Google API key - meaning/entry

Google API key - meaning/entry


What
The Google Maps API key is used in the Admin/POS/Webshop/App for various purposes, such as map integration, address search, geolocation for deliveries, address checks, traffic and route optimizations in the driver terminal, route assignments for drivers, tracking via the driver terminal, creation of delivery areas, as well as determining the geographical coordinates of a store, etc.

Where
Admin: Store > Stores > Edit > External services > API key for map services.

Explanation of API key for map services

The Google Maps API key is entered under Admin: Store > Stores > Edit > External services > API key for map services.

A "Public browser API key for webshop/app" is used to find addresses in delivery areas in the webshop/app so that the customer is directed to the store that delivers to them. This is why the address is also requested at the start of an order (unless disabled).

A "Browser API key for Admin/POS" is used, for example, for geocoding delivery areas, route planning for the driver terminal, address auto-completion when placing an order, etc.

A "Server API key" is used for the geolocalization of orders from external providers such as Lieferando.


Entry

Under Admin: Store > Stores > Edit > External services > API keys for map services, individual Google API keys (all 3 types) should be entered for each store.

Since Google (currently) provides a free quota of 200$ / month per customer, it makes more sense to fill each location with its own API keys in order to save costs.

Due to the different API keys per store, the costs of geo-localization are also deducted and billed separately for each store.




Franchise head offices

For franchise head offices, however, it is also necessary to create client-wide API keys in the administration under Admin: Store > Global store settings > External services and portals.

These are used, among other things, to provisionally supply new stores, which may not yet have their own API keys, with map services and to guarantee their correct functioning during this period.




Google Maps API key creation

Instructions for creating/generating a Google Maps API key are described here: https://support.simplydelivery.de/portal/en/kb/articles/google-api-key-generation.