After a number of failed attempts in the last decade, Google has finally announced the launch of its popular “Street View” feature in India. The organization has partnered with the mapping solutions provider Genesys International and Tech Mahindra, for collection of necessary data.

“Street View will help people navigate and explore new corners of the country and the world in a more visual and accurate way, enabling them to fully experience what it’s like to be in these places, right from their phone or computer,” states Google.

Google street view is a revolutionary concept that not only provides the user with an original image of a particular geographical location, but the extensive 360 degree image helps to get a real time vibe of what the place feels like. Thanks to Street view, today, we can live in a place without actually being there, whether it be the busy time Square of New York or the romantic water lanes of Venice.

That being said, the street view has also been beneficial for business. According to studies, people who have viewed a “virtual tour” (Street View inside) are twice as likely to visit that particular store in person. This increases the footfall which is likely to increase the sales.

In this article let's find out how the newly launched google street view will help Indian businesses in the coming days.

Attracting More Customers

Ninety-seven percent of individuals conduct a Google search before going to a store. Users of Google Street View will have a distinct edge over their rivals since they provide clients more assurance by introducing themselves to them before they ever enter their doors. The decision-making process is greatly influenced by images, thus having a virtual tour will help a business to stand out from its rivals by adding an educative and enjoyable component.

To cite an example - The 21st annual NYC restaurant week, organized by NYC & Company, included 294 restaurants in the summer of 2013. NYC & Company sought to include additional educational elements on its restaurant listing pages to help these establishments draw in more consumers. 

On their website, NYCgo.com, they integrated Google Maps Street View and Street View to increase engagement with partner eateries. In instance, Street View gives customers a useful new method to discover participating eateries since it offers completely interactive virtual tours of company interiors.

Stronger Online Presence

A virtual tour of a company's location is a fantastic tool for enhancing its online visibility. Additionally, it encourages visitors to stay on the company's websites for longer. This applies to the website, local page, social network profile, etc. The longer visitors stay, the more likely they are to subscribe to the service or make a purchase.

A virtual tour stimulates clicks—they click on the link leading to the tour, either a link leading to the website's main page or a link leading to a particular item or offer. Google records all clicks, regardless of the circumstances. More clicks indicate that people find your website to be worthwhile, and they direct more search traffic your way.

For example — Mid-sized UK store of home products Leekes was actively growing. The Leekes digital marketing team intended to engage consumers with an interactive virtual experience of the store's interior to help promote the launch of a new Leekes location in Coventry. However, Leekes needed a well-organized and simple-to-use solution because the new shop featured over 45 departments spread across two levels and 185,000 square feet.

More than 20,000 website visitors have watched the Street View tour since its inception, engaging with it at a rate five times greater than that of any other page. With a 20 percent boost in foot traffic from the previous year, the tour has also contributed to the store's increased foot traffic.

Increasing Business Engagement

More Google Street View interactions with the company will lead to more reviews. Since evaluations can be positive or negative, having the ability to know what to anticipate before visiting a business reduces the likelihood that customers would feel let down or misled.

On the other hand, clients who believe that their expectations were fulfilled and/or surpassed provide favorable evaluations. Therefore, it offers an advantage and encourages higher sales if clients are aware of what to expect before they enter a store.

For example — Just Food For Dogs (JFFD) wanted to attract customers who would appreciate the care and attention it puts into its high-quality dog food. The JFFD team was looking for an innovative way to engage new and existing customers, and Street View, a virtual tour of businesses using Street View technology, was an ideal solution. Rudy Poe, managing partner for Just Food For Dogs, states, “You really only get what we’re about once you walk in. We want to convey the genuineness of our brand, and stepping into our store is the best way to do that.” 

The Future Of Business

Google Maps has recently improved its virtual navigation service by adding augmented reality. This feature is interesting: in a few clicks, the user has an overview of a business as if it were physically there.

By offering a 360° virtual tour of the business location, they give a quality image of the entity’s activity and reassure the visitor of their choice of place to visit. His virtual search will probably turn into a real visit. He knows what to expect and so may not hesitate to drive or walk to the shop.