How Google Maps solved India’s road identify drawback; Former worker explains

Laraki’s LinkedIn profile states that she led the worldwide design staff for Google Maps (throughout US, Australia, Switzerland, China, and India and labored on integrating map view for native outcomes, evaluations, driving, transit, strolling instructions and extra. 

Google Maps launched in India again in 2008 however the firm shortly confronted an issue distinctive to India. As Laraki explains road names have been the muse of Google Maps however that shortly turned an issue for the corporate in India. 

Laraki says Google Maps instructions turned ‘just about ineffective’ in India with many streets not having names or having a number of names or not being identified by their official names. 

Google Maps then had the choice of assuming that its present navigation system was adequate for India and it might get higher or individuals may ultimately adapt to it however the firm as a substitute wished its product to thrive in an enormous potential market. 

The answer: 

Laraki notes that the corporate knew that many communities world wide used landmarks moderately than road names for navigation, and this was additionally true in India.

What adopted was “nimble, on-the-ground subject analysis” to grasp how individuals in India use landmarks and what forms of landmarks are good for navigation.

The Google Maps analysis revealed that Indians use landmarks in just a few key methods, together with

a) Orientation: for instance, ‘Head in the direction of the water

b) Flip description: ‘Flip previous the buying centre’.

c) See if they’re on the fitting path: ‘You will notice a petroleum pump on the fitting’.

d) Error correction: ‘You will notice xxx place if in case you have gone too far’.

Google Maps then used parks, monuments, buying centres, landmark buildings and petrol pumps to assist individuals verify their route and proper errors.

The adjustments made by the Google Maps staff in 2009 helped the corporate develop into ‘the dominant navigation product for India’.

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Up to date: 02 Nov 2023, 12:25 PM IST