Imagine you’re a delivery driver: your route is efficient, your ETA is spot on, and the map says you have arrived at your destination. Yet, you’re standing at a random office building instead of the correct delivery address. Addresses used to be treated as simple points on a map, but they actually need context, such as specific entrances, access points, and outlines. These complexities are often overlooked by traditional address systems, leaving businesses and drivers confus

Better Trucks is a last-mile delivery network on a mission to create tech-first and radically transparent delivery systems. Their engineering strategy is deeply aligned with Google Cloud and Google Maps, which power their APIs, routing systems, and machine learning models. These platforms also help them plan, price and execute delivery routes for a growing multi-market network. Single-Vehicle Routing with Google Maps Platform Before implementing full-scale route optimisatio

In today’s rapidly scaling cloud architectures, APIs are the essential building blocks that drive applications. But as organisations grow, these APIs often become scattered across various gateways, teams, and platforms. This decentralised sprawl can lead to blind spots, impacting management and resuability and creating obstacles for adopting AI tech. In this blog, we’ll take a look at how you can solve this with: Specification boost add-ons. A new integration between API H

AI search is changing the rules of business visibility. Now, it’s about credibility instead of keywords. Today’s AI engines prioritise businesses that can confidently ground real-world, verified location data. If your addresses, coordinates, and coverage areas aren’t structured and consistent, it means your business is practically invisible. In this article, we dive into what exactly you need to do to maximise your business’s location data to improve your visibility in AI se

Innobrix, a startup from the Netherlands, is redefining how buildings are visualised and configured in the architecture, engineering and construction sectors. They are combining interactive 3D modelling with real‑world map context from Google Maps Platform 3D Maps. The platform earned the Grand Prize at the 2025 Google Maps Platform Awards for its innovative use of mapping technologies. Making Construction Projects Visible and Customisable Traditional construction workflows o

Kroo Bank, a digital bank serving customers across Europe, has improved how users understand their finances.

The AI era is transforming how businesses connect with customers, especially in sectors like e-commerce, logistics, and connectivity.

Text-based AI replies can feel flat. With the new Contextual View, part of Google Maps AI Kit, it’s now possible to enrich AI chat interfaces with interactive maps, real-world data and visual context.

With Google Maps Platform’s new Builder agent, you can now go from concept to working prototype using just plain language.

A Google Business Profile (GBP) is the most crucial, high-intent discovery tool for local services. Having a pin on the map is not enough. As businesses strive to capture high-value "near me" searches, success hinges on one often-overlooked factor: deep local knowledge. When you understand a community's geography, preferences, and culture, your business can use those insights to improve its local ranking, build trust, and deliver unmatched customer experiences. In this artic

Many AI coding assistants promise faster development, but often generate code based on outdated APIs or documentation. Code Assist Toolkit solves that by connecting your AI assistant to up-to-date, official resources from Google Maps Platform. This includes documentation, code samples, best practices and more. Give Your AI Assistant Reliable Google Maps Expertise Code Assist Toolkit functions as a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server. When your coding assistant runs a prompt i

Google Maps Platform (GMP) has just introduced a robust set of AI-driven tools designed to make location-based development faster, easier, and more accessible, especially for teams without deep GIS or mapping expertise. From building interactive maps with natural language prompts to accessing fresh real-world data at scale, these new tools can help businesses across logistics, internet services, e-commerce and beyond do more with maps. Here’s what you need to know. 1. Build

In a competitive retail environment, offering a seamless customer experience is non-negotiable. Google Maps makes this easier than ever, helping customers find exactly what they need while helping businesses optimise operations and increase foot traffic. As shoppers constantly expect more, making the most out of the capabilities of tools like Google Maps has never been more important. In this article, we take a look at how exactly Google Maps can transform the customer jou

Dear Valued Customer, As 2025 draws to a close, we extend our sincere gratitude for your continued partnership and valuable support throughout the year. Please take note of the following important dates and operational details for the holiday period: Annual Software Production Deployment Freeze To ensure system stability during the holiday season, we will implement our annual Software Production Deployment Freeze . Freeze Period: 1 December 2025 through 5 January 2026 . Imp

Google Maps can do more than just get you from point A to B. You can also customise it to help you discover new places, stay organised, and personalise your journey. The platform offers plenty of ways to help you tailor your experiences, whether you’re mapping out your next adventure or trying to make your commute easier. Here are a few simple tips to make Google Maps your own. 1. Organise Your Favourite Spots with Emojis Saving places to your list is a great way to keep trac

The TransAmerica Trail is an iconic off-road route, stretching over 5,900 miles and showcasing some of the most rugged, remote landscapes in the United States. Now, for the first time ever, you can explore this legendary trail virtually through Google Maps Street View. In collaboration with Ford, Google has captured the stunning beauty of the TransAmerica Trail using the latest in Street View technology. A specially equipped Ford Bronco, outfitted with our advanced Street Vie

Google Maps recently announced the ability to customise map styles for different types and modes, available in Preview. This new feature brings greater flexibility, giving you more control over how your maps are presented across the web, iOS, and Android. Whether you’re building a consumer-facing app, a business tool, or a mobility solution, this update helps ensure your map experiences are as dynamic and tailored as your needs. Effortless Map Customisation Across All Platfo

Many people think creating a store locator is as simple as pinning a few locations on a map. While that might be true on the surface, the reality is more complex. In today’s competitive retail environment, a great store locator can significantly enhance the customer experience, driving foot traffic and increasing sales. The Disconnect: Why Your Store Locator is Failing You For the modern consumer, the shopping journey almost always starts online. As a result, marketers dedi

In the world of ride-hailing and delivery, speed is part of the deal. Customers expect quick, reliable service and anything less can cost you their trust. That's where real-time location data comes in. It powers smarter routes, accurate ETAs, and live updates that keep operations smooth and customers informed. In this article, we dive into why this matters and what it looks like in practice. How Real-Time Data Powers Smarter Routes Timing is everything, especially in an ind

Whether you're building a store locator, streamlining deliveries, or helping users find local services, location matters, and Google’s Places APIs offer powerful tools to bring this functionality to life. That’s why it’s crucial to choose and implement them correctly. In this blog, we break down the key differences between the Places API, Geocoding API, and Distance Matrix API, highlight common mistakes, and show how 28East helps African businesses get the most value without