Counterpoint analysts Mohit Sharma and Murtuza Ali attended the HERE Directions 2024 event in Frankfurt, Germany, last month and came impressed with some of the recent developments in the map and navigation world that were showcased. The event featured industry experts who discussed some very interesting and pertinent topics related to the automotive industry, like transformative technologies in maps and navigation, the transformation AI is bringing through partnerships, the future of the digital cockpit and sustainability.

On the event’s sidelines, Counterpoint discussed EV and AI with HERE Technologies’ Director of Automotive Technologies, Andrei Iordache.

The Interview

Key takeaways

How HERE is working to remove consumer pain points in EVs

• For mass-market EV adopters, there is uncertainty over inadequate charging stations. HERE is working with partners to improve intelligence and increase the end users’ confidence in charging stations.
• Currently, during long journeys, EV users go through dissatisfaction and stress due to their lack of knowledge related to charging station availability. HERE has introduced a feature that predicts the availability of charging stations by combining data from charging stations with other data points like traffic, weather and events.
• For the user, this provides the much-needed relief and comfort of selecting the charging break and location. AI is being used to improve the prediction and also help channel demand, where busy charging point loads can be decreased, thus reducing the users’ anxiety.
• HERE is working with a large number of partners in the highly fragmented charging market of Europe to ensure it has the highest coverage of charging points in the world (outside China). HERE also provides feedback to charging stations with regard to maintenance scheduling, like in terms of peak and non-peak information.

How is AI enhancing mapping experience? What are the future possibilities?

• Location and mapping are all about making sense of big data. AI is being used to increase productivity and build map data. It helps automate the extraction of features and detection of duplications of location data from vehicle sensors. It also helps extract footprints from satellite imagery, like in the case of buildings.
• AI is becoming a user of location, providing new insights, like through the generation of scenes from locations (for ADAS use), smart travel assistance or developing predictions within the vehicle.
• AI performance and outputs come down to good quality data that is fed in. When it comes to location data, HERE wants to be a key player.

Other Interesting topics covered at HERE Directions 2024

• The HERE Directions 2024 event was highly engaging, featuring top experts who discussed pressing topics such as AI and how various companies in the fleet and supply chain industry are utilizing location technology to optimize their operations. They also emphasized the importance of end-to-end supply chain visibility in the post-COVID era.

• Hapag-Lloyd highlighted the role of location technology and AI-driven solutions in achieving real-time visibility, accurate estimated arrival times (ETAs), and improved control over container logistics. These advancements help minimize losses and contribute to a more efficient, safe and sustainable supply chain.

• In 2024, no event seems complete without a dedicated discussion on AI, and HERE Directions was no exception. A key takeaway from the event is that AI technology has been in use across various industries for some time. One notable sector is ride-hailing, where companies like Uber leverage AI to estimate arrival times, connect riders with drivers, and optimize pricing strategies. However, businesses should be cautious about jumping on the AI bandwagon; they should implement AI only if it can genuinely enhance their operations or provide real value to them.

• Lastly, HERE’s longstanding partner AWS demonstrated how both companies are collaborating to leverage the best of location technology and cloud services in addressing location-centric challenges for the global supply chain and logistics industry.