Navigator maps — also known as GPS maps — are the ones that are on your car navigator and even your cell phone. And of course they’re up-to-date….right? Some sort of live feed from a satellite or something?

WRONG!

Did you know that the update process for these maps takes at least 2 years? That’s right, 2 years.The maps themselves are created by mapping providers such as NavTek and TeleAtlas. They’re pretty big companies, and they have a lot to do — after all, they’re trying to keep their mapping of the entire planet, in all of its detail, up-to-date. Naturally, they have to be very organized and efficient in how they do this.

So now you come along and tell them there’s a problem. Your little problem. A street missing here, or a defunct street there. They’ll politely and gratefully receive your request, and then feed it into their system.

Well, the mapping in any given area is updated on an average of once a year. If you’re lucky, the update cycle for your area will be ready very soon after you submit your suggestion, but there’s no guarantee.

Then, after that’s done, the maker of the instrument you’re using (your Garmin, or your TomTom, or your SmartPhone) will approach the mapping company for the update. But chances are they’re on an even longer cycle — a lot of instruments being sold out there are still loaded with maps dating to 2006!

So…what to do?

Well, first, if you really do want to correct those annoying map errors, you can visit a page such as this one on the GPS Review site: http://www.gpsreview.net/how-to-correct-a-gps-map-error/

But, really, you just have to change your expectations about GPS maps. They’re not some sort of live feed, and you just can’t expect them to be very reliable or up-to-date. They’re already out-of-date the minute you buy them!

You should always have more than one map. Google is often more up-to-date, but then again sometimes not. A lot of good old-fashioned paper street maps are more accurate and up-to-date than any of the GPS or online maps. They have to be, to stay in business!

And what about your business? Are you relying too much on quick-to-load, quick-to-disappoint automatic maps? If your sales, your reputation, and your image are at stake, don’t go off-the-shelf — go to a tailor. Have a custom map made for you, so that you know you have exactly what you need and want.