Catering to the tech-savvy or rather mobile-savvy customer segment has taken the center-stage. Just as a whole-generation of smartphone owners consider mobile as a relationship and not merely a device, it is same with cars. With a considerable amount of time spent on the cars, mobility and auto-mobile has to go hand-in-hand. With Juniper reporting - by 2016 there will be 92 million internet connected vehicles on the road; intelligent cars are expected to create revenues up to $14.4 billion by 2016.
Though the opportunities are endless, car manufacturers cannot completely lose it to the mobile app development (read smartphone apps) companies since they may miss out on a revenue opportunity altogether. The manufacturers are now compelled to hand-shake with all the stakeholders of their eco-system to create ‘an experience’ for their customers.
Car makers have now realized the importance of app-connected cars and its potential in luring customers to their showrooms. With future trends talking about V2V (vehicle to vehicle) communication and V2I (Vehicle to Infrastructure) communication for drivers; it is a highly competitive road ahead. This was evident when Ford recently announced a contest for app developers.
The picture behind…
There are a number of trends, forecasts and convincing evidence on the benefits and possibilities of mobility solutions for the car industry - yet it does come with a plethora of issues and challenges. Let’s discuss some of the key challenges faced –
The technology and infrastructure part of it…
- Infrastructure Investments: Extending existing infrastructure to suit mobility will involve more investments. Since the mobile solutions have to be integrated into the existing infrastructure, the complexities involved would attract continued investments in areas of legacy applications.
- Configuration: Though mobile-based applications are consumer driven, the deployment of software is easier. Yet it does come with another challenge – the user management gets tough when the number of users shoot up. Another issue is the multi-platform support to multiple devices that require native applications to each of the devices.
- Skills: Since not all mobile device platforms are the same, the programming languages differ. Hence the need to develop and deploy applications across all phone models is time and cost consuming.
- Security: The physical security of local data has been a threat inspite of reliable encrypting techniques for secure transmissions. One solution for this is the Smart Card Technology as this revokes a major portion of security concerns.
- Return on Investment (ROI): Return on Investment largely depends upon identifying and implementing mobility solutions in areas that are most receptive and guarantee a decent ROI. Hence, identifying ‘which areas to go mobile’ determines the ROI.
The Mobile part of it…
- Cost of in-vehicle apps: The numbers of car-owners willing to pay for in-vehicle apps have been significantly low making it difficult to sustain the business model.
- Innovative in-apps: With more apps on their smartphones, car owners would look for more innovative in-vehicle apps. It is indeed challenging to build apps with distinctive features that are unique against the many many apps available.
- Safety: Apps should be designed so as to avoid driver distraction. Voice-apps may come in handy.
- Data and privacy: This requires robust security frameworks and mechanisms.
- Platform fragmentation: While every manufacturer wanting a unique eco-system; building a common platform for apps is quite a challenge in itself
Is Mobility is your next big step? Call Innoppl. Be it Enterprise Mobility Solutions or targeted to a particular function, our mobility Developers at Innoppl are here to help with their extensive experience in Automotive industry and wide range of expertise.
