How to Build a Location-based App

Location-based apps are mainly mobile apps that allow brands to provide services based on the user's location. The development of geolocation apps helps users access services at the right moment. Therefore, individuals can quickly locate and share close attractions with their friends. Research and Markets show that the revenue generated by location-based apps will hit around $155.13 billion by 2026.

Location-based apps are popular in present-day society. They can be located on popular platforms like Facebook, Airbnb, Tinder, and more, all of which also generate substantial revenue. Are you familiar with how to create a location-based app? This article will delve into the process of crafting these applications.

What Kinds of Apps Are Based on Location?

Before starting to develop a location-based app, let's go over the different categories of these apps.

Apps for mapping: The most frequent uses of geolocation are mapping and navigating with apps. These applications assist users in getting around the globe.

Apps for travel: These applications assist users in purchasing tickets, reserving hotel accommodations, and finding nearby points of interest. They are helpful for arranging work-related travel or holidays.

Social media applications: When users share photos or videos on social platforms, they often add geotags to indicate the location where the content was taken. The location tags often include addresses of cafes, hotels, parks, and other landmarks.

E-commerce apps: Customers can better manage their expectations with the help of e-commerce apps' geolocation features. This particular function significantly improves logistics quality for popular brands like Amazon and eBay.

Dating apps: These apps utilize users' location settings to help them find compatible partners nearby. They also examine their users' routines to pair them with people who live in the same area. 

Health and fitness apps: Presently, fitness apps are popular. These apps can record various activities like cycling, running, etc. Such apps allow users to track their activities, set goals, and track progress toward them. Also, users can share their sports successes on social media. 

On-demand apps: Most GPS-based mobile apps benefit from automatic coordinate detection. Thus, users can book a taxi or order food.

How Can Location-based Apps Be Created?

In today's world, the majority of clients utilizing mobile app development services inquire about the process of developing a location-based app. The method of creating these apps is very similar to developing other apps, with just a few minor distinctions. Next, we will examine the process of developing a location-based application.

Discovery Stage

App development is the most crucial stage, especially for startups. In this stage, developers discover the target audience, their concerns, and their requirements. During the discovery process, developers test the idea to find some factors, like;

Whether the idea of app development is worth it or not, 

If there is a market niche for a service or product,

If there is an actual user's requirement that matches the idea.

This stage's primary purpose is to confirm the app's assumptions through user tests and interviews. The feedback from these procedures can be valuable for improving the location-based app.

Choosing the Map Provider and Tech Stack

Whether it is a dating app or a food delivery app, map integration is the prime characteristic of a location-based app. This function helps users build routes, find their destination points, or calculate arrival times. In location-based app development, you don't need to create an app from scratch. Instead of that, you can use an existing mapping template.

Create Design Prototypes and Conduct User Testing

Before finally releasing the app into reality, you need to visualize it. Design prototypes are an excellent way to do it. A prototype is a sketch of the future app's design used for testing with users. These prototypes can be digital or paper, depending on the testing type. These user tests help to understand if the design is intuitive and if users can move along the user flow and achieve their goals quickly.

Choose MVP Features

MVP stands for a minimum viable product. The MVP development stage helps to test the idea and receive feedback from potential users. MVP is the basic version of the product. It is different from a raw or non-functioning solution. This app has the product's basic functionality and allows the user to achieve its goal. Usually, an MVP helps to find out whether the product is worth creating or not. Thus, it can save you much effort and development time. If you hire a dedicated developer in India, you can consult them to understand which function you should include in the MVP.

Developing a Location-based App

Once the idea is finalized and all the technical requirements are set up, you can proceed to the final development stage of the location-based app. In a startup environment, quality and development speed should go hand in hand. To do this, you need to get the best mobile app development services. Flexible and experienced developers who can write quality code and make quick decisions must be hired. So, take time to hire Android and iPhone app developers.

Final Version and Maintenance 

Once the development is done, it is time to launch the location-based app. However, it's not the endpoint. Sometimes, apps also need technical support after they are launched. For example, Google and Apple may launch new requirements for Android and iOS apps. In such a case, developers may have to update the solution and fix the bugs.

How Do Location-based Apps Benefit Businesses?

Therefore, you are now aware of the process of developing a location-oriented application.

Precise and Fast Services

All credit goes to advancements in geolocation technology. With this technology, businesses can find their client's exact locations. Thus, the expedited shipping option allows them to quickly get their packages out the door. As a result, customer loyalty increases significantly. Popular brands like Amazon or eBay get this benefit.

Easy Searching and Shopping Offers

Location-based apps make it easy for customers to find nearby stores and products. By allowing this option, companies can help potential customers in the overall purchase process.

Personalized Experience

Tracking customer preferences generates more personalized advertising and marketing. It doesn't constitute an unauthorized intrusion into the customer's privacy. Instead, it ensures an opportunity to meet their requirements better.

Excellent Navigation and Virtual Tour

Brands may provide virtual tours with excellent in-app navigation or with the help of augmented reality tools. Thus, with location-based apps, brands get the facilities of excellent navigation and virtual tours. 

Real-time Relevant Offers

With location-based apps, information about customer habits is readily available to brands. This facility gives businesses a significant advantage in strategic planning.

Communication With Clients

Brands can use geolocation as an extra channel of communication with users. Examples include putting places on the map and reading other people's reviews. Thus, you can better adapt to your audience's changing preferences.

Better Shopping Routines

For example, you have developed a service for Amazon that sends notifications while the brand is on sale. The brand must know its geolocation to ensure users from different countries are notified according to their time zones.

Conclusion

When you hire iPhone app developers or a dedicated developer in India, several factors must be considered. Some of the significant factors are the tech stack and the map provider. If you wonder which tech instruments could suit your project, you can contact a mobile app development services provider anytime. As you now know the procedures regarding how to create a location-based app, you can contact a reliable app developer to get the best geolocation services for your brand.