Google owned Waze launched a transport software development kit (SDK), to “allow partners to implement some of Waze’s most useful features natively in their own apps”.

Lyft, Genesis Pulse, JustPark, Cornershop, Cabify and 99Taxis are already on board, “spanning nine countries and several different industries”.

The SDK enables developers to integrate Waze’s ETA, turn-by-turn navigation and preferred routing features into apps, to reduce friction caused by having to switch between apps when driving.

Waze describes itself as the largest community based traffic and navigation app and believes the transport SDK will add hundreds of thousands of drivers to its already existing network of 50 million users.

This “is a surefire way to improve the Waze map and feed even more data back into Waze, which can then help us all drive safer and smarter on the road,” Waze said.

The SDK is capable of supporting a partner in any country where Waze has a presence and will be open to all types of partners where Waze believes it can have an impact, for example food delivery and valet parking.

Last July, Waze launched a carpooling pilot called RideWith in Israel.