Digital maps have evolved from simple navigation tools into foundational elements that power countless aspects of our daily lives. From enabling lightning-fast deliveries to planning complex logistics and finding the nearest service, these maps are integral to modern decision-making. The advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now supercharging this field, transforming the traditionally slow and manual process of cartography into a dynamic, intelligent, and far more powerful enterprise.
From Street Surveys to AI Goldmines
The journey of mapmaking in India has undergone a radical shift. For decades, creating maps involved grueling physical surveys, with teams manually walking streets to measure distances, elevations, and collect addresses door-to-door. Rakesh Verma, co-founder and CMD of MapmyIndia Mappls, who founded the company in the mid-1990s after returning from the US where he worked with General Motors, describes that foundational effort as having since become a "goldmine." This painstakingly collected data is now the bedrock upon which modern technology builds.
Today, the process is dramatically different. Technologies like satellite imagery, drones, mobile Lidar (Light Detection and Ranging), and GPS generate massive streams of raw geospatial data. Sophisticated AI algorithms then analyze this information to automatically identify and classify roads, buildings, land use patterns, and even details like potholes, making the entire process quicker, cheaper, and remarkably accurate.
Beyond Navigation: Location Intelligence Powers Business
The true revolution, however, lies not just in creation but in application. Maps have broken free from their role as mere guides. "Location, once just a pin on a map, has become a proxy for risk, behaviour and intent," explains Verma. He offers a compelling example: banks and Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) can now overlay a loan applicant's address on a digital map to analyze the average CIBIL score of the neighborhood. While a high-risk area doesn't mean automatic rejection, it triggers enhanced due diligence.
This location intelligence is driving diverse sectors. MapmyIndia, which started by serving FMCG and telecom companies for distribution optimization, now boasts over 500,000 enterprise clients across banking, e-commerce, logistics, automotive, and agriculture. Its client roster includes giants like Tata Motors, PhonePe, McDonald's, Zoho, and Boat. Notably, its maps power Apple Maps in India and over 80% of in-car navigation systems sold by automakers.
E-commerce and logistics firms use real-time map data to optimize delivery routes. AI-driven simulations allow them to model how far a delivery rider can travel in 10 minutes at different times of day, factoring in live traffic conditions. This precision enhances efficiency and customer satisfaction.
The Rise of Living Digital Twins and Smarter Cities
The future is moving towards even more immersive and dynamic models. Agendra Kumar, Managing Director of Esri India and chairman of the FICCI committee on geospatial technologies, highlights AI's role in accelerating "living digital twins"—continuously updated digital replicas of cities and infrastructure. Founded in 1996, Esri India provides Geographic Information System (GIS) software and solutions to over 6,500 organisations, including the Survey of India, Census authorities, and various utilities and municipalities.
Using AI tools within Esri's ArcGIS platform, urban planners can merge satellite and drone imagery with 3D terrain and building data to create near-real-time urban models. "These maps update as reality changes," says Kumar. Their ArcGIS Reality software can generate survey-grade 3D models of entire cities, while GeoAI tools detect patterns and predict trends from imagery.
Esri has also developed a cloud-based repository called the Living Atlas, hosting data on roads, rail networks, points of interest, and demographics. Enterprises can integrate this into their applications. For instance, a company can overlay a proposed factory location on maps showing flood risk, wildfire zones, or drought data to choose the safest site. Combining customer data with demographic maps also yields deeper market insights.
The Competitive Landscape and Future Roadmap
For individual users, Google Maps remains the dominant navigation app in India, largely due to its pre-installation on Android devices and its vast global user base that feeds real-time data. Verma acknowledges this platform advantage but notes that MapmyIndia is growing steadily with around 40 million users.
Both industry leaders agree that the future of mapping lies in the fusion of automation and rich context. Maps will evolve from telling users where they are to predicting their needs, simulating outcomes, and supporting critical decisions in finance, mobility, urban planning, and climate resilience. As AI infuses maps with deeper intelligence, the simple act of charting roads is transforming from a static exercise into a living, dynamic process that reshapes how businesses operate and cities function in real time.
