We’re thrilled to introduce Vijay Raman, the newest leadership team member, as the GM of Search at Mapbox. He brings a wealth of experience in scaling search technology and a passion for empowering developers with innovative tools. We sat down with Vijay to learn more about his vision for Mapbox Search and the future of location-based services.

Can you tell us about your journey to becoming the GM of Search at Mapbox? What attracted you to this role?

I’ve been fascinated by maps ever since I got my hands on a big atlas in elementary school. Professionally, I've had the chance to work on some really interesting search challenges at companies like eBay and Apple. At eBay, I was part of the early search team, tackling large-scale problems, and later, as the GM of Search at Apple Maps, I focused on improving search quality and performance. Outside of work, I’m an avid runner and hiker, so I’ve experienced Mapbox firsthand in apps like Strava and All Trails. Given my experience and passion for maps, the GM Search role at Mapbox feels like the perfect fit!

How would you describe the vision for Search at Mapbox in the next few years?

Mapbox’s mission to "empower developers & builders by putting the world's geospatial data at their fingertips" really resonates with me. To make that happen, we need to stay focused on what matters most to our customers: quality. Quality in search is influenced by many factors, like data quality, search relevance, and feature functionality. Whether it's using AI to extract valuable insights from POIs, applying machine learning to refine search results, or building smart personalization features, maintaining a sharp focus on quality will be the foundation of everything we do in search.

What are some of the most exciting challenges and opportunities you see in the future of search technology?

Search is a problem that will never be fully “solved” — there’s always room to improve the experience. That’s what has kept me so engaged throughout my career. Recent breakthroughs in AI have opened up exciting new possibilities for enhancing how users search and interact with content. With these advancements, users can express their intent more naturally, and search systems can better understand both that intent and the content itself. We’re lucky to have a diverse customer base and vast amounts of data. By leveraging tools like generative AI and machine learning in a privacy-conscious way, we can build more accurate, up-to-date models of the real world, setting ourselves apart from the competition.

With the increasing demand for hyper-local and personalized experiences, what role does search play?

Search plays a critical role in delivering hyper-local and personalized experiences, ensuring users find the most relevant information based on their location and context. By leveraging Mapbox search capabilities, developers can build applications that feel more intuitive and responsive to user needs. To support this, we’ve implemented two advanced language models that continuously enhance search quality and relevance. These models analyze large datasets from our ranking algorithms and wider internet patterns, allowing us to fine-tune results in real-time. This proactive approach helps anticipate user needs by adjusting rankings based on trends, like popular nearby locations or commonly searched terms. It also ensures search results stay current, reflecting updates like new business hours or recently opened locations, so users always get the most accurate, up-to-date information.

What advice would you give to developers building search experiences today?

As search becomes increasingly complex, it’s crucial to think about both the data quality and user experience. My advice is to focus on understanding your users' needs deeply — this means looking at search intent, context, and relevance. Mapbox offers a powerful suite of tools to build robust, location-based experiences, and I’d encourage developers to explore the potential of personalization and machine learning. By harnessing these technologies, they can create more engaging and intuitive search features that keep users coming back. Search is no longer just about finding a result; it's about creating an experience that feels natural, relevant, and responsive to individual needs.

Finally, what inspires you most about working at Mapbox?

In my first 30 days at Mapbox, I’ve been impressed by our customer focus, passion for innovation, and the collaborative culture here. I kicked things off by attending our first-ever Customer Advisory Board (CAB) meeting in Berlin, where I saw firsthand how much we prioritize our customers. It’s clear that we’re deeply committed to understanding their needs and integrating that feedback into our roadmap. I also experienced the spirit of innovation throughout my onboarding, and everyone I met was incredibly helpful and eager to collaborate with me and the search team. I feel lucky to be working with such a great group of people!