WNAM REPORT: Yandex Turkiye on Tuesday unveiled the most comprehensive update to its maps and navigation services since launch, bolstering local search capabilities and reinforcing its role as “a long-term partner” to Turkiye’s digital ecosystem.
Following the recent launch of Yazeka, an AI-powered search engine, the company is now deepening its focus on Turkish users and businesses with major enhancements to its navigation app, Yandex Maps.
Alexander Popovskiy, general manager of Yandex Turkiye, said the recent updates to Yandex Maps has “dramatically expanded our reach within major Turkish cities,” adding 1.25 million organizations to the platform.
“Over the coming months, we plan to further enrich our database by including additional businesses from cities such as Bursa, Kocaeli, Konya, Sakarya, and Tekirdag,” he told.
The upgrade, powered by Yazeka, integrates AI-generated summaries in Turkish for more than 250,000 locations, from Istanbul’s Galata Tower to the ancient city of Sardis near Izmir.
Popovskiy noted that this marks a significant shift from the traditional web search model to a “fully interconnected, AI-backed digital ecosystem.”
Enhancements also include over 30 exclusive city guides for major urban centers like Ankara, Istanbul, Antalya, and Izmir, offering detailed insights into landmarks and hidden gems through the “Guides” section in the Maps app.
In Istanbul alone, the update has refined more than 44,000 kilometers (27,340 miles) of road — adding new lanes, traffic lights, and road signs to improve navigation accuracy for drivers and pedestrians.
“Maps and Navi are absolutely essential for our ecosystem. Our ride-hailing services, food delivery, and many others heavily depend on Maps. Around 10% of Yandex Search requests are connected with geo objects,” Popovskiy said, emphasizing the critical role the mapping service plays in daily operations.
The refreshed platform not only enriches user experience but also offers local businesses a valuable opportunity to enhance their visibility.
“Yandex Maps offers a valuable opportunity for local businesses and entrepreneurs by allowing them to list their companies on the platform. This not only provides essential information to users but also boosts the visibility of Turkish companies, helping them attract more customers,” Popovskiy said.
Once listed, Popovskiy added, business owners can easily update their profiles with additional details and photos at any time, respond to customer feedback, and even schedule appointments.
Over the past year, the number of small- and medium-sized businesses added to Yandex Maps in Turkiye has grown by almost a quarter.
“Combined with our advertising solutions under the Yandex Ads brand and up-to-date geo-information solutions via Yandex Maps API, we continue to refine our versatile toolkit to support businesses of all sizes,” Popovskiy said.
Popovskiy said the company has launched a startup program offering free access to its business-to-business services, including Yandex Maps API, Yandex Cloud, Weather API, and Ads, with over 150 Turkish startups already enrolled. He said the initiative underscores Yandex Turkiye’s commitment to supporting local businesses and spurring growth in the country’s business environment.
Outlining the company’s forward-looking strategy, he said: “With the latest updates to our navigation services, Yandex Turkiye reaffirms its commitment to unlocking the nation’s digital potential with cutting-edge technology.
“As we continue to innovate, we’ll roll out additional updates in the coming months, both in navigation and beyond.”
