You are probably already familiar with Google Maps and Waze. These are two of the most widely used navigation apps globally. But what many don’t know is Google owns both of them. Well, the former already has the Google branding and comes built-in on Android devices. Waze, meanwhile, was acquired by the Android maker in 2013. Google didn’t absorb Waze into its Maps service, though. Instead, the new service continued to operate separately as a Google subsidiary, maintaining an independent culture. But almost a decade later, the internet giant is now combining its Maps and Waze teams. According to the new report, Waze currently has more than 500 employees and they will now work under Google’s Geo organization, which already houses the Maps team. Waze CEO Neha Parikh will exit her role once this transition is completed. Parikh’s exit means Christopher Phillips, who leads the Geo organization, will oversee Waze as well.
Google is merging Maps and Waze to reduce operations costs
Google Maps and Waze may offer the same core service, but they are still significantly different from each other. The former is more suited for people exploring new places. It not only offers mapping and navigation but also serves as a directory for points of interest around you. The latter, meanwhile, is more of a crowdsourced mapping service and is ideal for use while driving. The merger of the teams behind the two apps shouldn’t affect their services. This reorganization of its mapping and navigation services will not see any layoffs either, Google confirmed. Waze will continue to exist as a separate navigation service from Google Maps. “Google remains deeply committed to Waze’s unique brand, its beloved app, and its thriving community of volunteers and users,” the Google spokesperson said. The merger is to reduce the overlapping of work across the two mapping products. This is something Google CEO Sundar Pichai hinted at a couple of months back. Pichai said Google needs to become 20 percent more productive in the current economic environment. And a merger of teams working on overlapping products is one of the ways to improve efficiency. Several tech companies have already announced mass layoffs and other cost-cutting measures amid global economic headwinds. Google is also streamlining Assistant experiences as activist investors call on the company to reduce costs.
