Coming soon: Google maps are tracking people

A new Google application called Latitude will soon allow you to track friends, family, and employees on Google maps. As you probably know, Google maps is web based, and can conveniently be accessed from just about anywhere. How often do you wonder where someone is? Probably all of the time. Well, if you’d like, you can put a stop to this soon. People who decide to divulge their location to you will be traceable with the press of a button, as this program allows users to see the approximate location of other users. To take things a step further, Latitude allows users to connect immediately via SMA, Gmail, or Google Talk.

Google understands that you probably don’t want everyone to have the same amount of access to your whereabouts. Don’t fret – you can set your settings on a person-by-person basis. You may choose to keep your location at a city “closeness” level for some friends, and even have the option of hiding yourself completely.

“That’s great, but what does this have to do with my small business,” you ask?

The ability to know where employees are is only the first part of Latitude’s location-based benefits. Next, Latitude will give you the ability to know what your employees are doing, and even how they are doing it. The benefits this will offer location-based service businesses will be pretty powerful.

Picture being a FedEx manager who is suddenly able to track a truck right down to the road it is turning onto. To take this a step further, let’s say you own a meat delivery store. Wouldn’t you love having the option of ensuring that you’re veal, ham – whatever is being shipped – is at the right temperature the split second that it’s delivered? Having on the fly access to that data will open new tracking and control options for business owners.

If you’re running a small business and have more time to hone in on each employee, you could use this tool to track each employee better. IE: Keep better records on how your sales people use their time, evaluate how your electrician completes a routine job, etc.

Of course, if you choose to eventually implement this into your business, make sure you make a plan that is right for your company beforehand. You do not want your employees to feel like they are being stalked or threatened. Latitude may be a great application for your business, but make sure that you’re employees are both comfortable with it and understand how you’ll be utilizing it to help improve your company.

To learn more about Google Latitude, click here.

Happy tracking,

Josh Clifford
CSO
Everon Technology Services

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