Last updated on December 28th, 2023
Location-based apps are top-rated these days. Numerous mobile apps include geolocation functionality. Most mobile apps rely on real-time location data to function or improve performance. Geolocation features are heavily used in weather apps, travel, transportation, and mobility industries. Still, they are also becoming increasingly disruptive in retail, proximity-based marketing, healthcare, mobile workforce management, asset tracking, fraud prevention, and even public safety.
According to AlliedMarketResearch, the global market for location-based apps will be worth $318.64 billion by 2030. This reveals that entrepreneurs considering developing a new location-based app may be on the right track. If you are looking to Build a Location-Based App, here is an article that will help you to cover every element of developing location-based apps, features, benefits, and much more.
What Are Location-Based Apps?
Mobile apps that offer services depending on the user’s location are known as location-based apps. For example, you may have received a notification from Google asking you to rate a restaurant where you recently dined. Other organizations can use the same technology to send personalized warnings to their users’ geolocation. Wi-Fi, cell tower, and satellite/GPS data transmit location information.
Location-Based App Development is Need of the Hour: Know How?
Geolocation app development will assist your users in locating a specific place of service at the proper time. They may identify nearby areas of interest and share them with friends, chart routes in unfamiliar locations, track running, and even be notified about sales or watch the movements of pets.
According to Research and Markets, the location-based services industry will be worth $1553 billion by 2026. It’s no surprise, given the prevalence of location-based services, which range from delivery applications like UberEats to booking sites like Expedia.
Therefore to stay ahead at the competitive edge, it must Build a Location-Based App for businesses that are entirely customized to their needs and improve their profits.Â
What is the Purpose of Geolocation in Apps?
In 2025, the global mobile app market is expected to be worth $653.91 billion. Companies are shifting to location-based app development in response to increased demand for accurate and timely services. Let’s go over why businesses require geo-specific apps for themselves:
1. MarketingÂ
Geolocation is an excellent marketing tool for reaching out to specific audiences and gaining new methods to communicate with them.
2. Role of information
This feature gives users real-time information on nearby places or objects in a specified location.
3. Ability to communicate
Companies can use the map to collect feedback from clients on specific services, allow them to connect their content (photos or text messages) to specific locations on the map, and read other people’s reviews. As a result, you’ll be able to adjust to your audiences’ shifting preferences.
4. Social gathering
The app will assist you in determining the present location of users and will help to boost the brand’s presence in the media sphere.
What is the Purpose of Geolocation in Apps
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial data are provided through location-based services via various outdoor and indoor technologies. The technology you choose will be primarily determined by the aim of your new location-based app. Let’s take a closer look at the technologies that will aid geolocation app development.
Geolocation technology for the outdoors
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GPS
The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a network of around 30 satellite transmitters that orbit the Earth. Their radio signals can be received by any device equipped with a GPS tracker to detect the user’s location and timing. It is the most widely used geolocation technology, and it is supported by any mobile device that includes a GPS module by default. It’s a quick way to receive precise location information.
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A-GPS
It stands for Assisted GPS, a combination of satellite signals and cell tower data. Because of its high speed and lower power consumption than standard GPS technology, it is also a popular geolocation technology. It may, however, be more expensive than other solutions because network providers may demand an additional price for cell tower data access.
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Cellphone Number
When the GPS module is turned off, Cell ID may come into play. In this instance, a mobile device will rely on the operator’s radio signals provided via cell towers. The nearest mobile station will capture the device’s coordinates to identify its precise location. This technology, however, is not as accurate as GPS.
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Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi geolocation works in location-based app development by employing either Received Signal Intensity Indication or online mapping. Although the findings will be imprecise, the Wi-Fi network is utilized to determine the location or track things. This technology could be valuable for entrepreneurs seeking to create a city’s location-based application.
Technologies for indoor geolocation
The global COVID-19 epidemic provided the impetus for real-time location systems (RTLSs), which provide indoor positioning-based location services. In the age of social distancing, they were handy for companies that needed to track their goods or employees in stores, and they let corporations manage their supply chains better and sell products more effectively.
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Beacons
Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technologies help show position within buildings. They detect and analyze a smartphone signal to ascertain the user’s present location. Beacons are the name given to such gadgets. They can be fastened to almost anything in a building.
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Geofencing
A geofence is a type of virtual “boundary.” Geofencing uses GIS data to determine when a person reaches a certain virtual perimeter. When a smartphone passes that virtual border, the geofencing service is activated. When users enter a geofenced region, their device intercepts communication through push notifications. This technology is primarily utilized in retail and marketing.
How to Build a Location-Based App: A Step-by-Step Guide
Finally, the development here is a complete guide, so let’s start!
1. Analyze Market
The first step in making a successful location-based app is to look at the market. It’s essential to start by learning about other geolocation apps already on the market and what makes them different.
Also, it would help if you did these things:
- Talk to a few possible users and try to figure out what they want.
- Read the reviews of apps that are similar.
- Find out who the current market leaders are in the field.
2. Build A Unique Idea
Once you’ve looked at what other services are out there, do the following:
Make a short list of the unique things about your app that users will like and that will set you apart from your competitors. Create a unique idea for the location-based app based on your reading.
3. Choose an app developerÂ
How well your app does will depend on how good the app developer or company is. If you work with the right app development company, your app idea can come to life. It’s essential to choose an app development company with the right skills and a good track record. Ask the person who made the app for a list of the location-based apps they have made. Download these apps to see how well they work.
4. Choose the Right Stack of Technologies
Your app’s tech stack is based on the app’s platform (iOS, Android, or Web) and its business goals. You must add the correct location-based SDK (Software Development Kit) to your app to get the most accurate location data from the user’s device. With the Maps SDK for Android and iOS, you can add maps based on Google Maps data to your app.
5. Decide Features
The features that every geolocation must have are:
- Map view
- Find out where a user is
- Planned routes
- Find places near me
- Notifications based on where you are
- History of a place
- Set the distance
- A rating and suggestions
- Sharing where you are with people
- The weather report was stuck on the map.
- Find a business by looking at photos
- Updates in real-time on traffic jams
6. Building UX and a UI
Start planning your app’s appearance and how many screens it will have. The design of your app should be clean and easy to use. This will prove what you think.
7. Keep a check on security
With stricter rules about data safety, it’s essential to pay attention to the app’s security. During this step, your app’s security and data privacy compliance will be checked. Work on ensuring your data is safe to make your GPS app safe.
8. Plan and try out
During the development phase, the code is written. This is where the back-end coding happens. You can’t forget how vital app testing is. Thorough testing helps eliminate bugs and ensure the code is good.
After going through the steps above, your app is ready to be released.
Do You Want to Build a Location-Based App from iTechnolabs?
Developing a location-based mobile app can be a time-consuming task. If you’d like to learn more about geolocation services for app development, go here. Hope, this above informative guide will help you to build a location-based app. If you are looking for the best, feel free to reach iTechnolabs. They are amongst the top app development companies to offer a wide range of applications customized to your needs. All their app developers focus on building user-friendly and robust applications. Contact for the best help.
