Apple Maps Receives Big Update To Help Local Businesses

Tom Jowitt,
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Notable update to Apple Maps allows for addition of detailed business listings, photos, buttons and promotions across Apple ecosystem

Apple has on Wednesday delivered a notable update to Apple Maps to encourage its use beyond just directions and navigation.

The iPhone maker announced a new web portal called ‘Apple Business Connect’, which will allow business owners to update and manage their own information across Apple Maps and the Apple ecosystem.

This could include for example key details such as business hours and location, photos, logos, special offers, promotions, and other features such as being able to order a coffee, or book a hotel room.

Apple Business Connect is a new, free tool that allows businesses to customize their location place cards with images, key information, and special promotions. Image credit Apple

Apple Business Connect

The move is a clear attempt by Apple to pose a challenge to the likes of Google Maps and Waze.

Google Maps for example already has existing tools to allow businesses to edit and add information to their profiles.

Apple opted to make the ‘Apple Business Connect’ portal free to use, so businesses of all sizes can “customise the way their information appears across Apple apps.”

Apple said that any business can claim their location place cards and customise the way key information appears to more than a billion Apple users across Apple Maps, Messages, Wallet, Siri, and other apps.

“We created Business Connect to provide Apple users around the world with the most accurate information for places to eat, shop, travel, and more,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior VP of Services.

Information in the Maps place card appears to more than a billion Apple users across Siri, Wallet, and Messages, and other apps.
Image Credit Apple

“Apple Business Connect gives every business owner the tools they need to connect with customers more directly, and take more control over the way billions of people see and engage with their products and services every day,” said Cue.

Essentially with Apple Business Connect, businesses around the world can now directly manage their information in the interactive Apple Maps place card, including adding and updating photos and logos; inviting customers to take actions like ordering food or making a reservation directly from Maps; and presenting customers with special promotions.

Apple Business Connect.
Image credit Apple

Apple said that Showcases, a new feature in the place card, helps businesses present customers with offers and incentives, like seasonal menu items, product discounts, and more.

It added that businesses can easily update the Showcase section of their place card through Business Connect.

Apple Business Connect.
Image credit Apple

The additional map information will also be used in Siri and other Apple software.

Map actions

Showcases are available to businesses in the US beginning today, and will be available to businesses globally in coming months.

Businesses can also provide customers with useful information by highlighting certain actions for them to take directly from the Maps place card.

This can include ordering groceries via Instacart, making a hotel reservation through Booking.com, or reserving a spot for dinner with OpenTable, and more, with just a tap.

Apple Business Connect.
Image credit Apple

Business owners can use their existing Apple ID – or create a new Apple ID – to register for Business Connect at the self-service website from any desktop or laptop computer.