Ola Maps: This time it's different?
Nationalism as a GTM strategy: Ola is pushing the limits with Maps
After boycotting Microsoft and switching to Krutrim cloud, Ola’s Bhavish is back. This time, he is saying no to Google maps and switching to Ola maps.
While there is a lot of chatter around Ola just rebranding an open-source tech, i.e. OpenStreet maps to Ola maps and making it sound like a big deal, I’d like to believe that they do bring (real-time) data to the table.
Unlike such nationalistic claims by many companies, the big difference this time is that Ola has Ola electric - i.e. millions of EV bikes using Ola maps, which gives it a strong leverage to collect data on a real time basis (the data may not be at par with Google but I’d like to believe that it will be soon at par with MapMyIndia’s data - which could be a great start).
Our AI first data systems utilize real time data from millions of vehicles using Ola Maps, fleet of Ola S1’s equipped with 360 cameras, open-source government data repositories, OpenStreetMap, partnerships and proprietary sources to build essential map features such as roads, points of interest, street furniture, building geometry and traffic signals.
Our data ecosystem is built on the principle of crowd-sourced geo-mapping information leveraging Ola Maps massive user base, Open street maps, open source Government data repositories and other proprietary sources. Our system harnesses the wealth of location information generated by anonymised GPS pings & curated using AI models. The sensor data generated from 2-wheeler, 3-wheeler & 4-wheeler helps in identifying missing roads, real time traffic congestion & road restrictions and many such data points. - via/Ola’s blog
Essentially, Ola is building a flywheel with Ola Electric at its core and is building its own ecosystem (powered by data from Ola’s EVs to Ola cabs).
The Big Question
The nationalistic claims add to the PR (when is PM Modi doing a mann ki baat around this topic?) and will hopefully help Ola with a blockbuster IPO, but the core question remains 👇🏼
What happens when the nationalism PR fizz is over?
A repeat of Ola’s cab service (i.e. a neglected business) or Ola’s Krutrim chatbot - which puts any AI developer to shame with its random answers?
Ola fails to do a V2 of its services (most of the times) and its high time they fix it
The approach so far has been to throw the product in the market (with a cleverly crafted GTM), get traction, raise loads of money and move on to the next big thing that gives you a dopamine hit.
The boring part of the business is never cared about - especially in the long run.
Of course, I admire Bhavish’s ambition and the courage to think beyond the boundaries - very few entrepreneurs have shown this level of commitment.
In a related note, this is the path that I recommended to Paytm (read: Paytm’s bigger opportunity lies outside..fintech?).
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