Recently, Google announced a bevy of new features and enhancements coming soon to Google Maps. These updates intend to improve the user experience, enabling users to find their desired destination more seamlessly.  Not to be outdone by their competitor, Apple Maps similarly made an equally impactful announcement regarding new updates coming to iOS 15. The Apple Maps iOS15 updates will bring more detailed maps, improvements to pedestrian navigation, and more accurate navigation. These improvements to the maps experience have rolled out in the U.S., U.K., Ireland, Canada, Spain, and Portugal. They will roll out to Australia and Italy later this year.

In this blog, we will discuss the new Apple Maps improvements and what users can expect the next time they use the navigation app.

Get Drivers to Their Locations Safely

Apple Maps made several enhancements to improve driver safety, including new road details. These details enable drivers to better understand important road features for a safer driving experience. Drivers will now be able to see turn lanes, crosswalks, medians, bus and taxi lanes, and other important features. 

In a hurry to get to your destination and want to know what lane will get you there quickest? Drivers will soon be able to see traffic conditions and which lane is fastest. Apple says these features will come to CarPlay later in 2021.

Help Transit Riders Find Stations Nearby

For frequent transit riders, Apple Maps has made finding the station closest to them and their preferred line even easier. In an effort to compete with popular third-party transit apps, Apple Maps capabilities will improve to automatically follow the transit user’s route and notify them when it’s time to exit soon. If a user takes a particular line frequently, they can also pin their favorite transit lines for easier accessibility. Users will also be able to see how many stops that particular transit line has and the estimated duration of their trip. 

When the user exits their station they can also hold up their iPhone to scan the buildings in the surrounding area. Maps will then generate an accurate position and direct the user in augmented reality. This feature will roll out in select cities in 2021 and launch in additional cities in 2022.

Enhancements to the Interface

As with any Apple product or service, sleek, functional design is always at the forefront of their technology. Its Maps app is no different and will include richer elevation data, new road colors, rich labels and 3D landmarks, and a moonlight glow for 3D buildings on the map during nighttime. These updates don’t necessarily impact functionality but rather improve the overall app’s aesthetic and can assist with improving the user experience. 

Whether you’re driving, walking, biking, or taking public transportation to your destination, if you’re an iPhone user, it’s likely you leverage Apple Maps to get you there. For businesses, keeping your location information up to date across all platforms is crucial to reach consumers seeking your business or the product/service you offer. This includes your Apple Maps data, and with over 1 billion iPhone users worldwide, it is now more important than ever to fully optimize your business data to reach these potential consumers.

Enhance Your Apple Maps Presence

Rio SEO can help your multi-location business maintain accurate up-to-date information across all your locations. We can also ensure your updates are made quickly, so a searcher is never led to a closed location or calls a number that’s not in service. Whether you’re in need of updating location photos, attributes, and more, Rio SEO can help your brand refine and polish your locations’ information. Get your free local audit today to see where we can help improve your local presence for Apple Maps and across other popular search platforms.