India’s largest cab company, Ola, has made a significant change by leaving Google Maps and switching to its own Ola Maps service for all its cab services. This move is expected to save the company nearly Rs 100 crore annually.India’s largest cab company, Ola, has made a significant change by leaving Google Maps and switching to its own Ola Maps service for all its cab services. This move is expected to save the company nearly Rs 100 crore annually. This strategic shift aligns with Ola’s earlier decision to move its entire workload to its own artificial intelligence (AI) company, Krutrim. The company believes this transition will enhance its efficiency and reduce external dependencies. In a social media post, Ola’s co-founder and chairman, Bhavish Aggarwal, urged users to update their Ola apps to access the new mapping system. He highlighted the benefits of this move, stating that it has reduced the company’s expenses associated with Google Maps to zero. Aggarwal also teased the upcoming release of several new features for Ola Maps, including Street View, NERFs (Neural Radiance Fields), indoor imagery, 3D maps, and drone maps. These enhancements aim to provide users with a more comprehensive and immersive mapping experience. Ola’s investment in its own mapping solution is further fueled by its acquisition of GeoSpoc, a Pune-based geographic services company, in October 2021. Through Krutrim AI, Ola is working towards developing a holistic mapping solution that can be integrated into its Cloud services offerings. Aggarwal hinted at future developments in the company’s product line, stating that “early next year we will see our own cells in our own products.” This suggests that Ola is actively involved in developing its own hardware and technology solutions.
New Delhi: India’s largest cab company Ola has left Google Maps and switched to its own Ola Maps for cab services.
Bhavish Aggarwal, co-founder and chairman of Ola Group, said the move will save the company nearly Rs 100 crore per year.
Last month, Aggarwal severed all ties with Microsoft Azure and moved his company’s entire workload to his own artificial intelligence (AI) company Krutrim.
In a social media post, he asked users to check the Ola apps and update them if necessary.
Aggarwal said on X, “After leaving Azure last month, we have now completely left Google Maps. We used to spend ₹100 cr per year, but we have reduced that to 0 this month by completely switching to our own Ola maps! Check your Ola app and update if required.”
Aggarwal announced that many more new features like Street View, NERFs, indoor imagery, 3D maps, drone maps, etc. are coming soon to Ola Maps.
“Many more features coming soon – Street View, NERFs, indoor views, 3D maps, drone maps, etc!” Aggarwal said in a social media post.
In October 2021, Ola acquired GeoSpoc, a Pune-based geographic services company.
Currently, Ola Maps provides services to its flagship taxi app, Ola Cabs.
At the launch of Krutrim AI, Ola announced that it would offer a mapping solution within its Cloud services.
Aggarwal recently said that “early next year we will see our own cells in our own products.”
Ola is building a battery cell gigafactory in Tamil Nadu’s Krishnagiri district.
