Mobile Businesses Use Geo-fencing, GPS-free

Map-based Mobile Apps are great resources to leverage in order to streamline large-scale business operations.  Google’s just-released APIs have moved the ball even further—especially for businesses that rely extensively on tracking and monitoring, such as transporters, packers and movers, fleet management companies, etc. Aimed at helping organizations better manage their location tracking requirements, Google’s rolled out two new APIs: Google Maps Tracks API - allows applications to make use of Google’s cloud infrastructure for delivering specialized tracking features like geo-fencing, a technique that allows you to create virtual map zones to mark out predefined areas. The API also allows Mobile Apps to store and process GPS data on maps (not just Wifi/Cell info) for all types of location tracking uses. Google Maps Geolocation API— enables Mobile Apps and devices to be geo-tracked without relying on GPS inputs. The apps instead utilizes nearby WiFi access points and cell towers to determine its location. This technique preserves device battery life and makes location tracking more viable in remote, isolated areas. Through these APIs, Google has widened the doors for for building custom Location-Based Apps. Businesses can now think of developing Location-Based Apps that track mobile operations for such functions as product delivery and route management. Mapped GPS information (provided by Tracks API) means more effective, economical route planning is now available to optimize your business. Backend services like fleet management can now deploy innovative routing solutions, such as updating drivers closing in on scheduled delivery points/destinations, or cautioning drivers automatically when they stray out of these geo-fenced zones. Such solutions would add tremendous value in enabling the timely deliveries of goods to their intended destinations. The automation afforded by dynamic tracking would cut down manual dependence - which in turn would allow companies to organize their labor resources optimally. Note that since GPS won’t be a necessity, smaller businesses can look forward to inexpensive location-tracking Mobile Apps. It’s worth taking note that another Google service — Google Coordinate — provides a complete workflow solution for workers in the field, likely built on top of the above API’s. Today there are nearly 800,000 developers who currently use the Google Maps API, and now they can leverage the real-time information from these new API’s to help them build just-in-time Mobile Apps to power your business.