Location-based apps are mobile-optimized apps designed to help businesses serve their clients based on their location. Have you ever received a notification to rate an item you’ve just bought? Businesses are using this technology to send customized alerts to clients in specific locations. The mobile app uses GPS, cell tower, or Wi-Fi to transfer the location details. Location-based apps help businesses improve their bottom line in many ways. First, these apps provide users with details about the location of other users. It can even be used to register a specific location on the map. Marketers have also used this app to read other people’s reviews and leave feedback about a place they visited. It is a great app for interacting with the target audience.
What is Geolocation in Apps for?
Geolocation in apps helps identify and estimate the location of a device connected to the internet. It is a technology that has opened up more opportunities that would have been impossible. Businesses can now devise smarter customer acquisition and marketing strategies thanks to this technology. Geolocation technology enables users to set up a smartphone or any other device with GPS as the satellite or stock feature. Thus, enabling seamless interaction between devices in different locations and at different times. Businesses can use the gathered information to determine the behavior of their target audience and devise growth strategies.
Key Features and Types of Location-Based Apps
Location-based apps are categorized into several groups.
- Maps and Navigation
Location-based apps come equipped with GPS to help users not get lost in unfamiliar territories. Google Maps and other traffic jam monitoring programs are the most popular location-based apps.
- Fitness Trackers
Healthcare and fitness trackers have become more popular than ever. Their fame can be attributed to location-based services that help track over sports progress and jogging routes. You can share your fitness progress with a fitness tracker by attaching the route you passed or your overall health statistics.
- Travel Apps
Mobile apps designed to help travelers find affordable housing and travel ticket options are still popular in the app market. They have become an indispensable tool for planning business and travel trips. If you own a travel agency, it is time you consider integrating location-based apps into your system.
Here are the common features in a location-based app.
- Map as the App Interface
Gone are the days when a simple new feed interface seemed trendy. They are now considered outdated following the introduction of a map as their alternative. Maps have enabled app users to track their location in real-time.
- Information Filter
Location-based apps are located in different areas, meaning they contain a lot of additional information. They have a feature that allows users to filter their desired information and receive reminders on specific topics. Similarly, location-based apps can help filter away irrelevant information.
- AR
Combining augmented reality with GPS can transform the way we go about our physical space and connect. It has become easier than ever to share content, pictures, and data on location-based platforms.
Basic Steps to Create an App
Yalantis.com provides a step-by-step guide on how to approach the location-based app development process.
- Do Market Research
The first step towards creating a location-based app is exploring the market. First, research similar location-based apps available in your niche and their unique features. Then use that information to find gaps that your geolocation app should fill. Engage a few target audiences and try to understand what they expect from your new app. Reading online reviews of similar apps may also help you understand what potential users are looking for.
- Define Features of Your App
Once you’ve checked out similar apps, compile a list of unique features that your app will come with to set itself apart from competitors. Based on the above, design a unique idea for your geolocation app.
- Select a Reliable Tech Stack for Your App
App platforms that determine the tech stack of an app include Web, Android, or iOS. Your app needs the right location-based SDK to access accurate and precise data from users’ devices. You can use Android and iOS Maps SDK to add maps to your app. You can also use Apple MapKit as an alternative to Google Maps SDK when displaying locations on the map. Both are accurate but offer slight differences in privacy, offline maps, and routes.
- Create UI and UX
Your app needs a visual prototype to function well. First, decide how you want your app to look and the types of screens it will include. However, keep the design intuitive and clean for easier validation of your idea.
- Ensure Your App Safety
With heightened data safety regulations, it is advisable to prioritize app security. You will need to ensure your geolocation platform is data privacy and safety compliant. It would help if you had secure processes to collect, manage, and store users’ data. The only way you can ensure data safety is by securing your GPS app. Remember that accidental deletion of folders or files can result in data loss, so you must have a backup in place. Also, ensure compliance with the local regulations in the countries you want to launch your app.
- Estimate Costs
You require an efficient app development process, excellent planning, skilled human resources, and a strong foundation to create a reliable geolocation app. The cost of developing a geolocation app tends to vary based on market conditions and several other factors. It also largely depends on the features you want it to have. But on average, a simple, functional location-based app will cost you around US$ 6,450.
- Build Your App
The success of your geolocation app depends on the capacity of its developer. You need an experienced app developer by your side to turn your idea into a possibility. Opt for an app developer with a convincing portfolio and the right expertise. Check if the developer has expertise in developing a platform similar to yours.
- Deploy Your App
If your app has gone through all the steps mentioned above, then it is ready for launch. But remember to test it thoroughly to ensure the codes meet the quality standard and remove bugs before launching it. One costly mistake that an app developer can make is ignoring to test their app before launch.
Conclusion
While creating a geolocation app can be exhausting, these apps can benefit your business in many ways. A location-based app can help expand your capabilities and improve your interaction with clients. It also serves as a source of new ideas for marketers and app developers. But for you to develop a successful geolocation app, you have to follow the steps mentioned above.