How to Perform Google Map Integration for Your App?

Interested in how to undertake a Google Map integration for your app?

This is a good question that we will answer in this article.

Developing an app with extensive geolocation features requires a deep understanding of software development frameworks, geolocation API integrations, custom API development, cloud infrastructure, etc.

If you don’t have a professional team with this relevant expertise to take on the task, then submit a request for a complimentary discovery call, and one of our tech account managers who managed similar projects will contact you shortly.

More and more applications are reaping the rewards of building map-related features into their apps. Besides the financial rewards, such innovations help dramatically increase customer engagement.

How to Execute a Google Map Integration Into an App?

The process of integrating Google Maps into an app includes the following steps:

Step #1: Determine the project scope

I assume you will build a website, an Android app, and an iOS app. Your project scope will be as follows:

• Integrate Google Maps into the website;
• Android app integration with Google Maps;
• iOS app integration with Google Maps.

Step #2: Formulate the project approach and methodology

This is a software development project, therefore, you need to use a suitable methodology. Website and mobile apps are tools for businesses to engage customers.

These require frequent app enhancements with the addition of new features, therefore, you should use an iterative development approach.

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I recommend the Agile methodology for such projects, with its focus on iterative development. Read our guide “Waterfall vs. Agile: Which Methodology is Right for Your Project” to understand why.

Step #3: Form a capable team

As the next step, you will form a team with the following roles:

• Business analysts;
• UI/UX designers;
• Web developers;
• Android developers;
• iOS developers;
• Testers;
• A project manager (PM).

Consider building a team suitable for Agile development. Consult our guide “How to Build an Agile Development Team?”.

You will not need infrastructure architects and mobile backend developers if you use a “Platform as a Service” (PaaS) provider for the web app and a “Mobile Backend as a Service” (MBaaS) provider for mobile apps. I will elaborate on this shortly.

Keep in mind that you will need experienced developers if you wish to undertake a high degree of customization or plan to allow your users to configure the map features significantly, etc.

Remember to hire a project manager with good knowledge of modern PM tools like Trello, Asana, Zoho, etc. You will find our guide to the best agile project management tools useful in this regard.

Step #4: Use Google App Engine PaaS for the web app with google map integration

I recommend you use Google App Engine for the web app. A Google Cloud PaaS offering, it addresses the following:

• Cloud infrastructure, including server and networking;
• Middleware;
• Operating system (OS);
• Runtime environment;
• 3^rd party API integration;
• Application scaling and monitoring.

You can focus on the development, and expedite your project. Read our guide to top PaaS providers to understand the benefits of using a PaaS.

Step #5: Use Google Firebase MBaaS for the mobile app

Google Firebase is a robust MBaaS for your mobile app. You can concentrate on the development while they take care of the following:

• Cloud infrastructure;
• Persistent storage;
• Database;
• Push notification;
• User management;
• Security;
• 3^rd party API integration.

Our guide “How to choose the best Mobile Backend as a Service (MBaaS)?” explains the benefits of using an MBaaS in detail.

Step #6: Google Map Integration for a website

There is a Google Maps JavaScript API, which you can use to integrate Google Maps into your website. Read the Google Maps JavaScript API documentation.

 The documentation on integrating Google Maps offers you relevant tips, for e.g.:

• Loading the API;
• Using HTTPS for secure interactions;
• Accessing libraries, e.g. location data for map localization;
• Using different map options.

Check out the Google Maps Platform Pricing information.

Step #7: Embed Google Maps on a website

Let’s talk about how to embed Google Maps on websites. Google Maps platform has an API for that too. Read more about the Google Maps Embed API. There are comprehensive guides as follows:

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• How to embed a map into a webpage;
• How to develop with the Maps Embed API.

Step #8: Google Map Integration into an Android app

I will now explain how to integrate Google Maps into an Android app. Google Maps platform provides you with an Android “Software Development Kit” (SDK).

Your development team can access the Maps SDK for Android. The SDK documentation is comprehensive, and includes the following:

• How to use it;
• Getting the Google Maps APIs keys;
• Configuration instructions.

Step #9: Integrating Google Maps into an iOS app

There is an iOS SDK for Google Maps, using which you can integrate it into your iOS app. Review the Maps SDK for iOS. The documentation provides plenty of information, e.g.:

• How you can use it to incorporate the Google Maps data in the iOS app;
• The process to get the Google API key.

Step #10: Complete the web app development

It’s now time to start the development process for your web app. I recommend the following:

You can use Java to develop the backend. Use the Google App Engine Java runtime documentation for more information.

You need robust tools for automated testing, build management, deployment, etc. A comprehensive DevOps solution is what you need. Check out the DevOps solution in Google App Engine.

