Online taxi service company Ola Cabs has implemented the map system for the Ola Cabs portal through an artificial intelligence startup called Krutrim. Following this, Google reduced the service fee for application developers by up to 70 percent after Ola Cabs developed its own map system, potentially competing with Google's mapping services.
Companies in India, including startups, can utilize Ola Maps. Ola Maps offers a new Application Programming Interface (API) and Software Development Kit (SDK), enabling seamless integration. Ola founder Bhavish Aggarwal announced that it will be available for release soon.
Following this, Google Maps has announced reduced rates in India, effective August 1. Additionally, Google will now accept payments in Indian Rupees (INR), a change from its previous policy of only accepting US dollars from customers in India.
Ola Maps is a mapping service developed by Ola, an Indian ride-hailing company, to provide accurate and up-to-date maps for Indian users. Here are some key details about Ola Maps:
- Background: Ola Maps was developed to address the limitations of Western mapping providers, which did not prioritize the Indian market. Ola realized that to truly serve its users and push the boundaries of mobility, it needed a mapping product tailored to its market.
- Challenges: Ola Maps aims to address unique challenges related to delivering a seamless experience for Indian users, including incomplete mapping coverage, inconsistent and varying street names, frequent changes in road networks, traffic and road condition variability, non-standardized streets, and potholes and road quality issues.
Features: Ola Maps offers several features, including :
- Directions API: Provides accurate routing and navigation, generating optimized routes with detailed turn-by-turn directions, travel times, and alternative routes for effective journey planning.
- Autocomplete API: Enhances search functionality by suggesting relevant completions in real-time for user queries.
- Geocoding API: Converts human-readable place names and addresses into geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude).
- Reverse Geocoding API: Translates geographic coordinates into human-readable place names, including street addresses and broader areas.
- Technology: Ola Maps utilizes Open Street Map (OSM), government, and proprietary sources to focus on building essential map features such as roads, points of interest, and traffic signals. It also leverages AI and machine learning models to enhance accuracy and relevance.
- Impact: Ola Maps has made significant contributions to the community, including 5.43 million edits shared with the community. It has also received positive feedback from users, particularly for its accuracy and relevance in the Indian context.
Ola Maps will extend beyond Ola's own services, including its ride-hailing platform and electric vehicles. The Ola Maps API will be accessible to developers for integration into their apps and services on both Android and iOS platforms, offered at a cost through the Krutrim Cloud marketplace. This move enables broader adoption and utilization of Ola Maps' capabilities, fostering innovation and enhanced location-based experiences across various industries.
