Geolocation is the hotshot in today’s tech landscape. Because mobile devices evolve at an incredible pace today, location technologies have become part of users’ lives. And subsequently, they matter to businesses all over the world.
Today, businesses in all verticals can ensure their mobile applications offer a smooth user experience, thanks to the modern technologies that allow consumers to blend digital and real-life interactions and increase the overall experience they have while using an app. And lately, we have seen a lot of apps that have location capabilities as their core functionality. No matter what industry your business operates in, here are some interesting facts about geolocation, and some ways you can use this technology to boost in-app user experience.
How does geolocation work?
Now, that we have established geolocation can help you improve in-app user experience, let’s see how the technology really works.
At the root of this impressive technology is GPS technology. This technology can help localize one’s location with an accuracy of approximately 50 meters. The algorithm can read and interpret data from satellites and offer an approximate location of the user. However, in high-density population areas, this technology is irrelevant and usually insufficient for insightful location data. Because of this reason, developers combine GPS technologies with other tools, to determine users’ locations more accurately.
- Wi-fi access points – today’s cities have hundreds of wi-fi entry points scattered around. With the help of GPS and wi-fi access point information, a more accurate user location can be determined.
- Cell tower signal – GPS data can also be combined with cell tower signals and this can contribute to getting an almost exact location of each user.
These technologies, combined, can offer a relatively exact location with a margin of error of approximately 2 meters.
Sometimes, app developers have to integrate more location technology with their apps, to improve accuracy. Considering that devices keep moving at their owners’ pace, this is a somewhat difficult task.. With this in mind, when you search for a cloud based application development team, you can’t compromise when it comes to quality and performance.
Are there any security concerns associated with geolocation integration?
Although some users might be reluctant to share their location at all times, try to boost their confidence in your app by ensuring proper security levels. Increased measures will help your company prevent data leaks and security breaches. Having a team that understands security threats and is proactive about preventing such circumstances is your greatest helper in this scenario.
App categories where geolocation can be successfully implemented
With all that information in mind, let’s see what app categories are heavily reliant on such technology and how businesses can leverage geolocation to improve in-app user experience. We will start with the most obvious ones, navigation apps, and then continue with less straightforward applications.
- Navigation apps – Google Maps and Waze are only two examples of geolocation technology integrated with an app. These apps help users to identify their location when they have no idea where they are, but they also help users that are fully aware of their current location get to the unknown ones. Besides, some apps can also offer route suggestions to avoid traffic jams or make the most of public transportation.
- Weather forecast apps – maybe the most popular weather forecast app out there is the AccuWeather app. Straightforward and easy to use, it can improve user experience specifically through these qualities. As much as many love extended app functionality, when it comes to systems meant for a specific service, simplicity works best.
- Recommendation apps – when it comes to navigating all the options available in any given geographic area, people find it difficult to discern between good establishments and mediocre ones. And apps like Yelp and Local Eats are here to help consumers pinpoint the best businesses in their area within seconds. Such platforms gather information on each local business and rank them depending on reviews and recommendations. This is one of the best examples of geolocation technology used to improve consumer experience. Thanks to geofencing technology, users have a much easier time when it comes to identifying different types of businesses and to determine with accuracy how well these fit their needs and demands. Besides, by leveraging AI technologies, these platforms can differentiate between legitimate and false reviews and they can eliminate the latter. This offers users the opportunity to make more informed decisions and spend their money wisely.
- e–Commerce apps – more and more e-Commerce apps have started to integrate geofencing and geolocation technologies to determine more accurately consumer preferences and improve in-app user experience. For instance, online shops that also have a brick-and-mortar shops include on their platforms “find in physical shop” functions where users can find out the stocks available in each brick and mortar venue, for each product in the company’s offer. The process is easy, and users can find this information by either entering their location manually or by using the “find my location” function. Making deals more accessible and easy-to-find by consumers increases business-client interactions by offering them a more personalized approach to products and services. Besides, geolocation technology improves the overall user experience of those that rely on foreign sellers and e-commerce platforms. By using this sort of technology, users can be provided with the total amount for their order, including taxes, in their local currency.
- Event apps – these apps help users find projects and entertaining activities to do in their area, sometimes with online ticket booking possibilities. Once again, they rely on simplicity and user-friendliness to boost engagement rates and improve user interactions.
Geofencing and geolocation are leveraged by businesses in different industries to improve user experience and boost engagement rates with the apps developed by their companies. This technology can also help businesses become more profitable.
