What is Geolocation Technology?
If you have ever used the Maps app on your iPhone, you have probably seen the ‘My location’ button. This button makes your iPhone track your location, and provides you with a map of your location using GPS technology. You can even see your location on the map, and use GPS technology to share your location with friends and family. This is just one of many uses of GPS (Global Positioning System).
In the wake of the invention of GPS, the demand for GPS-based apps has grown significantly, especially with social media apps. There is a demand for an app that can provide details regarding the localities of a particular business, in order to show the users the exact location of a particular business and to provide them with details of the nearest restaurant or store. This became possible with the advent of Geolocation app development.
How Does Geolocation Work?
The GPS chip in your smartphone is what powers geolocation. Geolocation is an asset to any business and a tool that can help generate revenue.
Geolocation does two major things: it allows customers to report their location to other customers, and it associates real-world locations (like nearby restaurants or shops) with a customer’s real-life location. Location-based mobile apps give users a richer experience than they could get on their desktop computers. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the major benefits.
What Can Geolocation Do?
Location-based mobile apps give users a richer experience than something they could get on their computer (which is really important because the average consumer uses their smartphone as a lifeline and only occasionally logs into their home computer). One thing you need to know before you generate any geo-data is what data geolocation can collect. Doing this will give you an idea of the features you can include in your app to boost your ROI.
Here are some key things geolocation can do:
- Identify a user’s current position
- Detect user’s moving from one region to another
- Calculate the distance between objects
Integrating Geolocation into Your Mobile App
Geolocation can be an incredibly powerful tool for your business. If this interests you, talk to a developer about adding location-based features to your app. There are two ways they might do it:
The first is for users who want to find geolocation-related data for their current location (e.g. nearby restaurants, shops). This feature will use the phone’s geolocation API and the customer will not need to manually enter where they are located.
The second type is for customers who want to enter a specific location and have your app find geolocation-related data without noting their specific GPS location. Again, this is something your developer will do automatically, but it’s always good to have some background knowledge.
KEY CONSIDERATIONS FOR DEVELOPING A GEOLOCATION APP SUCCESSFULLY
Keep the following key considerations in mind when developing a geolocation app:
Adding geolocation features to your app is a no-brainer. It should be easy, and it can help generate business by reaching your customers when they’re out in the world. But how do you go about the process? There are many location-aware technologies to choose from, but there are some basic steps that you should follow to maximize the effectiveness of geolocation services. Review these five points below, and I hope they’ll be helpful in guiding you through the process.
- Choose between hybrid-app development and developing a native Android or iOS app.
- Choose external IP API that are relevant to your app’s functionality, such as dating apps or e-commerce.
- Manage geolocation-related data like cell ID effectively.
- Consider different location-aware technologies, such as Geofencing, beacons, or GPS.
- Review apps that have successfully integrated geolocation services.
Conclusion
Adding geolocation features to your app is a no-brainer. It’s an easy way to generate business and help your customers feel a real emotional connection with your app (you’ll reach them in their homes when they’re driving around running errands when they’re out having fun).
Interesting Related Article: “11 Facts That Nobody Told You About GPS Trackers“