Apple has released Apple Business Connect, a service similar to Google Business Profiles, for organisations looking to capitalise across the iOS ecosystem and beyond.

Apple Newsroom

“(It) is a free tool that allows businesses of all sizes to claim their location place cards and customize the way key information appears to more than a billion Apple users across Apple Maps, Messages, Wallet, Siri, and other apps.”

What is Apple Business Connect?

Apple Business Connect is a free tool available to businesses of all sizes. Marketers can use Business Connect to manage their place cards and provide customers with the most up-to-date information on places to eat, shop, travel and more.

Place cards show up when a user clicks on your location within Apple Maps and provide more information about the business.

Eddy Cue, Senior Vice President, Services

“Apple Business Connect gives every business owner the tools they need to connect with customers more directly, and take more control over the way billions of people see and engage with their products and services every day.”

How does Apple Business Connect work?

Organisations can use Business Connect to manage information directly, invite customers to take action such as ordering food or making reservations and present customers with special promotions. Action can be taken via third-party platforms such as Booking.com, OpenTable and Instacart.

All you need to do is register (more on that later) with an Apple ID and then take the time to update your place card fully.

Business Connect also includes a feature called Showcases, a feature businesses can use to provide offers and incentives such as product discounts. This feature is only available to companies in the US but will be rolled out globally during 2023.

The information marketers input to place cards will appear on Apple Maps as well as Messages, Wallet, Siri and more.

Take advantage of the growth of Apple Maps

As Apple Maps becomes more popular, it would be wise to ensure your business is ready to take advantage of increased traffic on the app. Additionally, as the Apple eco-system is vast, any action you can take to ensure you’re fully discoverable across it can only be favourable.

Having an Apple Business Connect place card can also help improve your SEO and visibility, and having a complete place card will help users discover and engage with your business.

There will also be performance analytics benefits too, as updating your card will provide you with the data required to improve your performance.

Apple for Business

“Learn how customers find and interact with your place cards, showcases and actions with insights from Apple. And make adjustments for a bigger impact.”

Improved engagement across the eco-system

Business Connect should also help you to improve engagement within Apple Maps. The quick actions available on each card will let customers engage with your business at the touch of a button and quickly discover business information.

How to register

It’s easy for businesses to register for Business Connect.

1. Visit the self-service website.
2. Use your existing Apple ID to log in, or create a new one.
3. Once a business has logged in and been verified by Apple, it can claim its location(s).
4. Update your place card.

For businesses with more than one location, Business Connect includes an API to help marketers deliver information to Maps at scale.

Apple business services integration

Apple Newsroom

“Business Connect complements other Apple services designed to help small businesses grow and reach customers, including Tap to Pay on iPhone — which enables businesses to seamlessly and securely accept Apple Pay, contactless credit and debit cards, and other digital wallets through a simple tap to their iPhone — and Business Essentials, a subscription that brings together device management, 24/7 support, and cloud storage.”