GoogleMapsCoordinate
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Google Maps Coordinate field-worker tool is closing down
Google's never shy about spiking its services (even popular ones). Today's victim? Google Maps Coordinate. As a refresher (and as the name suggests), this service was designed to help organize teams out in the field. Think sales reps, roadside repair crews etc. and you get the idea. Either way, it's not long for this world. Google sent an email out to users of the service stating it'll be absorbed back into the abyss as of January 21, 2016. Since Coordinate launched in 2012, Google created a broader API for maps which provides similar, more flexible functionality. In fact, if you were to try and sign up for Coordinate now, you'll find yourself being shuffled along directly to the all encompassing Maps for Work API product. Currently a Coordinate subscriber? You may want to check your inbox for further instructions on what happens next. But, the short answer is, you've got a year to figure out how to keep tabs on your crew.
Google Maps Coordinate: keep tabs on your team, dish the work out fairly (video)
If you're a mobile / field worker, and are tired of getting hauled across town to jobs, when there are others nearer by, you might want to point your senior in the direction of Google Maps Coordinate. Sounding like a blend of Latitude, Maps and Google + (Circles,) it's a web tool and mobile app that should help central operations organize their teams out in the field. Of course there's the usual location sharing, plus options for recording and collecting (user defined) data, allocating staff to teams or groups, job and task allocation plus history for analytics. Google says any business can sign up (currently $15 per employee,) plus there's an API if the stock options don't fit your custom needs. Either way, you can kiss goodbye to those two-hour secret lunchtime golf sessions.
