Google Maps Partners With Restaurant Platform EazyDiner In India

Google Maps has partnered with India-based table reservation platform EazyDiner to display discounts via the popular navigation app, according to a report in TechCrunch. The New Dehli-based startup has been in business for five years and has raised over $13 million in funding.

In an update launched Thursday (July 11) and announced on Google’s India Blog, users in India will notice three additional features within Google Maps, including an “offers” options located in the explore tab. Offers from over 4,000 local restaurants will be displayed and are currently live in 11 of India’s major cities.

In addition to viewing discount offers, Google Map users will also be able to reserve a table from within the app. According to a spokesperson, Google plans to expand this service by attracting more partners and more categories in the future. The app interface has also made it easier for users to navigate quickly when searching for restaurants, ATMs, shopping, hotels and pharmacies.

As part of the announcement, Google Maps Directors Krish Vitaldevara and Chandu Thota explained the explore tab within Google Maps has also been revamped in a way which they say “reflects the diversity of local neighborhoods and communities [in India].”

The third and final new feature launching today on Google Maps is called “For You” and will display personalized restaurant recommendations to users. According to executives at Google, this feature can recognize not just what millions of consumers have said about the quality of a restaurant but compares that information to a user’s own reviews, further personalizing the in-app experience.

The move is seen as part of Google’s efforts to monetize its Maps offering.

Google continues to use India as a test market for a variety of different services and app updates, according to the report. The tech company currently runs approximately 98 percent of smartphones in India with 300 million users in India using Google Maps.