Oct/Nov 2006

Navteq, the major digital map supplier for navigation systems, is hoping to persuade developers and end users that navigation should be integrated more fully into fleet management and other back-office functions in the transport world.

It has set up what it terms an integrated navigation programme in order to press home the attractions to users, and has appointed its first marketing manager for the initiative. He is Benoît Vaille, who says he aims to bring the notions of navigation and transport more closely into line, "with the ultimate aim of seeing extremely effective new applications appearing on the market."

According to Navteq, the majority of fleet and mobile workforce managers "have yet fully to appreciate the advantages of navigation as an extension of the enterprise back-office solutions."

Vaille's experience includes six years with telematics supplier Webraska, where he was responsible for developing GPS navigation software for PDAs, smartphones and other mobile devices.