MapmyIndia doubles down on core B2B strategy while trimming retail investment

C.E. Info Systems Limited, better known by its consumer-facing name MapmyIndia, has reaffirmed its strategic commitment to the business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-business-to-consumer (B2B2C) segments that generate the overwhelming majority of its revenues. On December 9, 2024, the geospatial mapping leader announced that while it will continue to own and operate the Mappls consumer brand and app ecosystem, it is recalibrating its business-to-consumer (B2C) investments to focus on higher-margin enterprise opportunities.

Chairman and managing director Rakesh Verma, alongside chief executive officer and executive director Rohan Verma, said this refined strategy aligns with shareholder interests and the company’s emphasis on corporate governance. They noted that strengthening the B2B focus is expected to preserve MapmyIndia’s position as the country’s dominant provider of digital mapping and location intelligence solutions.

Why is MapmyIndia placing renewed emphasis on B2B and B2B2C mapping services?

MapmyIndia derives more than 99 percent of its revenue from B2B and B2B2C operations. The company’s mapping technology underpins solutions across the automotive, technology, logistics, and government sectors. In fiscal 2024, it reported consolidated revenue of ₹379 crore, up 35 percent year-on-year, with profit after tax of ₹134 crore, representing a 32 percent net margin. The open order book stood at ₹1,372 crore, a 49 percent increase over the previous year, providing strong revenue visibility.

This concentration of enterprise-driven revenue has been the result of long-term partnerships with automakers, smart mobility companies, and public-sector bodies, all of which depend on MapmyIndia’s proprietary geospatial datasets and high-definition mapping platforms.

What market position does MapmyIndia hold in India’s geospatial ecosystem?

Industry analysts estimate that MapmyIndia holds around 80 percent volume share among automotive original equipment manufacturers for embedded navigation and location services. Its maps and APIs are integrated into applications used by major e-commerce platforms, fintech providers, and ride-hailing services, giving it close to 90 percent share of GPS navigation usage within India.

In the public sector, the company has been a vendor for smart city initiatives and infrastructure planning projects. Its solutions often complement the Government of India’s own mapping initiatives via the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), but with more commercial-grade APIs, analytics, and real-time updates tailored for enterprise use.

How does the size and growth of India’s geospatial market influence MapmyIndia’s strategy?

The Indian geospatial analytics market is expanding rapidly. Estimates for 2024 place the market between USD 1.8 billion and USD 5.6 billion, depending on methodology, with projections for multi-fold growth by the early 2030s. Demand is being driven by automotive navigation, logistics optimization, telecom network planning, disaster management, and urban development projects.

MapmyIndia’s ability to capture a significant portion of this demand is reinforced by its local-first data strategy, compliance with national geospatial policy, and the fact that global players such as Google Maps often rely on generic datasets rather than customised enterprise solutions.

Who are MapmyIndia’s main competitors in India and globally?

In India, the company competes with both domestic and international providers. On the consumer side, Google Maps remains a household name, but its revenue model is advertising-based and less focused on tailored enterprise services. TomTom offers some B2B competition in automotive and fleet solutions but has a smaller local presence.

Domestic players such as Genesys International and CE Info Systems’ occasional collaborators in government projects also operate in the mapping and survey space, but MapmyIndia’s end-to-end product suite—spanning data, software, APIs, and IoT—gives it a breadth of offering unmatched by single-segment players.

What financial targets and growth trajectory has the company set?

MapmyIndia has expressed confidence in achieving ₹1,000 crore in annual revenue by FY27 or FY28, supported by a 32 percent compound annual growth rate forecast by several brokerages. Its diversified revenue model spans data licensing and APIs for enterprises, platform solutions for developers and businesses, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices such as vehicle trackers, dashcams, and connected sensors. In fiscal 2024, IoT-driven revenue grew 91 percent year-on-year to ₹112 crore, with EBITDA from that segment rising thirteen-fold to ₹13 crore.

What does retaining the Mappls consumer app ecosystem signal?

While B2B and B2B2C dominate the revenue mix, the company is keeping its Mappls brand alive in the consumer space. The Mappls app has crossed 20 million downloads and is embedded in more than 2.5 million vehicles, up from 1.9 million the previous year. It offers hyper-local navigation, road safety alerts, and IoT connectivity features that serve both end users and enterprise partners seeking consumer-facing integrations.

By retaining Mappls, MapmyIndia keeps a visible consumer touchpoint that can feed back into enterprise offerings—particularly for automotive partners that value consumer familiarity with in-car navigation systems.

How is the company realigning investments for sustainable growth?

The strategy involves concentrating capital on enterprise products and services with the highest return potential, while selectively pursuing consumer opportunities that have synergies with B2B initiatives. Leadership has described this approach as balancing innovation with financial prudence, ensuring sustainable growth without overextending into low-margin consumer markets.

This approach also reflects broader industry trends: global mapping and navigation providers are increasingly focusing on enterprise contracts, given that large-scale consumer monetisation is challenging without advertising-heavy models.

What is MapmyIndia’s international expansion plan?

MapmyIndia aims to integrate global maps into its platform to serve multinational clients and expand its reach beyond India. This involves enhancing its tech stack, which already offers 2D, 3D, and 4D maps with real-time updates and analytics.

By scaling the Mappls ecosystem internationally, the company hopes to compete with global mapping leaders in specific verticals such as automotive navigation, logistics routing, and infrastructure planning. International expansion could also diversify revenue streams and reduce dependence on the Indian market.

How will MapmyIndia’s refined B2B focus shape its growth and leadership in geospatial technology?

C.E. Info Systems Limited’s pivot toward its strongest markets—enterprise and B2B2C—comes at a time when India’s geospatial sector is poised for rapid growth. The strategy plays to the company’s strengths: deep integration in the automotive sector, a robust order pipeline, and proprietary mapping technology tailored to Indian conditions.

Retaining the Mappls brand ensures consumer visibility, which supports enterprise sales and brand recognition. By maintaining this balance, MapmyIndia appears well-positioned to defend its market share while exploring new frontiers abroad.

As of December 2024, MapmyIndia’s recalibration reflects strategic maturity. The company’s combination of high-margin enterprise contracts, strong financial metrics, and cautious but visible consumer engagement provides a stable foundation for growth. With credible financial targets and a growing market, the geospatial leader is positioned to remain a dominant player in both domestic and emerging global arenas.