• Apple Business Connect has been launched worldwide.
• The new tool seeks to help businesses customise their presence across Apple’s suite of apps, from Maps, to Messages, Siri and others for the benefit of the customer.
• As businesses update their information using Business Connect, customers will also benefit from having access to more accurate details.

On Wednesday, Apple introduced a new free tool for businesses to customize the way their information appears across the company’s suite of applications, from Maps to Messages, Wallet, Siri and others.

It’s called Apple Business Connect, and it is available right now around the world.

Eddy Cue, the company’s senior vice president of Services says Apple Business Connect was established to provide users with the “most accurate information for places to eat, shop, travel, and more.”

“Apple Business Connect gives every business owner the tools they need to connect with customers more directly, and take more control over the way billions of people see and engage with their products and services every day,” Cue adds.

It works by attempting to improve customer engagement on Apple’s Maps application.

Through the new tool, business owners can directly manage information on Maps, including adding new images, logos and advertising on their business’ place cards.

You can use it to present prospective customers with special promotions or invite them to make reservations through a feature called “Showcase”, says Apple in a press release.

Showcase is available in the US right now, and will apparently be launching globally in the new few months.

Restaurants and other enterprises using Business Connect “can also provide customers with useful information by highlighting actions for them to take directly from the Maps place card, like ordering groceries via Instacart, making a hotel reservation through Booking.com, or reserving a spot for dinner with OpenTable, and more, with just a tap,” the company adds.

If you have a business and want to register it on Apple Business Connect, you should head over to the self-service website on any desktop or notebook computer.

You can use an existing Apple ID or you can create a new one. Once you have logged in with your business, and it has been verified by Apple, you can begin claiming your location. Once claimed, you can update and personalise your place card.

There is also an option for companies with 25 or more locations under the same brand to sign up for Apple Business Connect, and for third-party partners who set up location listings for other companies to sign up too.

However, the company says the tool was designed with smaller businesses in mind, as a way to increase reach and grow customers.