Naver has launched the beta version of its mapping app 'Balady Plus' in Saudi Arabia, aiming to penetrate the local lifestyle services market. The app is designed to evolve into a super app that encompasses everyday services such as reservations and deliveries based on mapping and navigation.
According to the IT industry on October 29, Naver Innovation, a joint venture between Naver and the Saudi National Housing Company (NHC), released the beta service of Balady Plus at 10 a.m. local time.
Balady Plus is a new mapping service that inherits the name of existing Saudi mapping and government service apps. It is available in Arabic and English throughout Saudi Arabia and provides navigation for driving and walking, as well as public transport information for metro and bus services all in one app. The navigation features include alerts for speed cameras, speed bumps, expanded intersections, and real-time accident information.
Naver emphasizes the freshness and accuracy of its map data as a key differentiator. Given Saudi Arabia's high vehicle usage and frequent road changes and controls, the app focuses on quickly reflecting local information.
To achieve this, Naver has established a system for investigating and collecting road and location information by driving directly on the roads and regularly updating the data. The app is designed to quickly incorporate frequently changing information such as road closure times and store details. It will compete with local services like Google Maps and HudHud.
Naver plans to gradually expand Balady Plus into a map-based super app. The company intends to integrate it with its business platform 'SmartPlace' to introduce features for restaurant and beauty bookings, as well as expand into delivery orders and ticket reservations. Following the beta service operation, Naver will assess local user feedback and service completeness before pursuing a formal launch.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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