Apple Business Connect is a tool designed by Apple that allows businesses to manage how their information appears on Apple Maps and other Apple products. 

It helps you effortlessly manage, measure, and expand your presence within the Apple ecosystem. With Apple Business Connect, you can create a detailed business profile, ensuring faster and trusted updates and making it easy for customers to find your business on platforms such as Maps, Apple Wallet, Siri, and more. Take control of your online presence by designing an attractive and authentic place card, which includes essential details like directions and contact information, and features integrated actions for user convenience.

As a certified Apple Business Connect integration partner, Birdeye can help your local business integrate seamlessly with this service, enhancing how you connect with customers across Apple platforms.

HOW TO SET UP AN APPLE BUSINESS CONNECT ACCOUNT

To set up an Apple Business Connect account for SMB & Enterprise, follow the below sections.

Create an Apple Business Connect account for SMB

Apple defines a small business as one with fewer than 25 locations. 

Before setting up a business, here is some information you will need about your company and each of its locations:

1. Legal name of the company and businesses
2. Physical address
3. Phone number
4. D-U-N-S number. Find yours here.
5. Brand logos 
6. High-quality photos
7. Descriptions of your business, products & services 

Follow the below steps to set up an Apple Business Connect account: 

Go to Apple's Business Connect onboarding page and log in with your Apple ID.

Now you have to Choose your type of business and select 'small business' if you have up to 24 locations. 

Now, add details about your business location by dragging the map to accurately place the pin over your building and confirm the location details.

Update your company detail

• Set primary and additional categories for your business. 
• Provide a customer contact number and, if applicable, a website link.
• Select the days of the week and set open and close times.
• Add specific hours if they vary on different days.
• Include your website and DUNS number, if applicable.
• Agree to the Apple Business Connect Terms of Use.
  
  

To get verified, choose whether to skip verification or submit documents. If you choose to submit documents, please upload an official document that displays your location's name and address.

Check for a business transfer if needed. If another business has claimed your location, you can request a transfer by providing a brief explanation and uploading official documentation. Then, await approval from Apple.

After verification, fully leverage Apple Business Connect by enhancing your profile. Upload engaging photos, develop your Place Card, and introduce a Showcase to emphasize the unique aspects of your business.

Create your enterprise account in Apple Business Connect

Before setting up an enterprise Apple Business Connect account, here is some information you will need about your company and each of its locations:

1. The legal name of the company and businesses
2. Phone number
3. Website 
4. D-U-N-S Number
5. Physical address

Follow the below steps to set up an enterprise Apple Business Connect account: 

Go to businessconnect.apple.com and sign in with your Apple ID.

Now, review the Terms of Use for Apple Business Connect and select 'agree.'

Select the Enterprise option and then click 'Next.' 

Now, provide ownership details such as the legal name of the company and businesses, phone number, website, D-U-N-S Number, and physical address for your business for verification purposes. Click 'Next.'

HANDY TIP: This information is only visible to you.

Add one of your businesses by entering the business name, category, website, and country. Click 'Next.'

Choose one of the following verification methods

• Choose 'Domain Validation' if you want to validate the domain via  TXT record to your website’s DNS zone file (to verify your domain).
• Click on 'Document Upload' under the 'Documents Review' section and upload the relevant documents that display your company's name and address, such as a business license or utility bill. 

• Click on 'Ask a coworker' if you want to verify your company through a coworker. 

Send the provided information to Apple for the purpose of verification.

DELEGATING YOUR APPLE BUSINESS ID TO BIRDEYE

Customers who opt for the delegation pathway will enjoy several benefits. Firstly, they can make and push updates in minutes. Apple also gives higher credence to the business information it receives from its delegation partners like Birdeye. Businesses can showcase special offers, exclusive promotions, events, and more through Birdeye with Apple Business Connect. With this partnership, businesses receive support for logo and cover photo updates, allowing them to maintain a fresh and visually appealing Place Card. Additionally, customers will receive assistance with showcases, enabling them to effectively highlight their products or services. Finally, they will gain access to Apple analytics reports, providing valuable insights into their business performance and customer interactions. The delegation pathway offers businesses the opportunity to optimize their presence on Apple platforms.

Delegate to Birdeye as your chosen partner in your Apple Business Connect

By delegating Apple Business Account to Birdeye, you ensure that listing details for your locations are prioritized for faster and more trusted updates. Delegation also gives you the ability to manage Apple Maps cover and gallery images through business.

Before you begin, you will need the Birdeye Company ID, which is: 1442380011925872640

To delegate Birdeye to manage listings, please follow these steps:

1. Log in to your Apple Business Connect account.
2. Click 'Business.'
3. Navigate to the 'Shared' tab.
4. Select 'Share access' to display the Share access to your company dialog box.
5. Enter the Birdeye Company ID, which is: 1442380011925872640.
6. Set up a Business Role and Access for Birdeye. The Business Role should be Admin. 

7. Choose 'All Businesses' or specify a particular business you want Birdeye to manage. 

REMEMBER: If you create a new business after the initial delegation, you will need to re-delegate it to Birdeye in Apple Business Connect.

8. Select 'Invite' to save and send Birdeye the list of delegated businesses. Once Birdeye accepts the invitation, it will become the officially delegated partner of Apple Business Connect.

Remember: You will have to give access/delegate to Birdeye every time you create a new business.

It takes around 3-5 days for Apple to verify and delegate your business to Birdeye. Once these steps are completed, you can start managing your Apple Place Cards from Birdeye.

Notes on listing details needed for Apple Maps

Apple requires that the phone number, business name, and address match the information on the business location’s website. If this information doesn’t match both on the location’s website and on Birdeye, Apple might not update it.

Additionally, Apple does not intake the location name appended to your business name for display on the Apple place card. For e.g.: ‘Caring Posh Vets, Palo Alto’ will be transformed by Apple into ‘Caring Posh Vets.’ They will remove the appended location in the business name for your location's Apple place card.

In addition to the business name, there are other fields in the Apple Business Connect section that you must utilize to enrich your Apple Maps Place card and boost SEO. These include location attributes, action links, and additional categories. These fields offer opportunities to enhance your presence on Apple Maps and attract more potential customers.