Assessing requirement of mapping and location-based services in China

Creation date: 03 September 2007

Mapping and location-based services are increasingly playing a significant role in the local search process. And China is no different when it comes to incorporation of such services into the online travel sites.

"The online market in Europe, the US and Australasia is sophisticated - mapping and location-related information are no longer considered a nice-to-have feature, but an essential part of any quality website, and, indeed a single static map will no longer do. Our customers require much more interactive solutions, and much tighter integration with their own internal system. This increasing demand for sophisticated solutions is mirrored in China, but there are two key differences," said Chris Warrick, Managing Director - Multimap Australasia.

"First, Chinese business customers in the travel sector often have global, or at least pon-Asian, mapping requirements. Second, there is a much greater interest in mobile services, which makes sense, since mobile penetration in general is much further advanced, and theres relatively much greater take-up of mobile applications in China than in Europe, for example," added Warrick.

A growing number of sites are bringing the mapping experience in front and centre as the start point for fast and simple searching. User experiences are becoming increasingly rich, in terms of both functionality and relevant contextual information, such as nearby transport links, gas stations, Wi-Fi hotspots, car parks and ATMs, pointed out Warrick.

"This represents a huge opportunity for mapping providers like Multimap, which is in the enviable position of being able to offer content-rich data, with a high level of local information and customisation, and a robust infrastructure built to support businesses worldwide, no matter where theyre based or what volumes of traffic they attract."

Warrick, who was in Shanghai for the third edition of EyeforTravels Travel Distribution China conference held earlier this week, told EyeforTravel.coms Ritesh Gupta that given Multimaps ability to give Chinese travel companies access to services for over 150 cities, in both English and Chinese, its credibilty in the online mapping space over the last 12 years, and a strong client portfolio in the travel sector, Multimap is ready to grow its business, and the online mapping space in China.

"In addition to continuing to bring new and innovative services to our existing customers and prospects, we have sought out a key partnership with one of the regions leading map data providers, to ensure that we maintain our position as the provider of the highest-quality map data in each country. Our relationship with MapABC here in China is an excellent example of two companies bringing their combined strengths together to provide a service to the customer that is second to none: "World Maps for China, China Maps for the World," he said.

Stressing on the importance of partnership in the Asian region, Warrick said, "Ou approach has been to partner in each territory with the best local map data provider, often engaging with them as our reseller of services in that territory, as we have done with MapABC. Of course, well still continue to work to extend our own customer base throughout the Southeast Asian and Australasian region."

Source: Telematics Update