Solving The Connected Car Conundrum Post COVID-19
When the global economy begins to recover from the impact of COVID-19, automakers will effectively need a jumpstart. One of the paths to monetization will be new connected vehicle services to entice consumers into major purchases and to nurture customer loyalty. The most effective and economical way to do this will be to use technology resources from companies that understand accelerated development and how to go quickly from service concept to execution.
Connected cars are the new hot ticket in the auto world, and connected technology is rapidly trickling down from luxury cars to economy cars. Consumers have grown used to having cell phones that connect them to all sorts of information and applications, and now they want to be able to leverage connected services in their cars to get pertinent information such as service reminders, roadside assistance, recall bulletins and remote starting and cabin climate capabilities, to name a few.
The automotive industry is undergoing a technological revolution, where digital features are no longer just a fancy option, but an integral part of the vehicle itself. And it is no secret that car companies are struggling to turn the fortunes they have spent on connected car technology into real end user value and subscription revenue. One can argue that the invention of this platform today is as disruptive as the invention of the automobile in its day. Connected technology is not only changing the way cars are designed, it is also creating new opportunities for car manufacturers.
While automakers are eager to meet consumer demands, the ability to offer these services requires a diverse set of new capabilities as well as sufficient scale for operation. Rather than trying to compete on their own, Automotive OEMs should leverage partnerships with third-party solution providers to help integrate innovative digital technologies into their vehicles.
One of our clients, Aeris Communications, provides end-to-end connected vehicle technology for some the world’s largest automotive OEMs, including VW and Mitsubishi. With the Aeris Mobility Suite (AMS), car companies can roll out a state-of-the-art connected vehicle program to market in less than six months.
The Aeris Mobility Suite enables car companies to immediately deliver on their vision to expand from “making and selling cars” to offering a constantly evolving array of innovative and engaging subscription-based transportation experiences that work seamlessly in the real world. AMS handles every aspect of building a connected car, from carrying the mobile network traffic to and from the vehicle, to integrating a dozen or more customer-facing applications, to handling back-end challenges like subscriber management and billing. The platform offers a highly customizable approach to each OEM’s specific requirements, with software components offering cutting-edge services such as vehicle sharing, over-the-air firmware updates, and on-demand services like repairs, refueling, and parking.
Tesla remains ahead of the curve in the connected car race, as auto manufacturers continue to play catch up. The emergence of third party connected platforms presents OEMs with a unique opportunity to close this gap. Aeris architected and built the Aeris Mobility Suite to give car companies the software infrastructure needed to go head-to-head with technology companies like Tesla—and win.
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