Corrie's post
cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Find out how busy a place is right now with Google Maps

Former Google Contributor

LiveBusyness-InDevice-CHI.gif

Popular Times, the feature in Google Search and Maps that shows how busy a place typically is at different times of the week now gives a real-time look at how crowded a place is right now, to help you decide where and when to go. Whether you’re rushing to pick up a last minute gift or seeking a quiet cafe, check Popular Times for a sneak preview of what to expect when you arrive. If you’re playing host for the day, you can also check and see how long people typically stay at a given location. That way you can plan your itinerary to the minute. 

 

We'd love you to help us learn when we're getting this right and when we're wrong, so we can be as accurate as possible and expand the live information to more of the places you care about. You can help by tapping the blue “Correct?” (see image below) link that appears with the live data on Google Search, and confirm whether the live data is too busy, too quiet, or just right. 

 

Click "Correct?" to give feedback on whether this information is... correct.Click "Correct?" to give feedback on whether this information is... correct.

 

 

 

41 Comments
Connect Moderator

@Corrie  this feature is great or will very helpful to make maps accurate ..

also helpful for all of us ..... Help for business improvement or time maintain.

Level 9

 @Corrie, that feature for all level local guide ?

Muhammad Sadeli | Pekanbaru | Riau Indonesia
Level 8

This one's tricky. I had a client call me from his home during dinner-time because a family member showed him that his store wasn't as busy as normal. What upset him was that the entire world could see that his store was slow.

 

I understand that this is a useful feature for almost everyone so long as the real-time visits stay within a certain margin above/below. However, if a business is shown as being slower than normal by a considerable amount, I can see one possible trend being that people will see it as a sign that the business is tanking.

 

You can take it the other way as well. Say a business is having a fantastic day and visitorship is awesome but people see that they're busy and decide to take their money elsewhere.

 

This isn't just a concern of mine, it's the concern of the vocal few (which always represents a fraction of the actual number) of business owners that I have as clients.

 

Essentially, this is a HUGE win for consumers because it empowers them to make smarter decisions but it's also a HUGE concern and possible road-block for business owners.

ชอบการแสดงผลแบบนี้มาก ช่วยให้ทราบว่าสถานที่ดังกล่าวมีคนมากน้อยขนาดไหน ช่วยในการตัดสินใจว่าควรจะไปยังสถานที่ดังกล่าวดีหรือไม่

Level 9

Hi @Corrie  That features is great for all LG .Its also help for business improvement.But I know about one thing that how many time visitors see the Business Places.If I upload photos then shows how many people see the place in my contribution photos.but I want to know it will any possibility to see how many time visitor see the business place without any upload photos. But I thing it's a Great ideas.

 

Level 8

@Corrie It really helped me while I was applying for my Driving License. So I checked map for the time when the office is less crowded. And  it worked! Nice feature

Sovon Biswas • Level 8 • Community Moderator • Love to- Travel, Photography, Mapping • Google Fan
Level 4

The point made above about business owners having concerns about disclosing whether they are slow or busy is a valid one.

 

Yet I also agree that customers being able to see traffic informatics is a valuable tool.

 

What if Google modified this to read "wait/no wait" or alternatively, "wait _xx min_ " / "no wait", rather than the detailed traffic.

 

That way, it's more like a motel vacancy/no vacancy sign that lets you know if they have rooms available but not specifically how many, so there's no capacity stats or ability to judge business health .... just the desired information on whether or not there's a wait/long line and possibly how long.

 

It seems that (or a similar informatic) would give both business owners and customers what they're seeking without having to compromise one for the other.

oh heavens, I thought the customers we're always rite...  Businesses shouldn't worry about appearing slow, unless they truly are tanking, in which case they have bigger worries, people are smart enough to understand everyone has off days, seasonal business,  etc. This is helpful and should be permanent for useful info. 

Level 8

No, the customer is not always right. 🙂

 

Walk into your nearest Home Depot or Lowe's and you'll find plenty of customers that are not right and you'll find employees dutifully informing those customers of that fact.

