Google Maps has introduced four new features aimed at enhancing the local shopping experience for customers, which can subsequently boost sales for businesses.
Additionally, Google has released statistics related to local shopping during the holiday season, including the most popular times to visit certain business categories and more.
These new features are now available on Google Maps globally.
## 4 New Google Maps Features
### 1. Area Busyness
Customers can now check how crowded a particular area is before arriving, aiding those who prefer to avoid large crowds. The new Area Busyness feature aggregates live busyness trends from individual nearby businesses.
To access Area Busyness data, open Google Maps and select an area to view its busyness at different times of the day. Google Maps will display current busyness and projections for the day.
Last year’s data shows that stores like Kay Jewelers, Bath & Body Works, and Barnes & Noble were the busiest for holiday shopping. Maps searches for these places surged by 100% from November to December in 2020. Shopping malls are typically least crowded on Tuesday evenings and busiest on Saturday afternoons.
### 2. Directory Tab
Google Maps is expanding the Directory tab globally on Android and iOS for all airports, malls, and transit stations. The Directory tab lists the stores in a building and assists in locating airport lounges, car rentals, parking lots, and more.
In large shopping malls, the Directory tab will show a list of businesses, their operating status, star ratings, and their locations within the building.
### 3. Grocery Shopping
Earlier this year, Google Maps piloted a feature for ordering groceries for pickup. This feature is now expanding to over 2,000 store locations in more than 30 states across the US. Customers can order groceries from retailers like Kroger, Fry’s, Ralphs, and Marianos.
After placing an order, Google Maps tracks the order status and allows customers to share their ETA with the store. Google estimates that users of this feature typically wait less than five minutes for their pickup orders.
### 4. More Information About Restaurants
Google Maps now provides more detailed information when customers look up local restaurants, based on other customers’ input. When leaving reviews, customers can now share information about the restaurant’s price ranges and amenities such as outdoor seating, delivery, and curbside pickup. This information will appear in the restaurant’s main listing.
