A Google Maps competitor explains why getting the ETA right is so difficult

---

Many of us take the ETA provided by navigation apps for granted, despite the fact that we shouldn't. And, on some level, it's unsurprising that we do it

---

Many people trust the ETA they calculate before starting a new journey, whether it's Google Maps, Waze, or another app. These navigation apps have become impressively accurate, especially in terms of predicting traffic, so it's no surprise many people trust the ETA they calculate before starting a new journey.

However, TomTom, one of the world's largest navigation companies, explains that getting the ETA right isn't as simple as it appears. And in industries where ETAs are critical, such as food delivery, the situation is even more difficult.

Human behavior + last-mile operations + business nuances + travel time, in theory, is a formula that can help a company determine the ETA.

And, while it may appear to be pure mathematics, it is not, because a correct prediction is dependent on variable factors that might change from one second to the next.

Take, for example, human conduct. According to TomTom, apps must forecast how each motorist will behave behind the wheel, as a more conservative driver may have a different ETA than someone who drives quicker. But, once again, it all relies on how much time the driver spends on the road, as every minor curve might affect the ETA.

The travel time itself has recently received a lot of attention from navigation apps. It mostly boils down to a combination of traffic, road characteristics, and route selection, as these are all elements that navigation apps can analyze in order to provide an accurate ETA.

Using historical patterns in conjunction with predictions and, in some cases, real-time data allows such a system to more accurately anticipate traffic and, as a result, determine the ETA.

Clearly, not all apps can do this, and TomTom's solutions were specifically designed with all of these variable factors in mind.

But, at the end of the day, it's critical to remember that no app can be completely accurate. At least, not so long as humans are a critical component of the equation.

#SarcasticGamer #SarcasticReview

---

SOURCE: autoevolution

---

What do you think of this blog? Write down at the COMMENT section below.