DTDC adopts what3words for delivery efficiency across India

DTDC Express has upgraded its consumer app MyDTDC with what3words location technology, aiming to improve address accuracy and delivery efficiency across the country.

“Now, customers can add their what3words address in the address section of the MyDTDC App, enabling them to specify a very precise delivery location — be it the front door, specific apartment complex entrance, or a tucked-away side passage,” the company said in a statement. 

Founded in 2019, what3words is a mapping technology startup that creates a proprietary geocode system for logistics firms and help users find, share and navigate to precise locations, anywhere in the world… Some of its customers include, Mahindra, TVS Motor, Tata Motors, Mercedes-Benz, DriveU, Airbnb and The Fern Hotels & Resorts, to name a few.  

In India, street names are often duplicated, addresses can be inaccurate or confusing, pin codes cover broad areas, and many areas don't have addresses at all. This makes it difficult for customers to specify precisely where a delivery needs to be made, and for delivery drivers to find exactly where they need to go, according to Chris Sheldrick, Co-Founder and CEO, what3words.   

To solve these challenges, the UK-based startup has divided the world into a grid of 3m x 3m squares and given each square a unique combination of three words: a what3words address. For example: ///caring.trick.handrail identifies the perfect spot to take a photo of the iconic Taj Mahal, it said. The technology is also available offline and in 54 languages including 12 South Asian languages: Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Kannada, Nepali, Urdu, Gujarati, Malayalam, Punjabi, and Odia.   

“Last-mile delivery failures in India are often a result of informal and inaccurate addresses. Poor addressing makes it difficult for couriers to find correct destinations, and can lead to customer dissatisfaction,” said Abhishek Chakraborty, Executive Director, DTDC, adding that the partnership with what3words “will offer a unique way for us to deliver to precise locations — particularly in areas with informal addresses”.

DTDC customers can discover their what3words address via the free what3words app — available for iOS and Android — or the online map at what3words.com. They can then save their what3words address in the My DTDC App, under the address section. Orders fulfilled by DTDC will be dropped off at that exact location, the company said.   

The location-based services market is expected to grow to $114.9 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.5%, according to a research report by Business Research Company that provides location-based services market statistics. An upsurge in the use of smartphones and GPS-enabled devices is expected to propel the growth of location-based services. Location-based services combine the internet, geospatial technologies, and other information and communication technologies to provide targeted information to individuals on their smartphones based on geographic location in real-time.   

According to the data by the Indian Cellular and Electronics Association, the number of users using smartphones is expected to reach 829 million by 2022. Also, according to forecasts from Ericsson and The Radicati Group, the number of smartphone users is expected to increase from six billion in 2020 to nearly 7.33 billion by 2025.