Jakarta is widely known for its inter-connected alleys that are small and complex. Aside from its people, these alleys are used by motorbikes too—weave through narrow passages to reach the destinations. These alleys also are being relied by the Grab delivery riders. The riders help making GrabMaps better and precise. This hyperlocal mapping system, built with the collective efforts of millions of drivers across Southeast Asia, has become an indispensable tool for navigating the region’s intricate urban landscapes. Michelle Anindya of Rest of World, wrote how GrabMaps evolved from an internal tool to the app’s primary navigation system, surpassing even Google Maps in accuracy and detail.
Grab’s journey into mapping began with the realization that existing platforms were ill-equipped to handle the dynamic nature of Southeast Asian cities. Frustrated drivers, struggling to locate customers in unmapped or rapidly changing areas, prompted the company to take matters into its own hands. By incentivizing drivers to contribute their local knowledge and equipping them with specialized cameras, Grab created a map that not only captures the physical layout of streets but also incorporates colloquial place names and hyperlocal landmarks. This granular level of detail, combined with real-time updates on road closures and address changes, has significantly improved delivery efficiency and customer satisfaction.
The success of GrabMaps extends beyond navigation, with its potential applications ranging from e-commerce and electric vehicle infrastructure to government services and driver-assistance technologies. Its ability to capture intricate details like lane markings, house numbers, and even potholes has attracted partnerships with major companies like Bing, Amazon, and Loqate. As Anindya points out, GrabMaps’ strength lies in its hyperlocal focus and its ability to leverage real-time data from trips and deliveries, a “very strong value proposition for enterprise customers,” according to Jianggan Li, CEO of research firm Momentum Works.
However, GrabMaps faces challenges in a competitive market dominated by global giants like Google and Here. While its innovative technology and local expertise give it an edge in Southeast Asia, replicating the success of domestic mapping companies in tightly regulated markets like China may prove difficult. Nonetheless, Grab’s commitment to investing in its mapping capabilities and its growing ecosystem of partners suggest that GrabMaps is poised to play a significant role in shaping the future of navigation and location-based services in the region.
Image—The Travelling Urban Hermit
