Google has launched an enterprise mapping service designed to let companies manage field crews via a Web-based administration console linked to an application on remote employees’ smartphones.
Called Google Maps Coordinate, the service has an introductory price of US$15 per user, per month until Sept. 1, and comes with an API (application programming interface) for integrating it with third-party systems.
Built on Google’s mapping and geo-location technology, Google Maps Coordinate also works with the company’s other enterprise Maps and Earth products.
“Google Maps Coordinate combines the power of Google’s mapping technologies with modern smartphones to help organizations assign jobs and deploy staff more efficiently,” wrote Google senior product manager Daniel Chu in a blog post.
According to Google, Google Maps Coordinate could be used by electric company call center operators who need to quickly find out which repair crews are closer to a trouble site and send them information and instructions about the problem.
The smartphone application can be configured remotely from the web console to, for example, adjust data-entry fields based on the details of a particular job.
The web console also lets a dispatcher create groups of employees and monitor them, as well as configure jobs and track their completion.
Google Maps Coordinate stores job data on completed jobs so that organizations can analyze the work that has been done and make changes and modifications to improve future performance.
Juan Carlos Perez covers enterprise communication/collaboration suites, operating systems, browsers and general technology breaking news for The IDG News Service. Follow Juan on Twitter at @JuanCPerezIDG.