AzureFeeds

If you are a developer building a solution that needs to be aware of availability Globally, that’s where the Microsoft Azure Maps Timezone API comes to the rescue!  The Azure Maps Timezone API allows developers to retrieve accurate time zone information for any location on Earth. It supports:

• Geospatial queries (latitude/longitude) – What is the timezone at the given co-ordinate?


• IANA and Windows Timezone IDs – Get the standard names, settings and codes for timezones.


• Sunrise and sunset times – Will I be there when I can see in daylight or will it be nighttime?


• Historical and future time zone transitions – Daylight savings can add a wrench into planning so be aware of time changes!

This API is part of the broader Azure Maps platform and integrates seamlessly with other Azure services, has the benefits of being co-located with other Azure services and includes multiple methods to access.

Real-World Use Cases

Telematics and Logistics

In the automotive and logistics sectors, accurate time zone data is vital for post-processing telemetry. For example, OEMs using TomTom data can leverage Azure Maps on the backend to normalize timestamps across regions—ensuring consistency in fleet analytics, delivery tracking, and driver behavior analysis.

IoT and Smart Buildings

Sunrise and sunset data from the API can be used to automate lighting, HVAC, and security systems. This is especially useful for energy optimization in smart buildings, where operations need to align with natural light cycles.

Global Scheduling and Compliance

Applications that span multiple time zones—like global HR platforms, travel apps, or compliance systems—rely on accurate time zone conversion. Azure Maps ensures that meetings, deadlines, and alerts are synchronized across regions.

Retail and Operations

Retailers with stores in multiple time zones can use the API to coordinate store openings, delivery windows, and promotional campaigns. This ensures a consistent customer experience regardless of location.

Azure Maps Timezone API Developer Experience

Azure Maps provides a Web SDK that can be used for JavaScript, .NET, Python and more. Developers can also use the REST API directly from their favorite development environment.  This API offers several endpoints:

• 
  
  
  
  • Get Timezone By Coordinates
  
  
  • Get Timezone By ID
  
  
  • Get Timezone Enum IANA/Windows
  
  
  • Get Timezone IANA Version
  
  
  • Get Timezone Windows To IANA
  
  
  
  

Here’s a quick example using JavaScript:

fetch(`https://atlas.microsoft.com/timezone/byCoordinates/json?api-version=1.0&query=47.6062,-122.3321&subscription-key=YOUR_KEY`)
.then(response => response.json())
.then(data => console.log(data));

You can try this live at Get Users Timezone with Prompt – Azure Maps Web SDK Samples and check out this sample and more at Samples.AzureMaps.com. All Azure Maps samples have full source available in GitHub. 

In Summary

The Azure Maps Timezone API is a critical tool for any application that needs to be time-aware. It sits within a comprehensive suite of mapping APIs that is Azure compliant and available to be added to any Azure project. From logistics to IoT to global operations, Azure Maps  provides the precision and flexibility developers need to build robust, scalable geospatial solutions.