How DatoCMS saves us 8 hours on an otherwise complex feature?

As a web development agency, we're constantly looking for ways to streamline our processes and deliver top-notch results to our clients. One tool that stood out was DatoCMS's geolocation filter. Using this filter, we've been able to eliminate 8 hours of development time when building a interactive map with a collection of offices directly from the CMS.

The challenge: building interactive maps efficiently

Interactive maps with custom POIs are a much requested feature, as they offer an engaging way for businesses to showcase their locations, products, or services. However, building these maps from scratch can be a time-consuming and complex process, involving data management, API integrations, and custom scripts.

The solution: DatoCMS's geolocation filter

DatoCMS's geolocation filter allows us to store location data directly in the CMS and easily filter POIs based on their geographic coordinates. This eliminates the need for complex data manipulation and API calls, which simplifies the process of building map.

How we saved 8 hours (and counting): a real-world example

For PIA Group we needed an interactive map on their website to display their network of accountancy offices across Belgium. Using DatoCMS's geolocation filter, we were able to:

1. Office data: Input each office name, address, and geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude) directly into DatoCMS.
2. Filter POIs: Use the geolocation filter to easily fetch offices within a specific radius of the user's location or a selected region.
3. Display on a Map: Seamlessly integrate the filtered office data with Mapbox, a map provider, to create a visually appealing and interactive map.

The entire process allowed us to save about 8 hours, thanks to DatoCMS's intuitive interface and geolocation filtering capabilities. This represents a significant time saving compared to our previous approach, which often involved manually creating and managing separate databases for location data.

Additional benefits

Beyond saving time, implementing this geolocation filter offered several other advantages:

• Improved data management: Store all location data in one centralized location for easy access and maintenance.
• Enhanced user experience: Enable users to filter POIs based on their location, creating a more personalized experience.
• Increased flexibility: Update store information or add new locations without the need for extensive code changes.

Interested in our approach? Get in touch with us to learn more!