Apple has recently unveiled an expanded suite of tools designed to help businesses enhance their visibility across Apple’s platforms. This is made possible through Apple’s free service, Apple Business Connect, which was launched last year. Businesses can now manage their presence on Apple’s 1.5 billion devices, spanning Maps, Siri, Spotlight search, Safari, and Wallet. Furthermore, businesses can now incorporate their branding into other Apple products like Mail, Tap to Pay on iPhone, and the Apple Phone app. Apple states that Business Connect will now be accessible to all types of businesses, not limited to those with physical locations.
Business Connect has evolved from a simpler system known as Apple Business Register, which allowed businesses to manage their listings on Apple Maps. Since the introduction of Business Connect in early 2023, millions of businesses worldwide have utilized the service to tailor how their business is presented to consumers. This customization includes elements like place cards, cover photos, logos, business photos, limited-time promotions (“Showcases”), and action buttons such as “order pickup” or “view menu.”
The platform also provides businesses with insights into how consumers interact with their brand, including how users discover the business and their subsequent interactions on the business’s place card.
The recent expansion allows all types of businesses to establish a profile on the system, including service-based businesses, home-operated businesses, and online businesses without physical locations. Additionally, businesses now have more control over their brand presence across various Apple apps and features.
Through the dashboard, businesses can input key details about their brand such as name, category, logo, and website, and preview how their place card will appear to consumers.
Another key feature introduced is Branded Mail, which will enhance the appearance of business emails within Apple’s Mail app. This feature will replace the standard gray logo with the brand’s name and logo in the inbox and a colorful header derived from the brand’s logo upon opening an email, offering a more engaging experience for customers. This feature coincides with the revamped Mail app for iOS 18, which categorizes emails similar to Gmail.
