Do you remember those days when people used paper maps to find the right place or stopped to ask for directions? These methods still work, but there are more advanced options for finding the correct address, navigating unfamiliar cities, or quickly buying what you need.
All these features have become available in one click, thanks to geolocation apps, which have long surpassed electronic maps and navigators. There are many types of apps that use location identification to boost user experience, speed up the transaction, provide more safety, and help people meet each other.
Here are the best location-based apps from different industries, and some of them are quite surprising. Let’s discover!
Social Media and Dating Apps
Social media and dating apps are already location-based. The built-in features of social media make them powerful business tools by allowing companies to launch target advertising campaigns based on the place of residence and characteristics of the audience.
As for dating apps, sometimes specifying your geolocation is the only way to start using the app. That is how Tinder works – you cannot use the app until you share your location with the service provider and other users.
- Instagram and Facebook. In addition to location-based target ads features, these social media sites allow geo-hashtagging, mentioning places you are visiting, and marking the location on your posted photos.
- Yubo is like Tinder for teenagers; the functionality of the app is almost the same.
- Happn is a hyper geolocator app, and this project is a real innovation in the dating industry. It allows users to get in touch with people visiting the same place at the same time as you.
P.S. Just try to imagine how much user data and behavior patterns the latest app may gather and track, and what can be done with all this information if it ends up in the wrong hands. That is why geolocations apps should be as secure as possible. It is crucial to hire a reliable software development vendor if you want to create https://keyua.org/blog/how-to-built-a-gps-app/ a GPS app or any other app with location-tracking features.
On-Demand Apps
The essence of on-demand apps is the opportunity to get something you want right now, and the use of geolocation contributes to the positive user experience. By enabling a geolocation feature, a user may share it with the service provider, make instant orders, and even find people nearby.
Here are the most prominent examples:
- Uber. There is no need to explain how this app works – just ask the driver to grab you in your current location or specify the address.
- Surf&Yoga. This solution is aiming at helping users to find partners for sports activities based on their location.
- My Fixer. This location-based service app uses geolocation to allow users to find service providers (for example, photographers or porters) in any area.
- GrubHub. This meal-delivery service offers users the opportunity to choose dishes from any restaurant and get them delivered to their location.
AR and Gaming Apps
Augmented reality applications and games become even more engaging if there is a possibility to enable your geolocation or get in touch with other players. Here are the most famous examples.
- Pokemon Go is a popular location-based and AR-powered game that captured the whole word in 2016.
- SkyView is an engaging application that lets users discover more about our Universe, stars, and space. The only thing you need to do is to enable geolocation and point your device to the sky to start your space journey.
- Landlord is a location-based Monopoly analog. With this game, you can buy and sell properties near you, invest in businesses, and get virtual profits.
eCommerce and Retail Apps
So what is the most obvious way to use geolocation in eCommerce and retail? Geolocation services are useful when looking for the nearest store or tracking the delivery of your order. Walmart and other well-known stores chains use this approach. And here are more ideas for location-based applications in the eCommerce industry.
- Geocouponalerts is an app that sends the user notifications when discounts in the nearest stores become available.
- Amazon also uses geolocation features to process mapping-related requests.
- H&M’s mobile application allows searching for the nearest store, and more.
Location Tracking and Safety Apps
Modern iPhones and most Android smartphones come with a geolocation tracking function already built-in. And this is an extremely useful function when you need to find a lost or stolen device. Law enforcement agencies can use information about a user’s movements to find a criminal or a kidnapped victim. Built-in Google services also track users’ locations and send a notification if you (or a fraudster) access your email from another city, country, or IP address.
What is more, location tracking and safety apps are beneficial when you need to find your family members’ location, especially kids. In some apps, it is even possible to use the geofencing feature – that is, you will get a notification if your kid, for example, moves farther from home than is allowed. Here are some examples of these solutions:
- Find iPhone is a well-known and pre-developed app that allows iPhone users to identify the location of their devices easily.
- Footprints is an app that helps parents to find out where their kids are.
- GinaGo is a security app for personal use that enables users to share their location with other trusted users and send SOS signals. The solution can be used by a group of people, for example, when crossing the forest on foot.
Traveling Apps
Traveling apps are classic examples of geolocation applications since it is impossible to imagine them without a built-in map. The following are some interesting examples that use the geolocation feature to make vacations more exciting and safe:
- Airbnb for booking accommodation.
- Citymapper for public transport tracking.
- Geosure is a geolocation app that helps users find out how safe a particular street or location is.
- AllEvents is an app that suggests upcoming events in your current or specified location.
Banking Apps
Geolocation features may be used in the banking industry as well. The most common example is apps that allow users to find the nearest ATM or bank branches. Here are some more innovative solutions:
- Revolut allows you to make an instant money transfer to somebody near you.
- Monobank mobile app makes it possible to leave tips to waiters or taxi drivers without contact using the geolocation feature.
Geolocation Apps in Users’ Opinion – What to Keep in Mind
A location identification feature is a convenient option for users and businesses. However, there are some location-aware app concerns regarding users’ data gathering and processing. According to research, 31% of mobile users prefer complete privacy online, and 15% of users want never to let the apps discover their current location and movements.
However, 29% of people feel safer when their location is known, trusting the apps that gather this data. When creating a location-based app, you should never risk users’ trust and loyalty, and always ask their permission to enable geolocation identification. There were precedents when users’ geolocation and behavior data were sold to data monetization companies by popular weather apps, which explains the concerns.
Conclusion
Location-based mobile apps are great tools that can become real-life saviors in extreme situations. However, if used without caution, these apps may share too much data about the user and their family. That is why security and personal data safety should be on the top of the list of priorities for geolocation app development.
