How Much It Costs to Build a Navigation and Transportation-Based AI App like Waze?

When we want to travel to an unknown place, how are we going to reach the destination point? Of course, with the help of navigation app like Waze. You just need to start your mobile phone, open Waze, and enter your current and destination points. In no time, Waze will give you the perfect route. Moreover, Waze is popular for suggesting the shortest routes with less traffic, allowing you to reach your destination on time.

So, how is Waze creating such fantastic magic? It’s because of  AI. Waze uses the potential of AI to the fullest to make itself one of the best navigation apps.

You can even build an AI-powered navigation app like Waze. But, before you start researching the navigation app development process, you should first know its development cost.

Here is the complete guide for the cost of building a navigation and transportation-based AI app like Waze.

What is Waze?

Waze is a popular GPS-based navigation app after Google Maps. Like Google Maps, Waze guides users in reaching their destinations by providing the fastest route information. It also offers real-time traffic updates. Besides, it also allows its users to share their current location with their friends and family via social media apps.

This application has gained immense popularity through its interactive and fantastic user interface. It was developed in 2008 in Israel by Ehud Shabtai, Uri Levine, and Amir Shinar. Within four years of its launch, Waze had 20 million users. It was in 2013 when Google recognized the potential of the app and bought it for $1.3 billion. So, you can imagine how strong Waze would be.

You might wonder how Waze quickly became so popular with Google Maps as its competitor. It’s solely because of its engaging user interface and mesmerizing features. From live traffic updates to fastest route suggestions to gamification to voice-based navigation, Waze has grabbed millions of hearts through its outstanding features.

Let’s take a closer look at Waze’s outstanding features.

Mesmerizing Features of AI-Based Waze Navigation App

User Validation

One of the most significant features of Waze is its high-end user validation system. App users must create their accounts using their email ID or social media app like Facebook. Users can create profiles that they can use to communicate with others or provide reviews and ratings for a particular place. Users need to use their email ID and password to log into the app. Such a high-end authentication system allows Waze to keep the user information safe and secure at all times.

Voice-Based Navigation

To avoid accidents, drivers need to stay focused while driving. One distraction can cost many lives. To prevent such hazardous situations, Waze provides drivers with voice-based navigation directions. Voice-enabled navigation directions eliminate the need for drivers to check their mobile phones for directions while driving. So, this ultimately allows the driver to stay focused while driving. At any point, if the driver feels the voice navigation disturbing him, they can turn off the feature. 

Real-Time Traffic Updates Via Push Notifications

Imagine getting stuck in traffic while navigating a particular location. How troublesome and time-wasting it would be. Could you receive the traffic updates before landing in the desired location? Or could you know the accidental areas beforehand? Waze makes it possible through its AI-powered real-time traffic updates. It collects data from traffic sensors, GPS devices, and other sources that help it detect current traffic scenarios.

Rerouting

In case you take a wrong turn or are going to encounter a road accident, Waze immediately reroutes the way to save you time. You do not need to wait for the navigation app to reanalyze the route. Waze will automatically reroute the new way.

Synchronization with Google Calendar

Waze allows you to sync it with the Google Calendar. After synching, AI-powered Waze can effectively analyze upcoming events and update itself with the desired destination points. This eliminates the need to search for the required destination point during the event. Waze will remind you of the event and its routing information automatically. 

Carpooling

One of the most impressive features of Waze is carpooling. This feature lets you know all the other users navigating the same route. You can share the ride with them and divide the fuel costs among you and the passengers. Based on the distance traveled, Waze will determine the fuel cost and deduct the desired amount from the user’s bank account. 

Spotify Integration

Waze not only helps you reach your destination points faster but also ensures you reach your destination point with perfect enjoyment. That’s why it allows you to listen to your favorite music through Spotify. Waze has integrated with several third-party apps, Spotify being one of them. So, you can continue following the navigation directions while listening to music simultaneously with Waze.

Complete Cost Breakdown to Build an AI-Based Navigation App Like Waze

The cost to develop an AI-powered navigation app like Waze usually ranges from $30,000 to $250,000. This cost may vary based on the complexity of the features and the location for which you want to develop the navigation app. The navigation app development cost depends on numerous factors, including the app’s complexity, mobile platform, development team expertise, design, AI/ML integrations, and maintenance. It would help if you considered all these factors while estimating the development cost of the navigation app.

Let’s see in detail how considering these factors is essential.

Complexity of Navigation App

Every navigation app is going to have different requirements. Despite Google Maps and Waze being the navigation apps, the two are entirely different in terms of specific features. The reason behind this is that both have different features. So, the type of features you want to embed in your app dramatically contributes to the app development cost. 

If you want your navigation app to have basic functionalities like giving routing directions and traffic updates, it wouldn’t need high costs. Meanwhile, to develop an advanced navigation app like Waze, you will surely need to incur some development costs as it would require the development of some advanced features like push notifications, carpooling, voice-based navigation, and more.

