Ola Cabs has decided to part ways with Google Maps, opting instead to roll out its proprietary mapping service, Ola Maps. This strategic move is projected to save the ride-hailing giant approximately Rs 100 crore annually.
Bhavish Aggarwal, Co-founder and Chairman of Ola Group, took to social media to announce the transition, stating, “After exiting Azure last month, we’ve now fully moved away from Google Maps. We used to spend Rs 100 crore annually, but this month we’ve cut that cost to zero by transitioning entirely to our in-house Ola Maps! Make sure to update your Ola app accordingly.”
The decision to develop Ola Maps comes on the heels of Ola Group’s recent shift of its entire workload to its in-house artificial intelligence (AI) subsidiary, Krutrim. This transition was completed just three months after the company terminated its partnership with Microsoft Azure.
In a tweet earlier this year, Aggarwal had signaled the move away from Microsoft Azure, emphasizing that all operations would migrate to Krutrim within a week. The launch of Krutrim AI also introduced mapping solutions integrated within its cloud services, marking a significant expansion of Ola’s technological capabilities.
Ola Maps is also set to integrate advanced features such as street view, NERFs, indoor images, 3D maps, and even drone maps in the near future. The service’s API will also be available on Krutrim’s cloud platform, promising enhanced accessibility and functionality for users.
