Maps API for retail: Boost conversion, reduce costs, and improve customer experience

In today's omni-channel world, location sits at the heart of the retail experience. Whether a shopper is browsing in-store inventory, ordering curbside pickup, or searching for the nearest store, their journey depends on accurate, fast, and flexible location data.

That's where Radar's Maps Platform comes in, a developer-friendly, cost-effective alternative to legacy solutions like Google Maps Platform. From address validation APIs to store locator maps, Radar helps retailers build seamless, high-conversion customer experiences.

Here's how leading retailers are using Radar's maps APIs to modernize their apps and drive real business impact.

Clean, fast address entry = higher checkout conversion

Every extra second or error in the checkout flow increases drop-off. Radar's address autocomplete and validation APIs help shoppers complete orders faster and reduce failed deliveries and support tickets.

With Radar, retailers can:

• Autocomplete addresses as users type.
• Validate and standardize addresses at checkout.
• Prevent non-deliverable or incorrect addresses before submission.

Smarter store locators and maps that match your brand

Your store locator is often the first meaningful experience a customer has with your brand. Radar Maps Platform lets you build fast, branded, responsive store finders that look great and load quickly.

Check out some real-world examples from leading retailers and QSR brands:

Crunch Fitness implemented Radar Maps Platform, saving on their mapping costs while maintaining speed and design consistency.

Panera Bread, Buffalo Wild Wings, Arby's, and other QSR brands have upgraded their store locators to match their app experience, with consistent colors, typography, and UX patterns.

With Radar, your features include:

• Real-time distance filtering so users see nearest locations first.
• Custom styling and themes to match your brand's visual identity.
• Support for dynamic and static maps across mobile and web platforms.

These retailers have moved away from slow, embedded maps and legacy tools, and replaced them with sleek, lightweight experiences, all while cutting maps spending by up to 50 percent.

Converting in-store traffic with maps APIs

Retailers are unlocking real business value by connecting in-store activity with mobile apps, starting with fast, accurate address entry.

That’s what DICK’S Sporting Goods did with Store Mode. When a shopper scans an out-of-stock product in-store, the app surfaces a shipping option with address autocomplete and validation. This streamlines checkout and offers free shipping, turning in-store interest into a completed digital purchase.

Why it matters

• Faster checkout: Autocomplete reduces friction during payment, especially when shoppers are trying to ship to home while in store.
• Fewer errors: Address validation improves data quality and reduces failed deliveries.
• Smarter engagement: Store Mode enables this behavior in context, turning app usage into high-value omni-channel interactions.
  

How it works

When a shopper opens the DICK'S app in-store:

• The app detects the in-store context and surfaces relevant deals and offers.
• Shoppers can scan items, browse inventory, and ship products to home when out of stock. Address autocomplete and validation create a frictionless checkout process.
• Loyalty features, like ScoreCard and rewards, are available instantly.
  

This flow helps convert in-store traffic, even when the customer walks out without a bag.

Proven results

• Launched across 780 locations in a single sprint.
• Over 70% of users opted into location permissions.
• 8% of users adopted Store Mode within months, resulting in hundreds of thousands of omni-channel experiences.
• Omni-channel users spend more than 2x compared to single-channel users. Most Store Mode orders are shipped to home, increasing lifetime value.
  

From DICK'S

“Choosing Radar was easy. When you look at the geofencing industry, they are the clear leader in the space, and they continue to keep their foot on the gas when it comes to innovation.” 

Matt Walker, Director of Product & Design, Mobile Apps

The bigger picture

Radar's address autocomplete and validation APIs don't just clean up bad data, they help convert intent into action, especially for shoppers already in-store. With maps and location powering each step, Radar helps retailers capture more revenue from every visit.

Why retailers are switching to Radar

Radar is more than just a maps provider. It's a modern location platform built for retail. Teams choose Radar because we offer:

• 5-meter accuracy with no hardware.
• Reliable geofencing and routing, all from a single SDK.
• Simple, predictable pricing. Often 30 to 50 percent less than Google Maps or Mapbox.
• Retail-ready tools. Used by top brands for pickup, marketing, loyalty, and fulfillment.
• Fast, friendly integration. Developer-first APIs and SDKs, with open-source support and remote config.

Make location a growth driver

Whether you're fixing checkout, launching Store Mode, or optimizing BOPIS, Radar helps retailers turn maps and location into real business outcomes.

Explore the Radar Maps Platform and see what your team can build next.