Using Bing Maps for Pest Control Business for Simple Routing

Question

I own and operate a small pest control company. We have used for years MS Streets and Trips to import 15 – 25 stops to travel to each workday. Drivers route on the fly and make adjustments for weather, traffic, etc. We export a list from Access as a .csv file, import to S&T, place pins on the map. The driver then uses the crumb trail to track his progress from pin to pin. I need a simple replacement for S&T. All I need is:

1. Ability to Import a .csv into the mapping program
2. Place pins on a map
3. Track movement and leave a bread crumb trail using a USB GPS
4. Rotate to the direction of travel
5. Work with PC Windows 10 and a touch screen
   Is it possible to have Bing Maps achieve these goals? If so what is the process?

Answer 1

As you likely know Microsoft streets and trips was discontinued many years ago July 2014). Microsoft does have two mapping platforms, however they are primarily developer platforms and not a package solution like streets and trips.

Since you are focused on Windows, have you tried the built in Maps app in Windows? (Search for "Maps" in the Windows 10 search bar and an app option should appear) That app provides a full turn by turn navigation experience (and its free!). This app also supports "launch URIs" which allows you to start the app and set the start/end points using a simple URL: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/uwp/launch-resume/launch-maps-app

For example, if you put the following in the browser search bar and press enter, a map with directions from your location to Redmond, WA.

ms-drive-to:?destination.latitude=47.676569&destination.longitude=-122.127540&destination.name=Redmond,%20WA

Answer 2

@Rick Orr
You have posted your query on the Azure Maps Q&A a forum. Microsoft Q&A currently supports the products listed over here: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/products

There is a dedicated Bing Maps forum for the support on MSDN here:
https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/home?category=bingmaps

I also noticed that you have created an issue as well : https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/bd82af6f-50e8-478c-85a5-c38ff4b9949b/can-bing-maps-be-developed-for-csv-import?forum=bingmaps

Request you to kindly continue your discussion there for further help and support.

Answer 3

Yes, Bing Maps can help streamline routing for your pest control business, but it may require additional tools for certain functionalities like breadcrumb trails and USB GPS integration. Here's a basic process to get started:

1. Import CSV to Bing Maps: Bing Maps allows you to upload a .csv file with location data using the "My Places" feature or through a custom API integration. This will help you place pins on the map.
2. Pin Placement: Once the data is imported, Bing Maps will display pins for each address or location in your .csv file.
3. Routing Adjustments: While Bing Maps can provide directions, it doesn't natively support breadcrumb trails or USB GPS tracking. For these features, integrating a GPS software like GPX Viewer or using a fleet tracking solution alongside Bing Maps could be an alternative.
4. Touch Screen Compatibility: Bing Maps works well on Windows 10 and is optimized for touch screens, making it easy for drivers to adjust routes on the fly.

If you’re looking for an all-in-one solution tailored for field service businesses, tools like Zappit Pest Control might be worth exploring. They often include features like route optimization, GPS tracking, and job scheduling for pest control companies.