TomTom scrapping 300 jobs, less than half in Netherlands; AI taking over work
The Dutch navigation company TomTom is cutting 300 jobs in the coming period. TomTom is changing strategy and is now “embracing artificial intelligence,” the company said. Less than half of the disappearing jobs will be in the Netherlands, a spokesperson added to NOS.
TomTom expects that AI will help it scale up and down more easily to create and deliver products. “This change improves the experience and shortens innovations for our customers,” said CEO Harold Goddijn in a press release.
The job cuts affect employees who create route planners, salespeople, and customer support staff. TomTom currently employs approximately 3,700 people, including about 1,200 in the Netherlands.
The company’s consumer division has been shrinking for years because most people no longer use a separate navigation device. TomTom’s main source of income is selling map technology to car and smartphone manufacturers, who build it into their systems. The company now makes maps for Apple, Huawei, Volkswagen, and Renault.
TomTom has been in the red for the past two years. Last year, TomTom suffered a loss of over 14 million euros.
