In developed countries like those in North America and Western Europe, there are more cars than the rest of the world put together and not just that there are provisions accordingly for parking near each small and big marketplace. This is solely based on observations during my travel to these regions.
In India and also in South Asia, small businesses are established with little or no regard to space planning and these could also be located in already crowded places and narrow streets as depicted in the picture below that I clicked yesterday for the purpose of this article.
To write a review of such small businesses so that they are more useful to the Google Maps user, consider including some if not all of the following points which are based on my findings from the recent meetups about small shops and businesses in Gurugram.
1. Parking Space
• Any open space nearby is OK since people don’t need designated parking space.
Check if there is even a paid parking nearby. Include this in your review.
• Is there space for cars or is the space-constrained to let just a bike pass through?
If the business is located in a narrow lane, mention this in your review so that people can park outside on the main street and walk to the shop.
2. Accessibility - Look for Features and NOT for Icons
• Don’t search for accessibility 
icons and symbols since there would be none.
Not more than 5 in 100 small businesses would have those icons in South Asia.
But more than 80% of places will have accessibility features like a ramp, railings, direction boards, etc.
Note: Every small business owner would have enough staff to help a differently-abled customer to get into the shop or restaurant by lifting up him in their arms. In South Asia, helpful people are present nearby - Always.
• Mention any accessibility feature you noticed in your review and capture the photo.
Mark the photo with the accessibility icon as I have done in this review of the HUDA market of Gurugram in a recent meetup.
• An accessibility feature could be present at a bit far off place as a common ramp for many businesses.
Include this in your review and also a photo.
For example, this Subway outlet may not provide a ramp directly in front of its entrance but one can be seen in an adjacent shop or even in front of a shop that is a bit far away but ultimately provides access to the PoI. This is a valid accessibility feature for the PoI i.e. Subway in this case.
3. Best time to Visit the Business
• Small businesses are typically in crowded markets, so recommend the best time to visit.
Normally the evenings are crowded which is a well-known fact.
• Some famous bakeries and sweet shops in places like Pune are traditionally kept closed during the afternoon.
Make sure to mention this in the review.
4. Washroom Availability
• Public toilets are few and far so people rely on restaurants or shopping complex having toilets.
• Mention if the toilet is available inside the premises or outside.
• Mention if the toilet is a common toilet in the shopping complex or exclusive to the shop.
• Mention if they are locked when you visited them or you can have them unlocked from the security.
5. Phone Orders and Method of Payment
• Mention the phone number of a Kirana on which they take orders since this could be a different number from the one listed as the business or helpline number.
• Mention if they take online orders or not and if they deliver to the doorstep or provide only a pack-and-pickup service when ordering online.
• Mention if they accept app-based payments like RuPay, PayTM, GPay, etc.
6. Restaurants and Food Joints
It is jokingly said there are 5 types of vegetarians in S.Asia
(a) Veg but Egg is OK.
(b) Veg but meat only outside the home.
(c) Veg but occasional meat at home is OK.
(d) No meat but may consume egg regularly.
(e) No meat, no egg but fish is fine.
Many vegetarians do not prefer to eat at non-veg restaurants even if they are not consuming themself.
• Specify if Jain food is available.
• Write if outside food like roti or simply a cold-drink is allowed or not.
Mention this since someone in a group may carry their own tiffin and you want to have lunch together.
• Mention if Upwaas or fasting food items available.
• Upahaar and Alp-Upahaar. If you had breakfast at a place, find out and mention in the review if that is available only in the morning since Many Upahaar-Gruhas offer food items only during specific hours of the day. Mentioning this in the review will help a lot.
• Are there separate sections for Veg/Non-veg food.
• Is there a separate and secluded section for families?
These are some of the most common items that also appear in the question and answer section for the PoI.
Besides your regular description and experience at the PoI, if you could include any of these based on your experience, the review will be immensely helpful to users of Google Maps.
Can you think of any other criteria or factors that could be worth considering in a review of small businesses in India and South Asia?
I’d be interested in knowing.
Until then… Happy Guiding ?
