As the automotive industry continues to evolve, the demand for connectivity and data-based solutions is increasing. The Vehicle Data Platform serves as a critical link between OEMs and Third Party Service Providers, enabling access to real-time information on vehicle performance, driver behavior and other valuable insights. In this article, we will answer the question of how to use vehicle data platforms to improve the customer experience.
Why do OEMs use TPSPs instead of building their own applications?
Until recently, automakers designed their apps and services to enrich the driver experience. Today, however, OEMs are increasingly being replaced by companies and developers not directly related to the automotive industry. These parties pursue their own business goals and create independent databases.
The relationship between TPSPs and OEMs is like a kind of symbiosis. The former gain access to valuable data on vehicle performance and driver behavior, allowing them to design and market innovative solutions for the automotive industry. The latter, on the other hand, receive a finished product, thanks to which they can constantly improve the experience of their customers.
However, it is worth considering why OEMs abandoned their own application development in favor of third-party services;
- Expertise — TPSPs often specialize in a specific field, such as telecommunications, fleet management, or connected car maintenance. By working with TPSPs, OEMs can leverage their expertise and access the latest technologies without having to develop them in-house.
- It’s time to market — developing a new app from scratch can be time-consuming and expensive. By working with TPSPs, OEMs can reduce development time and get their products to market faster.
- Value — Building and maintaining an application requires a significant investment in resources, including development, infrastructure, and ongoing management. Working with TPSPs can be more cost-effective because OEMs can pay for the services they need on a subscription or per-use basis.
- Flexibility — OEMs can choose a variety of third-party services to meet specific customer needs without being tied to any one solution. This enables it to adapt to changing market conditions.
- Scale – as the number of connected cars and the amount of data they generate continues to grow, OEMs may struggle to scale their own applications to handle the volume. On the other hand, TPSPs often have the infrastructure and resources to meet market demand.
How can OEMs improve customer experience with third-party services?
Access to third-party services gives OEMs great opportunities to improve their offerings. By providing detailed data about how cars are used and benefiting from tailored solutions, you can respond more and more precisely to the needs of today’s consumers.
The most important benefits you can offer your customers with TPSPs include:
- Increased comfort — by integrating third-party services into their products, OEMs can provide a more convenient and streamlined experience for their customers. As a car manufacturer, you can, for example, include a parking app in your infotainment system, allowing your customers to easily find and reserve parking spaces.
- Advanced value — Third-party services can add value to OEM products by providing additional features and capabilities that customers may find useful. For example, as a car manufacturer, you could partner with a music streaming service to offer personalized music through the car’s infotainment system.
- Differentiation — OEMs can differentiate their products from competitors by offering unique third-party services. You could, for example, partner with a food delivery service to offer dinner options for drivers.
- New streams of income — third-party services can bring you more revenue. For example, you can partner with a car sharing service and earn a commission for each rental.
Overall, by integrating third-party services into your product, you can provide a more convenient, valuable, and personalized experience for your customers while creating new revenue streams.
Vehicle data platforms – an easy way to connect with TPSPs
Collaboration between OEMs and TPSPs can be very fruitful for both parties. For this purpose, however, a unified platform will be needed. This will allow them to share important information. This is how vehicle data platforms work.
Vehicle data platforms are digital tools that collect, store and analyze data generated by vehicles. These services use a combination of hardware and software to collect information from the vehicle’s various sensors and systems, such as the engine, transmission, brakes and infotainment system. The data is then transmitted to the platform through various methods, such as cellular or Wi-Fi connections.
After the data is collected, it is processed and analyzed using algorithms and machine learning models to extract valuable insights. This can include identifying driver behavior patterns, predicting maintenance needs, optimizing vehicle performance, and more.
Vehicle data platforms often provide APIs (application programming interfaces) that allow third-party developers to build advanced applications and services. For example, a fleet management company can use the information to optimize routes and reduce fuel consumption, while an insurance company can offer personalized policies based on driving behavior.
The resulting third party services are evaluated and approved for use by the Platforms. As an automaker, you have convenient access to these products, while the marketplaces protect your interests and help you negotiate individual contracts. Every financial transaction goes through the platform, which translates into security and transparency.
How to build and use a vehicle data platform
Now that you know how car data platforms work, it’s worth thinking about how to put them to good use. There are markets at your disposal that are already operating in the market, but nothing prevents you from creating your own platform. As the owner or manager of a car company, you must take the following steps:
- Identify the goal and objectives — first, you need to figure out what kind of data you want to collect and analyze, and what insights you want to get from it. You also need to decide what products you are interested in and what features you plan to offer your customers.
- Select data sources — these may include vehicle sensors, telecommunications devices, GPS systems and other data sources.
- Connect your machines — develop and integrate the necessary hardware and software to connect your vehicles to the platform. This includes selecting appropriate communication technologies, sensors and data management systems.
- Store and manage data — you need to find a solution to handle the large volume of data. Depending on the amount of information you collect, you may want to use cloud-based solutions such as Amazon Web Services or Microsoft Azure.
- Develop analytical and visualization capabilities — Once you have data, you need to analyze it and gain insights. You must develop analytics and visualization technologies to help users understand the information collected.
- Define APIs — define application programming interfaces that enable Third Party Service Providers to access data generated by your machines. Make sure these APIs are well documented and easy to use.
- Partner with TPSPs — find and partner with organizations that can provide a variety of value-added services to your customers. This includes services such as predictive maintenance, telecommunications and infotainment.
- Ensure security and compliance — you must ensure that your vehicle data platform is secure and complies with applicable laws and regulations. This translates into protecting the privacy of data and ensuring its accuracy.
- Test and iterate — you need to check if the platform meets the needs of your users. You should collect feedback and use it to improve the platform over time.
- Monetize your data — identify opportunities to generate revenue by selling data to third-party service providers or using it to create new revenue streams.
Remember that building a vehicle data platform requires a team of skilled professionals with expertise in various fields. You should partner with an experienced software house or automotive engineering firm to get the help you need.
Vehicle data platform — summary
Using vehicle data platforms and using third-party services can bring you many benefits in the form of customer satisfaction, increased sales, optimized costs or improved business flexibility. It’s up to you exactly what features you offer and how you monetize the information collected. One thing is clear: to take advantage of connectivity and data-driven solutions, you need to start building a functional car data marketplace.