Google’s Latest Maps Features Help You Avoid the Holiday Shopping Crowds. Google is adding a handful of some new features to the Google Maps in time for the holiday season. This map collectively should make getting around a slightly less fraught experience. The new features were announced today in a blog post.
A new “Area Busyness” feature provides information on how the popular neighborhoods are rather than just some specific destinations, while the app’s “Directory” tab is rolling out all around the globe to give more info on the stores and amenities inside locations like malls and airports.
According to the verge, Google Maps is also expanding its grocery pickup tracking feature to cover more stores across the US and is attempting to make its restaurant reviews more detailed.
Google’s Latest Maps Features Help You Avoid the Holiday Shopping Crowds
A new “Area Busyness” feature provides information on how popular neighborhoods are rather than just specific destinations, while the app’s “Directory” tab is rolling out globally to give more info on the stores and amenities inside locations like malls and airports.
Google Maps also wants to expand its grocery pickup tracking feature to cover more stores across the US, and is attempting to also make its restaurant reviews a more detailed one.
Area Busyness an Expansion of Google Map
Area Busyness is an expansion of information Google Maps that already provides about the crowdedness of public transit and the popularity of specific stores and locations throughout the week.
Now, rather than just offering details on specific places, Google Maps will be able to give more detailed information on how busy a general neighborhood is.
Google hopes that this feature will be able to help its users avoid crowds, or hunt them down if they are in the mood for a party atmosphere. Google says that it will be rolling out the Area Busyness globally on Android and iOS “in time for the holiday season.”
The Directory Tab Available For Any Airports
Meanwhile, the Directory tab will be made available for any airports, malls, and transit stations around the globe where Google has available data.
It shows which amenities (such as airport lounges and parking lots) and stores will be available inside the places that are often shown as just a single location in Google Maps.
Then, the app can provide granular information like opening hours and also customer ratings. The Directory tab will also be made available globally on all iOS and Android.
The service’s restaurant reviews are also getting more detailed, with additional information on the price ranges. It is also simplifying the process of adding information on facilities like the outdoor seating and delivery options.
Google Map Expanding
Google Maps will also be expanding its grocery pickup feature, which allows users to track their order status and then share it with the store when they expect to arrive for collection without ever leaving the app.
The feature was first launched earlier this year and has since expanded to cover more than 2,000 stores across 30 US states including Kroger Family stores like Kroger, Fry’s, Ralphs, and Marianos, Google says.
