Google Maps -though very very useful- is not perfect. The web mapping service has some accuracy issues and these issues may end up affecting applications that heavily depend on maps. Some of these apps include Dial A Delivery, Munch, Hwindi, Vaya Lift and any other service that you can think of that applies mapping may be affected.
What’s wrong with Google Maps?
The issue with Google Maps varies from user to user and from location to location. In certain areas, accuracy is perfect but in other areas it’s inaccurate and therein lies the problem. I have personally experienced this and this has meant ordering a Vaya ride or food via Dial-a-Delivery is something I have to be extra cautious about. I thought this problem was unique to me but after ordering a Vaya ride on Friday afternoon, I had to explain to the driver that my house is much further down that road.
I explained this in a timid way hoping he wouldn’t be pissed off but he then actually explained that this is a problem many other customers are facing and I realized that we actually have quite a big problem. On one occasion I had to get out of the house and walk up the road to meet the driver at the house which Google was saying I reside at when I don’t stay there at all. Mind you this house is over 100 metres away from where I stay!
With ride-hailing apps, it’s less of an inconvenience but with food delivery apps such as Munch or DaD, you can see how serious problems can arise when your food is delivered to the wrong house. If your neighbours are hungry, dishonest or both they can enjoy the mail and you’re left to deal with the mess. The only problem is that the guys delivering the food are not in the wrong because that’s where Google Maps is taking them… So who then foots that bill? Your neighbour who ate the food? Good luck with that. Up until now, I am yet to try ordering food through Munch or DaD when I’m at home because I would rather just avoid the hassle of having to hope that nothing happens to my food.
This is a big deal and in all honesty, it’s something that NEEDS fixing…
So, what’s your best hope?
Well, if you are facing a similar problem the best thing one can do right now is to report the error to Google and hope for the best.
How to report an error on the map
According to Google, these are the steps you can take;
If we need to add roads to Google Maps, or something on the map isn’t right, you can tell us. Let us know if you notice errors in Google Maps such as:
- Incorrect road names
- Wrong info about one-way and two-way roads
- Incorrectly drawn road
- Road closures
- A road on the map doesn’t exist
- Missing roads
- Wrong addresses or marker locations
On PC
- To tell us a location is missing from Google Maps, learn how to add a missing place.
- To edit info about a business or landmark, you can suggest an edit.
- To update your business in Google Maps, you can edit the business listing.
- Learn how to set or change your address in Google Maps.
- You can only help us correct an error in Maps in some countries and regions
On Android (Reporting an address error)
- On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Maps app.
- Search for an address or touch and hold a spot on the map to drop a pin.
- At the bottom, tap the address.
- Choose Suggest an edit.
- Follow the instructions.
- Tap Send.
On iPhone & iPad (Reporting an address error)
- On your iPhone or iPad, open the Google Maps app.
- Tap the Menu Help & Feedback.
- Tap Send feedback Report a data problem.
- To report your issue, follow the instructions.
- Tap Send.
Tell us about an address or marker error
- On your iPhone or iPad, open the Google Maps app.
- Search for an address or touch and hold a spot on the map to drop a pin.
- At the bottom, tap the address.
- Choose Suggest an edit.
- To report your issue, follow the instructions.
- Tap Send.
How to report wrong directions
If you got the wrong directions to a place, you can tell us which step was incorrect.
Note: You can only report wrong directions in some countries and regions. (Zim doesn’t seem like one of these regions)
- On your computer, open Google Maps.
- Click Directions.
- Enter the starting point and destination for the route for which your directions were wrong.
- On the left, click on a route description for step-by-step directions.
- In the bottom right of the map, click Send feedback.
Note: If you’re using Maps in Lite mode, you can’t report wrong directions.
You can’t report wrong directions on Android and iOS. I’ll be lodging my report later tonight and I’ll advise you guys on how that goes…
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13 comments
i have added a lot of roads/areas on Google and HERE Maps to such an extend that i was given a certificate of appreciation by Google. i bought city of harare map for that purpose, failed to get maps for other cities as well as for Zimbabwe as a whole (Rural Areas). there were lot of corrections i did on both maps. Updated most of the areas i visited.
Did it as a community service.
Thank you
That’s really great and it goes a long way in eliminating the confusion a lot of us get to face in using these apps on a day to day
You could have also mentioned work being done by Googe local guides voluntarily
That’s the first I’ve heard of such, please explain further…
Usually the road is correct, don’t rely solely on tech, check the house numbers if you know that this happens. You must remember that Google acquires maps from the authorities here, if those maps are mislabelled (or a missing labels altogether) it’s difficult to correct. They reload diffs of maps acquired over time, sometimes this may conflict with user corrections.
Plenty of houses are not numbered though so that might be a problem.
How did people get around before Google maps? Tech is part of the solution, but when it fails, you fall back to common sense. You don’t abandon the plan, or make tech the villain, when it helped you the other 95% of the time. If the calculator app on your phone stops working altogether, do you give up altogether on the correct math and use approximates? No, you pick a pen and calculate on paper.
Do Vaya or Dial-a-Delivery make an effort to correct the maps, or even have their own curated knowledgebase of map “quirks”? If not, the blame is no-one elses but their own. If your business relies on (free) maps, it’s in your interest to correct the maps, or come up with a workaround.
I think that issue is attributed to developers and the geolocation method they are using.
Google maps navigation sometimes mixes up left and right. Use with caution.
These delivery companies require better technologies than Google Maps. This is a common problem in the majority of Africa where Google has not scanned areas. I have solutions to the problem which can be used to solve some of the problems. A simple one is to use apps which offer better accuracy and the second is to use better maps and tiles for viewing.
kindly assist with apps that are more accurate for an area not yet scanned by Gmaps
I wonder if there will ever be an article about openstreetmap. You can all start mapping right away. All your edits will be immediately displayed on the map. All map data is available for download and can be used for free. As open source data for the benefit of your business and the entire economy.