An Overview of New-age Location-based Apps and their Development Procedure!

Significance of Location-based Applications

Location-Based Services (LBS) are one of the most trending services nowadays. These services are utilized in countless applications like on-demand apps, travel and transportation-related apps, banking apps, social media apps, event planning apps, etc. to name a few. From Instagram to Uber, from Runtastic to Tinder, these apps have impacted millions of peoples’ lives positively. They have eased out several tasks of day-to-day life and made the customer experiences more comfortable.

Here are some top predictions about the location-based services and their applications.

• The LBS market is expected to cross $39.2 Billion by the year 2025, as projected by MarketsandMarkets!
• Another report by Fortune Business Insights forecasts that by 2026, the LBS market size will cross $66.61 Billion.

It is evident from these stunning reports that the LBS and the location-based apps are high in demand. These are being leveraged by several entrepreneurs, start-ups, and business enterprises across the globe at a fast pace.

 

Top Functions of the Location-Based Tracking Apps

• Communication: Businesses can register their address or any related places on maps. People can add reviews, leave feedback, and also refer to these reviews. Businesses can even link certain content on the map.
• Marketing: Geo-location technologies are used in incentive marketing campaigns for creating interaction mechanics with end-users.
• Information: Customers can get real-time information about the location of a person, place or a bus/train, etc.

 

Major Types of Location-Based Apps using Geolocation Technologies

On-demand Apps like Uber, Zomato, etc.

Social Networking Apps Facebook, WhatsApp, etc.

Location Tracking Apps like Google Maps, Waze, etc.

Dating Apps like OkCupid, Tinder, etc.

eCommerce Apps like Amazon, eBay, etc.

Travel and Tourism Apps like TripAdvisor, Expedia, Booking, etc.

Health and Fitness Apps like MyFitnessPal, Nike Running Club, etc.

Photo Location Finder Apps like Explorest, Google Photos, etc.

Weather Apps like Weather by Apple, Yahoo Weather, etc.

Some of the examples of the location-based apps developed by us are as below:

1. MastR: This is an eCommerce app that enables customers to do virtual shopping. The product categories displayed are based on the location of the product. It also enables scheduled pickups and deliveries.
2. BeachCaddy: This app enables end users to request assistance from beach caddies to help them carry beach items. Travel of caddies is tracked through the application.
3. Otego: It is restaurant management and a food delivery app. Orders placed by the customers can be tracked on the map.

 

After looking at these live examples of location-based applications, we are now going to discuss the mobile app development process used for creating apps using geo-location technologies. So let’s commence.

 

How to Create a New-age Location-based App?

Step 1: Thorough Market Research and Finding a Reliable Tech Partner

You should first decide which type of location-based app you want to build by studying its scope in the market. Market research is mandatory to get the answers to questions like-

• What is my target audience?
• How my app idea will benefit them?
• Who are my competitors?
• What innovation can I offer to my target audience?
• Should I develop an MVP or a full-fledged mobile app?
• How to go about the location-based app development process?
• Which are the top mobile app development companies and whom can I partner with?

 

 Step 2: Deciding the Apt Geolocation Features

It is essential to integrate some core geolocation features and functionalities in your app to make it highly beneficial to the users. These functionalities include Map view, GPS coordinates, user location detection, location history, route mapping, location-based notifications, etc.

 

Step 3: Selecting the Right Technology Stack

Selecting the right tech stack for geolocation app development is a necessity. Find below the list of a few set of tools required for location-based apps to choose from:

Web:

• HTML5 geolocation API

iOS:

• Google Places API
• Google Maps API
• Google Maps SDK
• Core Location API
• Apple MapKit

Android:

• location package
• Google Maps API
• Mapbox
• Google Location Services API
• Google Maps Directions API
• Google Distance Matrix API
• Yandex Maps
• MapView class
• Open Street Map

 

Step 4: Wire-framing, Designing the UI, and Developing the App

The next step is creating several visual prototypes of the app that match your app idea/concept. After wire-framing, design a user-friendly and responsive app UI. Now begin with the development of a feature-rich location-based application. Pay attention to detail, and get your app developed by an experienced team.

 

Step 5: Applying Safety and Security Measures

Ensuring data safety is of paramount importance, especially because location-based apps carry sensitive data. So, consider all the existing legal regulations of different countries you are going to target and strictly adhere to their safety regulations. 

Follow the below-given practices too for making your app secure:

• Using multi-factor authentication
• Using an SSL certificate
• Encrypting communications
• Using App Transport Security for iOS or Network Security Configuration for Android
• Not storing high-importance data on user devices
• Encrypting sensitive information with algorithms like RSA or AES-256

 

Step 6: Final Testing of Complete App

The last step is to carry out rigorous testing of the app. Make sure that the app meets all the code requirements. Test-driven development (TDD) is another effective approach. These will help you reduce the potential bugs, and enhance the app quality.

 

Final Thoughts

Needless to say, location-based apps are enjoying extreme popularity across diverse industries. Owing to their vast benefits, almost every mobile app development company  in the market is utilizing this functionality in some of their apps.

So, do you have a great idea for developing a location-based application? Or do you want to enhance your existing app with this amazing functionality? Reach out to the world-class location-based app development company in Texas, USA, for further assistance.