76% of Restaurants Show Mismatched Hours on Google & Apple Maps

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Why Do Opening Hours Get Out of Sync?

• Manual updates: Many restaurants update hours on one platform but forget the others.
• Third-party data: Google and Apple Maps pull info from different sources, leading to discrepancies.
• User edits: Customers can suggest changes, which may be approved without your knowledge.
• Seasonal changes: Holiday or event hours often get updated in one place but not everywhere.

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Background & Methodology

In today’s digital-first dining landscape, consumers rely on platforms like Google Maps and Apple Maps to plan their restaurant visits. To understand the reliability of this information, Mobal conducted a comprehensive audit of restaurant listings across both platforms, comparing posted opening hours for accuracy and consistency.

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Results: The Extent of the Problem

Our research found a 76.1% dissonance rate in opening hours between Google Maps and Apple Maps for restaurants. This is not a statistical outlier—it’s a systemic issue that spans cities, cuisines, and business sizes.

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Why Do These Discrepancies Occur?

• Manual updates:
  Many restaurants update hours on one platform but neglect others.
• Third-party data sources:
  Google and Apple Maps aggregate information from different directories, increasing the risk of mismatches.
• User-generated edits:
  Customers can suggest changes, which may be accepted without the business owner’s knowledge.
• Seasonal or event-based changes:
  Temporary adjustments for holidays or events are often inconsistently applied.

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Impact on Restaurants and Customers

For Customers

• Confusion and frustration:
  Conflicting hours can lead to wasted trips and disappointment.
• Erosion of trust:
  Inaccurate information undermines confidence in both the restaurant and the platforms.

For Restaurants

• Lost revenue:
  Guests may choose competitors or leave negative reviews after encountering closed doors.
• Reduced visibility:
  Search engines may penalize inconsistent listings, making it harder for new customers to discover the business.
• Reputation risk:
  Consistency signals professionalism and reliability; mismatches do the opposite.

Case Study: Hawaii Restaurants

Hawaii Restaurants in Helsinki, managing four locations, adopted Mobal to centralize and streamline their business profile management.

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“Now, it takes maybe half an hour each week to update all the info, reply to reviews, update menus, and upload content, which is really fast... And what is most important, you have this clear overview of each restaurant's online presence.”
— Anastasia Mamadzhanova, Hawaii Restaurants

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"Now, it takes maybe half an hour each week to update all the info, reply to reviews, update menus, and upload content, which is really fast. You go through them very quickly and enable automatic answers to reviews, for example. And what is most important, you have this clear overview of each restaurant's online presence." - Anastasia Mamadzhanova

Recommendations

1. Audit all digital listings:
   Regularly check business hours on Google Maps, Apple Maps, Facebook, Bing, and other directories.
2. Synchronize updates:
   Apply changes to all platforms simultaneously to avoid discrepancies.
3. Leverage technology:
   Use a platform like Mobal to manage and sync hours across every major channel from one dashboard.
4. Monitor and review:
   Set monthly reminders to review listings and catch errors before they impact customers.

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Conclusion

The prevalence of mismatched opening hours is a significant challenge for restaurants in the digital age. As consumer reliance on online platforms grows, so does the need for accurate, synchronized information. Restaurants that prioritize data consistency not only improve customer trust and satisfaction but also gain a competitive edge in local search.

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Mobal’s platform empowers restaurants to manage their digital presence efficiently, ensuring accurate, up-to-date information everywhere customers search.

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