Websites using What3words

Okay, let s break down what3words, covering its overview, revenue, alternatives, pricing, and customer care.

What is What3words?

• Concept: What3words is a geocoding system. Instead of traditional latitude and longitude coordinates or street addresses, it divides the world into a grid of 3-meter by 3-meter squares, and assigns each square a unique, memorable three-word address. For example, index.home.raft might represent a specific spot in a park.

• Purpose: The idea is to make location sharing simpler and more accurate, especially in areas where street addressing is unreliable, non-existent, or confusing (e.g., rural areas, large parks, construction sites, developing countries). It aims to be more precise than general address searches and easier to communicate verbally than coordinates.

• Technology: The what3words system uses an algorithm to generate and manage the three-word addresses. The company provides apps (iOS and Android) and an API (Application Programming Interface) that allows developers to integrate the system into their own applications and services.

• Use Cases: Its used in delivery services, emergency services, navigation apps, logistics, tourism, and humanitarian aid.

Revenue Model

• Licensing: The primary revenue source is licensing the what3words technology (API and SDKs) to businesses and organizations. This is a B2B model. Companies pay to integrate what3words into their apps, websites, and internal systems.
• Subscription: Some business plans may be subscription-based.
• Partnerships: Revenue through partnerships with automobile manufacturers, mapping companies, and other organizations that incorporate what3words into their products.
• Premium features: There may be extra costs for commercial use of their technology in the future.

Revenue Details (Estimates):

While what3words is a private company and doesn t publicly disclose its financials, we can piece together some information:

• Valuation: In 2021, what3words raised $20 million in funding, and at that point was valued at approximately $200 million.
• Estimated Revenue: Estimating revenue is difficult without public data. However, given its licensing model and partnerships, revenue is likely in the tens of millions of dollars annually, but this is an educated guess.
• Profitability: It s unclear whether what3words is currently profitable. Many tech companies, especially those in the growth phase, prioritize expansion over immediate profitability.

Alternatives to What3words

Here s a breakdown of alternatives, categorized by type:

• Traditional Geocoding (Latitude/Longitude):

  • Google Maps API: Provides highly accurate geocoding and reverse geocoding services. A very robust and widely used option.
  • Mapbox: Another strong mapping platform with geocoding capabilities. Popular with developers.
  • OpenStreetMap (Nominatim): A free and open-source geocoding service. Good for projects with budget constraints.
  • Here WeGo: Provides mapping and location services (including geocoding), particularly strong in automotive and enterprise solutions.

• Address-Based Geocoding:

  • These rely on traditional street addresses, but often provide more accurate geocoding than simple address searches. They typically integrate with mapping APIs.

• Other Word-Based Systems:

  • There aren t many direct competitors offering exactly the same three-word address concept. However, some companies use algorithms to generate short, unique identifiers for locations.
  • Plus Codes (Open Location Code): Developed by Google. It uses alphanumeric codes to represent locations and are open source.

• QR Codes:

  • These can encode location data directly and are useful for on-site applications.

• Custom Solutions:

  • For very specific needs, some organizations develop their own internal geocoding or location identification systems.

Factors to Consider When Choosing an Alternative:

• Accuracy: How precisely does the system identify locations?
• Ease of Use: How simple is it to use the system, both for humans and for integration into software?
• Cost: What are the licensing fees or API usage costs?
• Offline Functionality: Can the system be used without an internet connection?
• Scalability: Can the system handle a large volume of requests or data?
• Open Source vs. Proprietary: Open-source options offer more flexibility and control, while proprietary systems often have better support and features.
• Global Coverage: Does the system work well in all the regions you need?

Pricing

• Free (Limited Use): what3words offers a free option for personal use.
• API Usage: The pricing for commercial use is based on API calls/usage. Exact details vary and are typically negotiated with each customer.
• Factors Affecting Pricing: The number of API calls, the level of support required, and the specific features used all influence the price.
• Contact Sales: The best way to get accurate pricing is to contact what3words sales directly through their website.

Customer Care Details

• Website: The official website (what3words.com) is the primary resource.
• Help Center/FAQ: A comprehensive help center provides answers to common questions and troubleshooting guides.
• API Documentation: Detailed documentation for developers using the what3words API.
• Contact Form: A contact form on the website allows users to submit inquiries.
• Email Support: Email addresses (e.g., support@what3words.com) are often provided for support requests.
• Social Media: What3words maintains a presence on social media platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn, which can be used for announcements and occasionally for support.

Key Takeaways:

• What3words provides a unique location addressing system.
• Its revenue comes primarily from licensing its technology to businesses.
• Several alternatives exist, including traditional geocoding and other location-based services.
• Pricing is based on API usage and is best obtained by contacting the company directly.
• Customer care is provided through the website, help center, and contact forms.