Anyone who has ever tried to describe an exact meeting point to a colleague knows the problem: addresses are often inaccurate, GPS coordinates are hard to communicate, and descriptions like “behind the big tree next to the car park” often lead to misunderstandings.
This is where a technology that is already used worldwide by emergency services, logistics companies, and security organisations comes in: what3words.
Teamwire also supports this precise location communication directly in chat.
What is what3words?
what3words solves the location problem in an elegant and systematic way. The British company has divided the entire surface of the earth into a grid of 3 × 3 metre squares – a total of around 57 trillion squares. Each of these squares is assigned a unique combination of three words.
The result:
Every point on Earth can be described with an easy-to-remember and error-free “three-word address”.
An example:
///mindset.crawler.speaker refers to a specific 9-square-metre area – whether in the middle of a city, in an open field, or in a forest area that has no official address.
Instead of complex latitude and longitude coordinates or ambiguous location descriptions, this three-word address is sufficient to uniquely identify a location worldwide.
Why is this system so relevant?
The problems with conventional location systems are well known:
- Coordinates such as 48.137154, 11.576124 are prone to errors.
- Address details often do not work in the field.
- Linguistic misunderstandings can lead to delays.
- In stressful situations, the error rate increases significantly.
Three clearly defined words, on the other hand, are easy to communicate, linguistically unambiguous, unique worldwide, and accurate to within 3 metres.
The advantages of what3words at a glance
Maximum precision without technical know-how
While traditional GPS coordinates (e.g., 48.137154, 11.576124) are difficult for many people to read and even more difficult to communicate without errors, three simple words can be intuitively remembered, pronounced, and passed on – even under stress or in noisy environments.
Universal applicability
what3words works worldwide and in over 50 languages. Each 3×3 metre square is precisely defined. The system is particularly valuable in areas without official addresses, such as construction sites, nature reserves, or large events.
Fewer errors in location communication
Transposed digits in coordinates? A misunderstanding over the radio? The unique assignment of each location to a fixed three-word combination eliminates the need for type out of long, error-prone coordinates. The system is also designed so that similar-sounding word combinations are placed far apart, reducing the risk of confusion.
Wide use in safety-critical areas
Emergency services, police, fire brigades, and aid organisations worldwide already use what3words to communicate locations quickly and reliably. Logistics companies and event organisers also benefit from the system’s precision.
Teamwire integrates what3words: How it works
Teamwire automatically recognises what3words addresses in a chat. As soon as a user types or pastes a valid three-word address – recognisable by the preceding / / / – Teamwire automatically converts it into a clickable link.
Clicking on the link opens the corresponding what3words map directly in an external browser. There, the exact location can be viewed immediately and used for navigation.
The integration does not require any technical configuration on the user’s part. It works seamlessly in ongoing chats – both in individual and group conversations.
This means:
No manual searching.
No copying to other apps.
No interpreting coordinates.
With one click, the precise location is visible.
Why what3words is particularly valuable for Teamwire users
Teamwire is designed for organisations that work under critical conditions: police forces, fire brigades, emergency services, critical infrastructure operators, local authorities, care facilities, and many more. Speed, clarity, error minimization, and traceability are key factors in these areas.
what3words offers decisive advantages:
Faster response times in the field
Every second counts, especially in professions where time is of the essence – such as government agencies, security services, emergency responders, or technical field service. With what3words integration, locations can be shared in seconds and accessed immediately, without switching between apps.
Smooth communication even without an official address
Not every location has a house number. Construction sites, operational areas, event venues, or rural regions can still be described precisely with what3words and shared directly in Teamwire chat.
Fewer sources of error, greater reliability
The automatic recognition and linking of what3words addresses eliminates the need for manual transfer. No one has to enter coordinates or send screenshots of maps anymore. This makes it easier to navigate to the right destination.
Seamless user experience
The integration fits naturally into the flow of communication. Users don’t have to learn a new function – they simply write the three-word address in the chat, and Teamwire takes care of the rest.
Conclusion
Integrating what3words into Teamwire is a logical step for anyone who relies on precise, fast, and reliable location communication. It combines the intuitive power of the what3words system with the secure, efficient Teamwire communication platform, creating real added value in everyday work and critical situations.
Curious to see what what3words looks like directly in the app?
Book your personal demo here. One of our experts will show you the Teamwire app and how what3words works.
Or try the app yourself with your team for 14 days free of charge.
What is what3words?
what3words is a global location system that divides the Earth into 3 × 3 metre squares and assigns each square a unique combination of three words. This makes it easy to communicate any location in the world precisely and without coordinates.
How do I recognise a what3words address?
what3words addresses always begin with ///, followed by three words separated by dots. For example, ///sofa.tiger.rain. This format makes them easily identifiable at first glance.
Do I need to install what3words separately to use the feature in Teamwire?
No. The recognition and linking of what3words addresses is integrated directly into Teamwire. As a user, you do not need to install or configure anything. The link is created automatically in the chat and opens the what3words map in your default browser.
Does the integration also work on mobile devices?
Yes, absolutely. The what3words integration is available on all platforms where Teamwire runs – i.e., on both desktop and mobile devices.
How accurate is what3words?
Each three-word address refers to a square measuring exactly 3 × 3 metres. This makes what3words significantly more precise than a conventional street address and also suitable for locations without an official address.
In which areas is the what3words integration particularly useful?
The integration offers particularly high added value in areas such as security and public order (police, fire brigade, emergency services), field service and logistics, construction, event management, and anywhere else where locations need to be communicated quickly and accurately.
What happens when I tap on a what3words link in Teamwire?
The link opens the what3words map in an external browser. There, you can see the exact location on a map and start navigation directly to that location.
Can I also share what3words addresses in group chats?
Yes. Automatic recognition and linking work in both individual and group chats.