14 February 2022
Transsion, the provider of smart devices and mobile services in global emerging markets has selected location data and technology platform Here Technologies to improve its location accuracy capabilities in emerging markets such as Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana.
The former will be able to identify accurate positioning of its devices both indoors and outdoors. This works especially when satellite signals of Global Positioning System (GPS) are not available, such as when the device is located indoors or the GPS signals are blocked by objects. As a result, Transsion will enable its smartphone users to locate devices, people, and objects faster, with higher precision and confidence.
“As a technology company with a focus on global emerging markets, we’ve long been committed to supporting local communities there,” said Robin Wang, assistant president at Transsion. “We’ve decided to deploy with HERE because they have presented a stand-out, compelling solution for markets that lack advanced infrastructure such as Africa and India.”
One use case that the service will benefit is ride-hailing or ride-sharing. In Africa, ride-hailing has become increasingly popular over the years, with the number of users expected to grow 16% from 50.3 million in 2021 to 58.4 million by 2025. Traditional taxi companies are also pivoting their business model to include services that can be booked via mobile applications, making it more transparent for customers than before.
“For ride-hailing services, being able to identify the exact location for pick-ups and drop-offs – whether it’s the right side of the street or the right entrance/exits within large venues such as airport or stadiums – makes a huge difference in improving user experience. That’s the difference Transsion is here to provide,” added Wang.
The global number of mobile internet users is expected to reach five billion by 2025, a 25% increase from 2020. This figure represents 60% of the world’s population, with much of the forecasted growth coming from emerging digital markets in Asia Pacific, sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and Latin America.
