Issue#97: Building $1K-$10K MRR Micro SaaS Products around Maps API
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No fluffy content. If your goal is to build a $100m ARR business, this is not the right post. Here I am NOT going to talk about building the next Facebook or Twitter. If your goal is to make a $1K to $10K MRR, continue reading.
This post will cover one SaaS area and talk about multiple niches in this space. This post also explains how to do tech implementation, do market analysis, how the current players are doing, and ends with a cost analysis to understand the overall cost for 100 users.
Let’s see some of the players around Micro SaaS products around Maps API.
⛳ ⛳ Current players
No Code Map App: A no code builder for creating custom interactive maps. Reached $850 MRR in 8 Months.
Felt: Felt makes it easy for anyone to create and share maps that tell a story — from campsite directions to shifts in climate. Received $19.5M in funding.
Route4Me: A route sequencing and optimization software that enables customers to optimize the entire last mile routing operation of their businesses, enabling them to make most out of their existing vehicle, drivers, and other assets. Received $1M in funding. Estimated annual revenue is $11.9M
Travel Mapper: A Google Sheets add-on to plan trips using an intuitive itinerary template with a built-in dynamic Google Map.
Atlist: No-code tool for creating beautiful Google Maps with thousands of markers.
Placer.ai: a location intelligence tool that leverages foot traffic data to provide insights into places and competition allowing discovery of new business opportunities. Placer.ai's estimated annual revenue is $120.8M.
PlotARoute: Lets users check road surface, hills and Google Street View to plan routes suitable for their outdoor activity.
Unmapped: Collaborative travel itinerary platform for travel companies. Estimated annual revenue is $2.9M.
RouteYou: For discovering and planning the most beautiful routes. Lets users filter by length, quality stars and difficulty and create their own customised maps.
Textomap: Generate maps from text sources with locations, points of interest & addresses. Users can ask ChatGPT to visualise any subject or information on a map.
Ride With GPS: A route planning tool primarily aimed at cyclists. Estimated annual revenue is $3.6M
Badger Maps: Badger lets the sales team to manage their territory better by combining Google Maps, CRM data, route optimization, schedule planning, and lead generation on the sales person's mobile device or laptop. Reached $5M revenue with 4K customers.
Snazzy Maps: a repository of different styles for Google Maps aimed towards web designers and developers.
Pebblar: Collaborative map-based itinerary planner.
MazeMap: Indoor Maps and Wayfinding. Powerful data visualization and indoor navigation tools for organizations - takes the CAD floorplans of campus and the maps are then generated using AI. MazeMap's estimated annual revenue is $7.6M.
Manymap: A route planner for hiking, cycling, running and water tourism.
🙅♀️🙅 Pessimists
Negative Nancy says - “There is no market for Map based API products for new players as Google Maps supports a large number of use cases already”
Me - Nan built No Code Map App to $850 MRR in 8 Months starting in 2022 by niching down to nocode space. No Code Map App is a no code builder for creating custom interactive map that is fully integrated with leading no code databases including Google Sheets, Airtable and Webflow CMS.
Negative Nancy says - “Maps APIs cost huge and I can’t pay unless my business sustains in a long run”
Me - Most Maps APIs charge you with a pay-as-you-go model. You don’t have to pay upfront costs and there are generous free tiers. Google Maps Platform supports flexible pricing, daily quotas, and 28,500 maploads per month for no charge and that’s worth $200/m for free.
🤿🤿 Deep-dive
So what is this Maps API all about?
Maps API is similar to any other API except that this is more around the Maps. You must have heard about tools like Google Maps, Apple Maps and every popular player has a huge maps data with them and provides a paid API (with free tiers) so that users can build their own app related to maps. So, you can see Maps API as a set of tools and protocols that allows developers to integrate map-related functionalities into their applications or websites. These APIs are provided by map service providers such as Google Maps, Bing Maps, Mapbox, and others.
Using Maps APIs, developers can access a wide range of geographical and mapping data, including interactive maps, location-based services, geocoding (converting addresses into geographic coordinates), routing (finding the best path between two or more locations), and more. The API provides a way for developers to interact with map data and services programmatically, enabling them to customize and enhance the user experience with location-related information.
