The Toronto startup should give Apple Maps users more business information
Apple has acquired Locationary, a start-up based in Toronto that provides a platform for aggregating and managing local business listings.
Apple confirmed the acquisition Friday, but declined to disclose additional details about the plans it has for the company or its business information management technology, which is called Saturn.
"Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans," said Alan Hely, Apple's senior director of corporate communications in Europe, via email.
According to Locationary's website, its Saturn platform manages 175 million business profiles from 253 feeds and repositories. The technology's goal is to standardize the data and keep it up to date.
Apple faced widespread criticism last year regarding the quality and accuracy of its Maps service in iOS 6. The backlash even prompted a public apology from Apple CEO Tim Cook who promised that the service will be improved.
The acquisition of Locationary may be related to that effort.
Apple Maps is already using data from Yelp, a provider of local business information and user reviews. However, Locationary's Saturn platform may allow Apple to add such data from other sources as well, and more importantly, keep that information up to date.
'Intent' is the single largest performance marketing variable. It shapes our search queries, dictates our purchase paths and mediates meaningful interactions with brands regardless of channel, media or content type.
Data has been an increasingly critical factor in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of marketing and business operations.
Discussing the future in a realistic fashion is often a disappointing prospect. For all the talk of hoverboards, jetpacks and lightsabers changing the way we do things, the reality tends to end up being something as mundane as a slightly cheaper way to get around the city.
Episode 2 of the latest BrandHook podcast series on Getting Intimate with Customer Experience is now live!
Hi James, shouldn't marketers also be focusing on collecting and utilizing up to date first-party profiling data on customers so that mes...
Tom
3 ways customer data can increase online sales conversion
Wouldn't reconnecting with younger consumers be in direct contravention of the code on alcohol advertising?
Tim Palmer
Vodka Cruiser reconnects with younger consumers via category-first Facebook Live campaign
Thanks for the article Jennifer, you raise some interesting points. The supermarket and shopping centre examples particularly struck a c...
Jill Brennan
Why marketers should take note of social robots
Winning the retail game is really tricky at this point in time. Many retailers have declared themselves as bankrupt. But yes harnessing t...
Vanessa.M.Magers
Bricks and clicks: Balancing digital and physical to win the retail game
Excellent article, Thank you.
Steve Beards
How Aprimo hopes to help marketers tackle distribution of content, funds and data