 

Truth is, businesses worry, employees of those businesses worry. In turn, those employees take their worrisome money to where they deem best. 

 

I don't have a solution. This is an entirely new problem.

Level 9

This is a great addition to google maps. Businesses can see the arrival pattern of their customers so they can easily plan or allocate the accurate headcount needed for a specific day or time. 

 

This will be a Win-Win situation for customers and businessmen.

 

I hope this feature also generate a montly report for the business owners.

Level 8

We are providing information which is power to choose where when you spend your time and money.

The people have a right to decide if standing in line or long waits is what they want.

Remember also places that are not busy will grow with customers who don't like delays.

Kimberly Becerra
Level 5

 I actually have, and still do use this feature when planning my shopping days!  It's infinitely more useful now especially, during holidays!  I haven't used it for restaurants, but I'm sure I will!

As far as assuming a biz is 'tanking' because their numbers are low - that hadn't occured to me - the #'s are relative anyway! If 500 shoppers are there - 350 may be there during "slow" times, anyway!

I'd say keep it - DEFINITELY!  It's very useful!

This feature is so helpful while trying to reach some where crowded and when it is holiday time where people gather together and in times of celebration and other events. so helpful.
Level 3

Impressionnant et encourageante

Level 3
Level 3

  about 6.am to12pm&7days in a week 

Level 2
Level 2

ผมว่ามันดีนะครับสำหลับคนที่ชอบออกเดินทางครับ 

It will really helpful for everyone 

 

Level 2

You have to be careful, sometimes this data is wrong. How can we confirm this info ? There are using a kind of statistics, and how it works?.

 

Regards!

Level 2

Information  about any area must be correct and pictures better to be attached

Level 3

This has to be one of the most useful tools to help consumer in todays society. It makes it easier for groups to go places, it makes it easier for people who just want to duck in and duck out. It just makes life easier for everyone. When it gets very accurate, there is no denying it will be great.

Level 10

@Corrie This is really useful, i used this feature today. 🙂

Anonymous
Not applicable

@Corrie  this  feature does not work 100% in the Czech Republic

we can not refine information because we do not see "Correct?"

 

Level 5

it's very helpful feature ...
it will save a lot of time when we avoid crowded places and improve our choices

Former Google Contributor

@Anonymous If you are encoutering bugs/issues, please report a problem through the Google Maps app 🙂 More info here

Level 1

it's worked great for me.. as an introvert, i tend to busy crowds. this has definitely helped me. great feature.

Level 7

I am curious about this feature - how does it get data on whether the place is busy or not? How do shoppers, business owners, etc contribute location data or check in there?

A Lost Sheep in Delhi
https://lostsheepdelhi.wordpress.com
Level 1

t

Level 3

Nice innovation helps you plan the ideal time to visit a location 

Level 8

yay ! i was looking for this feature ! 

very helpful to make maps accurate

Level 1

I love this tool 

Level 1
great feature!!
Level 8

I haven't used this tool but I will use it on my next visit in a restaurant.

Does it work un Honduras?

 

Level 3

رائع

Level 2

Looks like it will be very useful however as one of friend above mentioned how it will get the live crowd data? It is only possible if you can access the cell phones signal. Apart from that it can only happen by the check ins of the people which is not commonly used especially with senior age audience. So it would be great if someone can tell us and explain us a bit more about this feature...

Level 7

Thanks CorrieD. A magical feature for sure. 

Level 9

Thanks @Corrie nice feature. But how can we apply it on the maps. Because currently its not available in almost all locations I have mapped.

 

Regards,

JonasK

 

It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.
Level 10

Questa funzione è molto bella... Spero k Google la migliorerà ancora,

 

Level 8

Dear @Corrie it's really very interesting and helpful feature. I think, it works and showing by gps system and get data from active gps of the location

Si davvero bella

ใช้ประโยชน์ได้มาก ช่วยให้เห็นสภาพความหนาแน่นของคนในพื้นที่ ช่วยในการตัดสินใจในการเดินทาง