Although AI-based features would need high investment, such advanced features will be beneficial in amplifying the user experience.

User Experience and Design

People often neglect UI/UX design elements while building a navigation application, thinking they are less critical. However, UI/UX is significant in the success of a navigation application. You won’t believe it, but an intuitive user interface is the main reason behind Waze’s success. Users like to use navigation apps with an easy-to-use interface and attractive design. 

Its unique design interface makes Waze different from the usual navigation apps. All its features have cartoon-like icons that make it attractive for the users to use the application. So, you can think how important the user interface is for a navigation app. The cost to design a user-friendly interface for your navigation app will range from $10,000 to $20,000.

Type of Mobile Development 

Mobile app development is of two types: cross-platform mobile development and native app development. Cross-platform applications are created for different operating systems, while native app development involves developing applications for a single operating system (either Android or iOS). 

You might wonder how mobile development type contributes to the overall cost of a navigation app. It’s because of the vast difference between cross-platform and native app development. Cross-platform apps are developed using a single codebase, while native apps need different codebases for different operating systems. 

That’s why cross-platform apps need less development than native apps. Also, as cross-platform apps are accessible from different operating systems, their adoption rate is higher than native apps. Waze is a cross-platform app accessed from Android, iPhone, and the web. That’s why it has millions of users in such a short period. Although cross-platform app development costs are high, it is beneficial for reaching a larger audience. Whichever mobile development you choose, the overall cost for mobile app development will be from $10,000 to $20,000.

AI/ML Integration

To develop different AI-based functionalities in your navigation app, such as rerouting, real-time traffic updates, voice-based navigation, and carpooling, you will need to use AI/ML algorithms. While it might seem easy, integrating AI/ML technology into your app is lengthy. 

First, you will develop an AI model using different algorithms and data sets. Then, you will need to train the designed AI/ML model to prevent the occurrence of errors and bugs in the future. After successfully testing the model, you can integrate it into your app’s environment. The entire AI/ML development process will undergo different stages, from requirement analysis to data gathering to training and testing the AI model. That’s why the AI/ML integration cost ranges from $25,000 to $50,000.

Development Team

A navigation app needs you to develop an enormous list of features. For that, you will need to hire an app development team with vast experience in creating an app with AI. Navigation app development involves a considerable process that includes market research, design and development, AI/ML integration, testing, and more. Every stage requires individuals for operation. 

Building an in-house team is possible, but it will be costly. You will need to put much effort into training the hired team, which will eventually cost you time and money. Moreover, developing an AI-powered navigation app is the work of ultimate precision. Hiring an experienced and skilled AI app development company will be beneficial in such situations. The cost of an app development company usually depends on their expertise and innovation skills. In general, the price ranges from $50,000 to $100,000.

Benefits of Using AI Technology in Your Navigation App

You might be wondering why you should use AI in your navigation app. It has a simple answer – to increase the engagement level. AI is famous for bringing high engagement by providing a personalized user experience. Besides, AI offers innumerable benefits. Let’s see the benefits of using AI technology in your navigation app.

Insightful Data Analysis

Any navigation app must provide real-time updates related to traffic and hazards. AI conducts in-depth data analysis from various sources like traffic sensors and cameras that allow it to provide traffic updates to the users. Traffic updates help users to avoid congestion.

Personalized User Experience

AI is famous for adding a touch of personalization for users. By analyzing user’s past navigation, AI would ask them about their experience with a particular place. Moreover, by analyzing past data, AI allows you to recommend new places for users to explore. So, AI has become very beneficial in delivering personalized experiences to app users.

Ability to Scale 

A navigation app must always be ready to grow with the increase in user demands and data. Conventional navigation apps have certain limits in terms of scaling. They would start degrading in performance when the app traffic increases.  At the same time, AI can easily handle large amounts of data. Moreover, AI is flexible enough to grow with the changing user demands. So, regarding scalability, AI becomes the perfect weapon for your navigation app.

Competitive Advantage

The navigational app development community is growing competitive every day. To thrive in this competitive world, you must make your navigation app stand out. AI becomes the perfect way to do this. From delivering personalization to scalability to data prediction and analysis, AI will keep your navigation app ahead of competitors.

Final Words

Since 2008, Waze has achieved a lot of popularity due to its fantastic library of features and functionalities in navigation and transportation. It’s because of AI that Waze has been able to win millions of hearts. That’s why people always think of building an AI-based navigation app like Waze.

However, people are unaware of the transportation app development cost. The cost of navigation app development with AI depends on factors like app complexity, UI/UX design, AI/ML integration, and the development company’s expertise. Considering all these factors, you can easily estimate the cost of building an AI app.

Technocrats Horizons is well-known for its AI-powered cutting-edge custom app development services. We help the transportation and navigation industry to excel by developing innovative AI-based navigation apps.

Contact us today to learn how we can help drive engagement for your navigation app through our custom app development solutions.