TVS Apache 2 wheelers get what3words navigation in TVS Connect app

TVS Motor Company has become the first Indian two-wheeler manufacturer to bring this unique addressing system to its customers. . The company has introduced these unique 3-word addresses for the customers of TVS Apache brand and riding community. The company will gradually extend this to customers using the TVS Connect app across brands in a phased manner.

what3words is an easy way to identify precise locations. It has divided the world into a grid of 3-metre squares and given each square a unique combination of three random words: a what3words address. For example, ///routine.ballpoint.snares is the what3words address for TVS Motor Company’s HQ precise entrance in Chennai.  A three square meters is a space that is large enough to accommodate a sedan or at least part of it.

Integrating what3words into the TVS Connect app allows customers to navigate the world more efficiently and meet friends and fellow riders in places without street addresses, such as scenic roadside viewpoints or community ride meeting points.

Saurabh Khullar– Assistant Vice President, Digital Marketing, TVS Motor Company, said, “Navigation accuracy is a key part of our connected vehicle offering, and we were looking for innovative ways to enhance that riding experience for our customers.  We are excited about our association with what3words, which does this by using 3-word addresses generated out of their precise location system as close as 3-metres to the location. This strengthens our commitment to increasing customer delight, especially in deeper country locations where traditional systems lean more to approximations. It will increase efficiency by offering a seamless riding experience integrated into our native riding app TVS Connect. We are excited to introduce these unique 3-word addresses for the customers of our TVS Apache brand and riding community. We will gradually be extended to customers using the TVS Connect app across brands in a phased manner.”

Chris Sheldrick, co-founder and CEO of what3words, added, “We’re delighted that this integration will bring what3words to TVS Motor Company’s extensive network of riders across India. Whether exploring remote terrains, recommending epic new routes, or simply navigating to new destinations, what3words ensures that TVS Motor Company riders will always arrive in exactly the right place.”

Across India, addresses are often not accurate enough to specify precise locations, such as building entrances, and don’t exist for specific points on roads and many rural areas. This makes it hard to find both places and people and complicates deliveries. This partnership will make navigation simple, hassle-free and less time-consuming for customers across India. Crucially, what3words also works offline, meaning that customers can rely on what3words to get them exactly where they need to be, even in areas with poor connectivity.

what3words and what it offers

A lot of people will be wondering what is the need for what3words when they already have Google Maps at their disposal. While Google Maps is a tool for navigation, public transport and for looking up POIs, what3words has a very different function – it’s an easy way to communicate exact locations, whether that’s spoken over the phone or into a car voice navigation system, or typed into a taxi app or a website checkout page.

The team at what3words has divided the world into 3m squares and given each square a unique combination of three words. Thus the what3words addresses are easy to say and share, and as accurate as GPS coordinates. One can also share photos with what3words addresses. One can add a what3words address sticker to any photo and then share it to social media and messaging apps. With the help of what3words address, one can navigate to an exact spot easily.

Leading logistics, emergency response, automotive, ride-hailing and travel businesses and organisations use what3words to improve efficiencies, enhance customer experience, offer smoother journeys and save lives. Thousands of businesses use what3words every day.

Without phone signal, the app functions the same as when you have no data connection: you can view the location of any what3words address you enter. You can also navigate to it using compass mode.

To share a what3words address over the phone or in a text message you need phone signal. To load maps, or share in other apps or social media, you need a data connection.

If you’re given a what3words location, you can open it in the what3words app, then tap ‘Navigate’ and select ‘Google Maps’ to open the exact location in Google Maps and get directions.

Many navigation apps are compatible with what3words, meaning you can find a what3words address in the what3words app and then use it in your favourite navigation app with just one tap.

The minimum platform versions this app support for new app versions are Android Marshmallow (6.0) and iOS 11. But even if your device is incompatible with the versions above, you won’t be able to use the app, but you can still access what3words via what3words.com on your web browser.