New features of Business Locator 2.0 include SlippyMap technology that allows the user to click and drag to move the map. Another new feature is dynamic proximity searching. This means new locations will automatically appear on the map when moving (‘panning’) the map in a new direction. Initial location results are displayed instantaneously on the map via GeoIP, which automatically identifies the customer’s location by their computer’s IP address, eliminating the need for the user to type in a location.
Business Locator 2.0 offers new ‘drive time’ proximity search, which lets users search for locations by drive time as well as distance. Searching for locations by drive time offers a realistic view of how far away a location really is. Searching for locations by distance is the old standard, often referred to ‘as the crow flies,’ which does not take into account bodies of water, parks, mountains and other barriers.
The web 2.0 features of the Business Locator allow a web page to request an update for some part of its content, and to alter that part in the browser, without needing to refresh the whole page at the same time. As an example, a consumer can alter their driving direction end points by simply dragging the location icon to a new location on the map. The page is then dynamically updated with the new driving directions without needing to generate a brand new web page.
The Locator Console (client administrative system) has also been enhanced using web 2.0 technology. Easy to use file upload, online editing of location data and reporting all share the responsive web 2.0 features. Tracking all consumer actions on the map page has enhanced the reporting of the Business Locator.
