For Location Services, Pick a PaaS That Supports Open Development. Here’s Why.

Choosing location services is often framed as a binary choice: either the flexibility of open source, or the reliability of closed. But there’s a way to get extensibility and performance in one. 

That sweet spot? A location platform as a service (PaaS) from a provider that supports open development. 

A location PaaS is a cloud-based offering that exposes the location services within a larger enterprise platform. A PaaS makes these services accessible through APIs and SDKs—without extra infrastructure. 

Unlike stand-alone APIs, point solutions, or cloud platforms, a location PaaS is a comprehensive offering. Developers get a single, trusted provider for multiple capabilities, so they can add features anytime with a consistent experience. They get enterprise-grade support, security, and compliance. And they get sandbox environments, modular APIs, and extensive documentation for prototyping and production. The result is less time to build and ship, and less risk after launch. 

Open development balances the strength of a PaaS with flexibility and interoperability. When a PaaS provider embraces open development, developers can 

• Integrate the location services they need into their existing apps without rebuilds. 
• Continue to build with familiar tools like open-source libraries, RESTful APIs, and standard data formats. 
• Build modular, composable solutions that evolve, rather than being forced into all-or-nothing architectures. 
• Avoid vendor lock-in and ensure compatibility with emerging technologies. 

Openness is just as essential as features and security. Closed-source point solutions that don’t support open standards and flexible integration result in unnecessary limitations. Without openness, developers risk slow development cycles, time and resources spent on inadequate solutions and workarounds, and barriers to adopting new technologies. 

Here’s what using a PaaS with open development looks like in practice, taking Esri’s location PaaS, ArcGIS Location Platform, as an example. With this kind of solution, developers can 

• Use location services without stitching together multiple vendors or APIs.
  A PaaS like ArcGIS Location Platform delivers a complete collection of services from basemaps and geocoding to routing, elevation, and spatial analytics. 

• Access services with open APIs and integrate with open-source libraries.
  Services are accessible through RESTful APIs and work with tools like Postman and OpenAPI Generator. Plug-ins like Esri Leaflet allow developers to easily combine ArcGIS Location Services with open-source mapping libraries. 

• Accelerate development of both new and existing apps.
  Modular APIs and SDKs enable faster prototyping and time to launch, and simplify the process of bringing services into existing apps without major refactoring. This reduces time to market and preserves prior development investments. 

• Build web and mobile apps with SDKs for major programming languages.
  A PaaS backed by enterprise developer product teams means customers get extensive options like SDKs for JavaScript, iOS, Android, and cross-platform frameworks like .NET MAUI and Qt. 

• Spend less time troubleshooting with comprehensive support.
  Detailed guides, code samples, and responsive technical support are crucial for performance and uptime. A location PaaS provider like Esri can offer this enterprise support. 

• Scale from prototype to production with confidence.
  An enterprise-grade PaaS has the power to support apps at any scale, from serving a handful of users to thousands. ArcGIS Location Platform offers transparent consumption-based pricing, global infrastructure, and proven reliability. 

• Build with trusted, market-leading services and data.
  Esri’s location services are proven, enterprise-grade, and relied on by thousands of organizations worldwide. Developers benefit from authoritative data and robust APIs that ensure accuracy, reliability, and long-term support. 

Whether you’re building internal tools, customer-facing apps, or enterprise-scale systems, you need a location services provider that supports your freedom to build, integrate, and innovate. If you’re evaluating solutions, keep these criteria in mind: 

A full suite of location services 
Choose a provider that offers more than just maps. ArcGIS Location Platform includes geocoding, routing, basemaps, elevation, spatial analytics, demographic data, and more. 
Explore the full range of ArcGIS Location Platform services

Commitment to open standards and API flexibility
Look for a platform that supports open APIs and lets you work with the tools you already use, like Esri Leaflet, OpenLayers, MapLibre GL JS, and CesiumJS. 
Explore ArcGIS developer APIs and open-source compatibility
 

Community support and contributions to open-source projects 
A strong developer community and open-source engagement are signs of a platform that evolves with its users. 
Visit the ArcGIS Location Platform Developers Community

Data handling practices 
Make sure your provider has clear policies around data privacy, security, and compliance. Look especially for policies that ensure your user data won’t be collected or monetized. 
Discover data hosting with ArcGIS Location Platform
 

Transparent pricing
Avoid surprises by choosing a provider with clear, usage-based pricing. 
Try the ArcGIS Location Platform pricing estimator
 

Choosing a location services provider requires balancing features with support for how your team builds. A PaaS like ArcGIS Location Platform embraces open development, equips you to move fast, and ensures you can scale with confidence. Solutions that fall short on flexibility, openness, service quality, or developer experience will only slow you down. With a location PaaS as your foundation, your next location-powered app won’t just work—it’ll lead.