To our customers, partners and friends,

Many of us started the week with an all-new routine: we’re working from home, replacing in-person meetings with video calls. Hallway conversations have moved online. We’ve given up dinners out in favor of cooking at home. Spring Break plans are canceled, and the kids are home from school indefinitely. We’re in uncharted territory.

Last week, we made the decision to close our offices in order to do our part to slow the spread of COVID-19. As a big data company with many employees that work from home, we have the technology and tools needed to operate 100% remotely. We’re able to continue to serve our customers without disruption, and we’re fortunate to be able to do so.

Others aren’t so fortunate. Our human movement data shows marked changes to foot traffic patterns nationwide. In early March, visits to restaurants, theaters, and events began to decline. In the Seattle area, ground zero for COVID-19 in the U.S., the effect was even more pronounced—a bellwether for what’s now happening nationwide. (You can read more about our recent study here.)

Did foot traffic decrease everywhere? No. It increased at pharmacies and grocery stores, at home improvement centers and pet stores, and held steady at parks and coffee shops. If there is one thing that human movement data makes clear, it’s our true priorities: health, family, friends and our sense of community.

In the spirit of focusing on what’s important, we’re making our location data available to help mitigate the community spread of and more efficiently respond to COVID-19. If we can support your efforts, let us know. Navigating the next few months will be an adventure, so remember what’s truly important. Enjoy the extra time with your family, experiment with a new recipe, take your workout outdoors, or (video) chat with a friend over coffee. Take a moment to give thanks. We may be in uncharted territory, but we’re all in it together.

Sincerely,

Jeff White
Founder & CEO