On Mar. 17, Google announced that it would roll out two new tools made for businesses with extensive delivery fleets: the Cloud Fleet Routing API and Last Mile Fleet Solution.
Google Adds New Tools for Businesses
The Last Mile Fleet Solution, which is part of the Google Maps platform, adds an emphasis on optimizing every step of the last-mile delivery process from ordering items to delivering them, according to TechCrunch.
As the name states, the new Routing API, which is included in Google Cloud, focuses on route planning across fleets of delivery vehicles.
Since both are enterprise services, there is no public pricing information available, and potential customers of either product have to work with Google's own sales team.
Hans Thalbauer, the Managing Director, Global Supply Chain and Logistics Industries of Google Cloud, said that the pandemic further accelerated both e-commerce and the number of deliveries, which were already growing fast.
The increased strain on delivery networks and other factors such as insufficient address data, driver shortages, factory closures, and increased fuel prices have affected businesses' delivery time and success.
Thalbauer added that with Google Maps Platform's Last Mile Fleet Solution and Cloud Fleet Routing API, they make it easier for delivery fleet operators to address these problems and create seamless experiences for drivers, consumers, and fleet managers.
Google Maps Platform already has the On-Demand Rides and Delivery solution, a feature that helps businesses dispatch on-demand drivers.
The company said the new Last Mile Fleet Solution builds upon the service. The Fleet Routing API, on the other hand, is a new Google Cloud service that helps businesses with their route planning.
Users will be able to use it to create tools for their fleet management systems and have the system optimize delivery routes based on their constraints.
The tool's constraints are time window, vehicle capacity, package weight, and the process, and the users can also optimize their routes to meet their sustainability targets.
Olivier Colinet, the CTO and CPO of UK-based courier service Paack, said that in their company, they want to help the largest e-commerce retailers in Europe to create amazing delivery experiences for the millions of orders they get every month.
Colinet added that to scale quickly, they adopted Last Mile Fleet Solution and Cloud Fleet Routing which enables their drivers and fleet managers to maintain peak efficiency and go beyond their 98% on-time, first-time delivery rates.
Google Features for Game Developers on Google Play
Aside from adding features for businesses, Google also added new features for game developers, according to XDA Developers.
On Mar. 16, Google launched a new "Google Play Partner Program for Games" to give more tools to some of the largest developers and studios on Google Play. The program targets developers that have more than $5 million every year in games consumer spend.
The benefits of the program include better business support from Google Play and faster releases with a priority publishing queue. It also has pre-launch tools like pre-registration testing, access code, and store listing experiments for pre-registration campaigns.
The program also has more security protection, including automatic Play Integrity API usage approval. It also includes invitations to the early access program and more.
The company did not provide specific information about which Google Play game developers will get access to the latest program.
This week, Google also added tools for students who are struggling with their homework, according to The Verge.
In 2020, Google asked business owners to update their listings on Google Maps if they were affected by COVID-19.
In 2021, Google fixed the review bombing on the pages of businesses on Google Maps.
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Written by Sophie Webster