Some of the products and applications that can be built using Maps APIs include: Interactive Maps, Location-Based Services, Geocoding and Reverse Geocoding, Routing and Directions, Geo-Analytics, Location Tracking, Map Customization, Gaming. Maps APIs provide a powerful toolkit for developers to integrate mapping and location-based functionalities into their applications, enhancing user experiences, and providing valuable information and services based on geographical data.
💡💡 Some niches
AI-based Map tool for Education, Research & Analysis:
Creating a map based on the input text that contains data about locations, points of interest & addresses is going to help people in many ways. To understand more see this. As users plan their itinerary for a trip by writing in plan text on the left, they can simply see their locations on the map on the right side.
While this is one example, there are many other advantages with tools like these. By plugging in AI, tools like these helps create maps directly from the content and instantly generates a map from the articles, posts, presentations or any content to publish and embed alongside it. Textomap is one of the popular players in this space that leverages AI to build the interactive maps. Textomap also supports features like AI-Assistant and Chrome extensions to make the process smooth. Here are more business use cases for solutions like these - Education, Content Creators & Bloggers, Travel Agencies & Operators, News & Media.
No-Code Tool for Creating Maps:
Creating a map with markers for a given number of locations and embedding it into websites can be challenging due to several reasons. Dealing with large amounts of location data requires careful data handling and accurate geocoding. As the number of markers increases, the map's performance may suffer, impacting user experience. Presenting many markers can clutter the interface and make it harder for users to interpret the information effectively. Integrating maps with markers involves using libraries or APIs with varying capabilities and potential usage costs. Ensuring responsiveness across different devices adds another layer of complexity. Customizing the map and its markers may require advanced programming skills sometimes. To deal with all these problems, some solutions like No Code Map App and Atlist made it extremely easy to create maps based on data coming from various sources without writing any code. Atlist is profitable and loved by thousands of users. No Code Map App reached $850 MRR in 8 Months by supporting data sources like Google Sheets, Airtable, and Webflow CMS.
Micro SaaS for Delivery Route Optimization:
Micro SaaS for Delivery Route Optimization benefits users with efficient delivery planning, time and cost savings, improved customer satisfaction, real-time updates, and data-driven insights for better decision-making. Route4Me is one example in this space that received $1M in funding and now has an estimated annual revenue is $11.9M. As the demand for delivery apps continues to rise, there's a growing need for products that optimize delivery routes based on different factors. Companies are under increasing pressure to deliver goods promptly and at the lowest possible costs. By analyzing various factors like traffic conditions, delivery priorities, and real-time updates, these products need to ensure that businesses can provide prompt and hassle-free deliveries, resulting in improved customer satisfaction and strengthened brand reputation
Real Estate Analysis Tool based on Maps and Demographics Data:
Real Estate Analysis Tools based on Maps and Demographics Data offers real estate professionals and investors valuable insights. Combining mapping technology and demographic data, users can visualize and analyze property markets, assess property values, and conduct competitive analysis. It provides real-time data for risk assessment and allows users to track market trends and forecast future property price movements. With collaborative features, teams can work together and share analyses. The tool aids businesses in selecting ideal locations based on demographics and foot traffic. Seamless integration with other systems and customization options make it adaptable to specific needs. See Placer.ai to get an idea of how useful this would be for business. Also see solutions like Pebblar that helps with property database builder and demographic analysis. Placer.ai has estimated annual revenue is $120.8M.
Route Planning Tool for Field Sales Reps:
Time is the most important factor for most field sales reps to optimise their work. To plan their day better, field sales reps needs good tools for better planning based on their schedule/data. These tools streamline the route planning process, allowing sales representatives to optimize their schedules and reduce travel time. With efficient navigation guidance, reps can reach their destinations promptly, enhancing productivity and customer service. Tools like these help in identifying the most optimal routes based on traffic conditions and other factors, leading to cost savings and improved fuel efficiency. Real-time updates enable adaptability to changing circumstances, ensuring reps stay on track with their appointments. The ability to visualize routes and access customer information on maps aids in better preparation for sales visits. For inspiration, see products like Badger Maps that reached $5M revenue with 4K customers.
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💻 💻 Technical chops
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💳 💳 Cost Analysis for 100 customers
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