Optimization of sales territories
- Map views for classified ads apps
- Street View to show real estate
Routes – route planning
- Resource planning for delivery services
- Predicting arrival time (ETA) for logistics and transport
- Route optimization for logistics companies
- Route directions to hotels and restaurants
- Range planning for electric vehicles
- ‘Travelling Salesman’ application cases
Places – location data
- Autocomplete ensures correct address is entered at checkout
- Location determination for vehicles (asset tracking)
- Geocoding for postal services
- Analyses for site selection
- Optimization of sales territories
- Points of interest in a travel app
Environment – environmental data
- Trends & developments in air pollution using Air Quality Data
- Potential analysis for solar installations
- Analysis & forecast of pollen levels for allergy sufferers
Analytics - maps data in BigQuery
- Location analyses and evaluations based on Google's aggregated location data regarding ratings, opening hours, accessibility, and more.
- Maintenance & updating of CRM data for B2B retailers.
- Detailed analysis of Street View images for infrastructure inventory and condition assessment.
- Analysis of historical and current traffic data.
- Sustainability analyses based on satellite data from Google Earth Engine.
Google Maps API Usage Costs for Businesses
Google Maps Platform costs are based on the usage of the APIs and SKUs provided by Google. The APIs are divided into three categories: Essential, Pro, and Enterprise. A certain number of billable events are free of charge each month; higher volumes are billed based on usage.
More about the costs of Google Maps PlatformAs an international Google Maps licensee, we use almost all available Google Maps APIs and SDKs for Sixt and myDriver. In Ubilabs we have found a reliable partner that can advise us on our license volume by phone and on site at any time and provides professional support in optimizing usage.
Partner advantages
We are a leading Google Cloud Partner specializing in Google Maps in DACH and offer you a number of advantages:
- Price advantages especially for larger volumes
- Personal consulting on the integration and optimal ROI of Google Maps
- Reliable support from dedicated contact person
- Payment by invoice instead of credit card
- For corporations: framework agreements & settlement to cost centers
High-quality interactive maps are a key asset for our customers. That’s why we’ve relied on Google Maps for years – and on the reliable support of Ubilabs experts.
Industry examples from our customers
Retail and E-Commerce
For the internationally operating PUMA Group, we completely redeveloped not only the concept and design but also the IT infrastructure of their store locator. Customers can now quickly and easily find all important information regarding the nearest PUMA Store worldwide.
Regardless of where users are located, they can find the nearest store in just a few steps via the PUMA website. During the redesign of the store locator, we utilized various Google services to optimize data and guarantee the best user experience. The redesigned store locator ensures improved site usability and higher customer satisfaction.
The global food start-up Marley Spoon offers subscription-based meal kits. To ensure boxes reach their destination safely and quickly, the company utilizes Google Maps. Address verification and the Autocomplete function are particularly important for successful delivery, as they shorten the purchasing process and facilitate mobile login.
An international fashion corporation based in Germany also relies on Google Maps for shipping its goods: customers can select the nearest pickup point and also view all branches on the map.
Smart Mobility, Transport & Logistics
A customer developing location monitoring solutions uses the Google Maps Places API to verify location names, addresses, ratings, comments, and opening hours.
As a bike-sharing provider, one of our customers uses the Google Maps API to locate bikes and calculate the fastest route to the nearest bike. The market leader in car-sharing uses Google Maps as the central navigation element to start the booking route for the selected car.
Real Estate
The Google Maps APIs are also a central component in the user journey for the market-leading real estate portal Immoscout24. The Google map makes it easier for house buyers and apartment seekers to filter out the right property from the wide range on offer: they can limit their search to a certain radius and a self-selected area and take into account corresponding commuting times. The map is also an important element of the description in order to visualize information about the location that is relevant to the user – such as shopping opportunities, solar potential, and cellphone networks. The data for this comes from the Google Places API and from third-party providers.
Tourism
The tourism company e-Hoi uses the Google Maps APIs to provide its users with relevant location information while searching for holiday homes and cruises. The ship’s route is displayed on a dynamic map, allowing users to explore the itinerary in advance. Another feature is distance calculation using the Directions API; this makes it possible to determine the travel time to the holiday home and helps with the decision whether to travel by car or public transport. To make data entry easier for users and reduce abandonment rates, the autocomplete feature of the Places API is integrated into the booking form.
Fintech and Insurtech
The European financial institution Danskebank uses the Google Maps Platform to help its customers find their way to the nearest branch, the next consulting appointment or the nearest ATM.
Payback, the largest bonus program in Germany, uses an interactive Google map in its branch finder to provide an overview of all of the stores where points can be collected.