Google Maps API

Overview

Google Maps Platform is a set of application programming interfaces (API) and software development kits (SDK) that are managed from the Google Cloud Platform console.

As an option on the base website, when Google Maps is integrated with the platform a map will display the account’s location to Workers.  The Google Maps API is a requirement when the Store Locator module is installed.

Step-by-Step Process:

High-level process:

• Google Steps
  • Access Google Cloud Console with an appropriate user
  • Setup Billing Account and Project
  • Generate Google Maps API Key
• CIMcloud steps
  • Assign Key to your CIMcloud website

Note: Steps below can be met with hurdles if the user is not an Administrator of your Google Account.  Otherwise, you will need to setup policies through Google to allow other users to access certain areas of Google Cloud Console, such as Billing Accounts and Enabling Google’s APIs.

Full steps to integrate Google Maps into your Website:

1. Login to Google Cloud Console 
   1. If this is your first time logging in, you will need to create a Billing Account
   2. Create a Google billing account
      • Volume-based fees are associated with the Google Maps API.  An authorized representative for the website owner must create a Google billing account if one does not exist.
   3. The website owner is responsible for reviewing the current fees published by Google on the Google’s financial terms site when committing to the service. Google will invoice the company directly (not through CIMcloud).

2. Create a project or Select a project
   
   • Click the “My First Project” tab (yours could be named differently if you have created projects in Google Cloud Console beforehand) in the top left to select an an existing project or to create a new one
     • 
   • Creating a new Project:
     • To create a new project, click “New Project” in the top right of the popup
       • 
     • Fill out the New Project Form
       • We suggest a Title that will be used for your CIMcloud website, as you can have other APIs attached in this project
       • Organization will be your own (i.e. not cimcloud.com)
       • Location will be your own (i.e. not cimcloud.com)
     • Click “Create”
3. Enable Google Maps Javascript API
   4. Search for “Maps JavaScript API”
   5. On the left rail, select “APIs & Services”
      4. 
   6. Click “Enable”, below is what it should look like after enabling
      4. 
4. Create API Keys for Google Maps
   2. Verify the correct Project is selected from the name in the top left
      2. Note: You may need to select the project if you just created it, you should see a popup in the notifications where you can click “Select Project”
         
         2. 
   3. If the APIs & services page isn’t already open, open the left side menu and select APIs & services.
   4. On the left, choose Keys & Credentials.
   5. Click Create credentials, and select API Key
      2. 
   6. Copy the Generated API Key
      2. 
5. Update your CIMcloud site to use the new API Key
   2. Login to the Worker Portal
   3. Navigate to Customers Sites -> Click “Edit” on the main site
   4. Under the General Tab, scroll down to the “Google Maps” section
   5. Enter the API Key and submit the page
6. (optional) Modify access to the API Key
   2. Back in Google Cloud Console, head to the “Keys & Credentials” page
   3. Click the three dots on the new API Key and Click “Edit Key” in the dropdown
      2. 
   4. You can rename it to be more easily identifiable
   5. Set Application Restrictions

Additional details are found on the Google support site

Results:

When successfully completed, Workers will see customer account locations displayed when logged in impersonating a Contact on the account.  When store locator is installed, a website customer will see a map showing the nearest dealer.

Related Sources: