Ola Cabs, one of India’s leading ride-hailing services, announced a significant technological shift by replacing Google Maps with its own in-house Ola Maps. Founder and CEO Bhavish Aggarwal shared this development in a post on X (formerly Twitter), highlighting that this move would save the company ₹100 crore annually.
“We used to spend ₹100 crore a year but we’ve made that 0 this month by moving completely to our in-house Ola maps!” Aggarwal wrote. He revealed that Ola Maps would soon feature street view, NERFs, indoor images, 3D maps, and drone maps, enhancing the user experience. These features will be supported by Krutrim Cloud, Ola’s proprietary cloud service.
Krutrim, Ola’s AI company, has quickly risen to unicorn status since its establishment in December last year. The company launched Krutrim Cloud in May, attracting 2,500 developers who signed up to utilize its services. This rapid adoption underscores the potential of Krutrim Cloud in the tech industry.
Ola’s decision to abandon Google Maps follows its earlier move to exit Microsoft’s Azure cloud service last month. The company transitioned to Krutrim Cloud, a move influenced by LinkedIn’s removal of Aggarwal’s post regarding his views on pronoun usage. Ola had relied on Microsoft Azure for cloud storage since 2017.
These moves reflect Ola’s broader strategy of vertical integration, where the company seeks to control its supply chain and reduce dependence on third-party suppliers. This approach aims to enhance operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Beyond cloud services and mapping technology, Ola is also investing in research on solid-state batteries for its electric scooters, with plans to implement this technology by next year. This investment underscores Ola’s commitment to innovation and sustainability.
Ola Cabs’ shift to in-house technologies marks a significant milestone in its journey towards greater independence and vertical integration. By leveraging Krutrim AI and Cloud, Ola aims to enhance its service offerings and achieve substantial cost savings, positioning itself as a more self-reliant and innovative player in the ride-hailing industry.
Sources By Agencies