Location:Asia is going to be the next big thing in PND

Q. What is the business philosophy of Navteq & what challenges do you foresee in future?

We are a quality obsessed entity. The focus of the company has always been on delivery of quality solutions to the clients. For this to happen the database needs to have accuracy and there has to be a built-in mechanism to update the information. We are focused on understanding the requirements of our key customers which include BMW, Toyota, Nokia etc. These customers are very demanding and themselves give a high priority to quality aspect of their products. It is a constant challenge for the company to meet their high expectations of quality so far as delivering solution to them is concerned. The major challenge is to keep updating the database because the urban areas all over the world keep changing-particularly in developing countries such as India where urban infrastructures are always being created or modified. Therefore to keep the customers satisfied data has to be updated on regular basis.

Q. What is the strategy of Navteq to meet those challenges?

The strategy is simple. It is to have more and more number of field personnel at more and more locations to provide feedback or accurate information on the changes taking place. The information, through a reliable and efficient communication channel, would be amalgamated in the database and a better and updated product will emerge resulting in the formation of an even more satisfied customer. The growing cities, also result in growing number of clientele. And that is where we see the opportunity for the company. More and more satisfied customers would result in addition of more customers. It would be a kind of self sustaining process. Better the service-higher the client base-higher the clientbase- better the service. The PND market has grown tremendously over the last couple of years. In Europe and North America, the output was around 40 million units

Q. How do you see the global PND market?

The PND market has grown tremendously over the last couple of years. In Europe and North America, the output was around 40 million units. In major parts of the world the PND market is still at a nascent stage. Asia is going to be the next big thing in PND. Japan has taken long strides. China and India are sure to follow suit. Other regions such as West Asia, Southern Africa, Oceania are showing signs of growth.

Q. What in your view is the market situation in Asia Pacific with regards to PND?

Without doubt, Asia-Pacific is the most happening market in PND. As of now, we have presence in 11 countries-where we have the product ranges available. Beginning was made 10 years ago in Japan, the first office in Asia. It was opened to manage our relationship with car companies-such as Toyota, Honda and Nissan-three of the most important clients. Thereafter another office was opened in Korea in 2005. Since then we have marked our presence in other countries and have a consistent pace of growth in those countries which also include India. We saw vast opportunities in the region, particularly on account of the huge population.

Q. Tell us about the vision of Navteq.

Navteq will keep creating quality digital maps and location content. With higher number of customerswho are also more aware and hence more demanding, the company will have be innovative in order to deal with them. Existing information will have to be more comprehensive. New content features, such as putting out products in 3D form will be introduced. The digital maps will have to become much more than just a tool for finding direction. It will have to become more interactive and much more alive to the real-world scenario. And this will have to be done without any compromise on the quality. It anything, the quality will have to get only better.