Step #11: Mobile app front-end design

Your project team should take adequate care to design a “User Interface” (UI) that’s user-friendly and elegant. The team needs to address the following aspects:

• Mobile navigation menu, where our guide to mobile navigation menu examples can help you;
• Color schemes for the UI, where our guide to mobile app color schemes can help;
• Icon design, where our guide to designing mobile app icons can help.

Step #12: Android app development, testing, and deployment

Now that you know about integrating Google Maps into the Android app, you need to proceed with your app for Android development. Your project team needs to do the following:

• Use Android Studio, a robust “Integrated Development Environment” (IDE) for Android development.
• Code your Android app using Java.
• Your team can review Android-Java development tutorials if needed.
• Follow the appropriate guidelines for publishing the app on Google Play.

Step #13: Develop, test, and deploy the iOS app with google map integration

You have learned about the Google Maps iOS SDK already, therefore, take the following steps to complete the iOS app development:

• Use the Swift language, which is the preferred language of many iOS developers.
• Complete the development, debugging, etc., with Xcode, the IDE iOS developers use.
• Read the Apple App Store publishing guidelines for iOS apps.

Step #14: Employ the “Scrum” technique for project management

“Scrum” technique supports iterative development, therefore, it’s a good choice for this app development software project. I recommend you use it, which will involve the following:

• You create a “Scrum” team led by the PM, who performs the role of a “Scrum master”. It’s a cross-functional team where designers, developers, and testers work together.
• A “Product owner” provides requirements or features in a document, which we call the “Product Backlog”.
• The team conducts a “Sprint planning meeting”, which involves estimating and prioritizing the features in “Sprints”, i.e., iterations.
• During the execution of a sprint, the team conducts a “Daily stand-up meeting” to discuss the project status.
• Project stakeholders review the completed features in a “Sprint review meeting”, where the team demonstrates the features. Stakeholders approve a sprint provided all the developed features work according to the requirements.
• A scrum team also conducts a “Sprint retrospective meeting” to learn lessons from the sprint they just completed. They implement any lessons learned in the next sprint.

Get more insights about this technique in “How to build a Scrum development team?”.

Additional Tips for Integrating Google Maps APIs Into Your App

We provide the following additional tips for integrating Google Maps APIs and utilizing the Google Maps Platform for app development:

A. Hire developers with thorough knowledge of Google Maps APIs

While Google APIs are typically user-friendly, many of them offer several important functionalities. Google Maps APIs belong to this category.

Customers find Google Maps very useful, however, there’s a lot to know about it. You should hire developers with thorough knowledge of the Google Maps platform. Look for developers with the knowledge of the following:

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• Maps JavaScript APIs;
• How to embed Google Maps;
• Getting the Google Maps API key;
• Integrating interactive maps and static maps;
• Using features like street view and other new features;
• Familiarity with the Google Cloud platform;
• Using the directions API, satellite views, etc.;
• Getting information concerning the nearby points, public transport, etc.

Contact us at DevTeam.Space to hire such skilled developers.

B. Prioritize the user experience when integrating the Google Maps API into your app

While the Google Maps platform provides value through high-quality and up-to-date information, you still have your work cut out. You need to attract and retain app users and site visitors. Providing a great user experience (UX) will go a long way toward that.

Whether presenting the branding information and company name on the app UI or meeting the key user requirements, you need to design the UI well. The UI design needs to be intuitive. E.g., if users need more information about a location on the map, they should get that easily.

You also need to take data privacy and security seriously. E.g., users might receive communications from your app based on their current location. You need to treat their location information carefully. Users should get the confidence that you treat their sensitive information with due care.

Planning for Google Map Integration for Your Strategic Web and Mobile Apps?

SDKs, APIs, PaaS providers, MBaaS providers, and IDEs are all tools that can help your team in building web and mobile apps with interactive or static map integration.

However, if you are planning a strategic app with customized mapping requirements, you will encounter a higher degree of complexity. I recommend you engage a reputed Agile software development partner in such cases, like DevTeam.Space.

Our guide, How to find the best software development company? can help you find a reliable development partner.

Apart from this, learn more about why building a minimum viable product (MVP) is essential for a successful agile project management process with real-time progress reports.

If you are developing a software app with geolocation features and need to scale your team with additional skills and expertise, then take a moment to tell us about your project requirements here. One of our dedicated tech account managers will be in touch to show you similar projects we have done before and share how we can help you.

Our developers have helped clients integrate customizable maps into their applications, using plugins to add features such as geocoding and automated time zone updates.

Frequently Asked Questions on Google Map Integration