Google is bringing collectively its Waze and Maps groups because it pushes to scale back overlap

Google is merging the crew it has engaged on the navigation app Waze into the identical group that oversees Google Maps, the corporate has introduced. The Wall Street Journal stories that the transfer just isn’t anticipated to mark the tip of Waze as a separate service, and no layoffs are deliberate as a part of the reorganization. However, Waze CEO Neha Parikh is anticipated to depart the position after the transition, and the transfer is anticipated to scale back overlapping work, the WSJ notes.

Going ahead, Waze’s 500 staff are anticipated to be part of Google’s Geo group, which oversees Maps alongside Earth and Street View.

“Google remains deeply committed to Waze’s unique brand, its beloved app and its thriving community of volunteers and users,” Waze’s head of PR, Caroline Bourdeau, tells The Verge in a press release. “By bringing the Waze team into Geo’s portfolio of real-world mapping products, like Google Maps, Google Earth and Street View, the teams will benefit from further increased technical collaboration.” The WSJ stories that the merger will begin on Friday, December ninth.

But in September, Google CEO Sundar Pichai mentioned that he was working to make the company more productive, and there’s additionally been pressure from activist investors to scale back prices. Merging overlapping product areas was one of many examples Pichai gave as a option to obtain this, and it’s hoped this restructuring ought to obtain one thing comparable for Google’s mapping merchandise.