In Part 1 of our data analytics and the connected car series, we talked about the role that data will play in driving transformation across the transportation industry and in particular, connected vehicles.
In this article, we take a look at some of the ways connected vehicle data analytics, data mining algorithms and machine learning open up numerous use cases in the connected car environment. From predictive maintenance and safety monitoring to infrastructure planning and insurance, connected vehicle data enables powerful capabilities and endless possibilities.
The technology of the connected vehicle
As we discussed in our previous article, a “connected vehicle” is any vehicle that has the ability to communicate with the transport industry and/or cloud infrastructure and transmit relevant data to the cloud.
Many cars on the road today already contain the sensors, processors and onboard computers required to connect with the cloud. The resulting “chatter” gathered from these components will enable automotive companies, insurance companies and any other industry with a vested interest in connected car data to discover more about consumer behavior, vehicle performance and how vehicles are interacting with their surroundings.
According to Gartner, there will be more than 300 million connected cars on the road by 2021, and they will all be generating and gathering data. Everything from driver performance to engine performance will be collected, analysed and acted on in ways that have not been possible until now.
From predictive maintenance and safety monitoring to infrastructure planning and insurance, connected vehicle data enables powerful capabilities and endless possibilities.
The value of connected car data
By driving connected car data, companies can find new and evolving revenue streams and ways to reduce costs, improve marketing efforts and increase safety and security.
Here are just some of the use cases connected car data will create:
- Personalising the customer experience: Car manufacturers understand that providing their customers with the best experience can build trust, loyalty and affinity. By personalising the experience using connected data and delivering more compelling and relevant value propositions, automakers are turning their customers into brand advocates. For example, analytical models running on board your vehicle or in the cloud, can notify you in real-time of an impending issue and direct you to the nearest dealership. The dealership will also be notified that you are on the way and be ready to receive and repair your vehicle the moment you arrive. These seamless and personalised interactions will become more and more commonplace as more brands enter the domain of the connected vehicle.
- Location-based services and promotions: Who wouldn’t want to receive a voucher for a free cup of coffee on their mobile the moment they enter a petrol station? Location-based offers are just one of the benefits available when you extend the connected vehicle experience beyond the vehicle itself. More and more brands and local authorities are beginning to see the benefits of using a partner ecosystem to bring information and promotions direct to the driving seat. Targeted offers and greater awareness of weather, traffic, parking and petrol and charging station locations are just a taste of what is already available.
- Improving quality, safety and reliability: Moment-by-moment descriptive analytics allow car manufacturers to improve the quality, safety and reliability of their vehicles, all of which have long been competitive factors in the automotive industry. Cars are complex machines, and the sooner car companies can detect, prioritise and minimise issues, the better they can protect brand equity. Car safety designers, for example, can monitor road behaviour and driving patterns of all drivers that get behind the wheel of a particular vehicle and evaluate the patterns linked to risky and safe driving styles. Local authorities, looking to improve the conditions of their roads, can also use this data to detect and repair potholes.
- The ultimate mobile device: The car of the future will not only shape the driving experience for the driver behind the wheel but other road users, too. Vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) technology will allow onboard sensors and systems to communicate in the cloud with other cars. A car driving up ahead can send real-time weather updates and hazard information to all vehicles behind it. That’s great news for the driver of the convertible about to have her car interior soaked by a heavy downpour and the family on the way to their airport who can now choose another route to avoid a lorry spill up ahead. That’s not to mention the inclusion that is already happening in many vehicles of streaming entertainment apps, navigation apps and biometric systems.
The future for connected cars is on the way— and big data will get us there
The rich data streams generated by connected vehicles offers huge potential in terms of delivering value for drivers, insights to businesses and organisations and creating the smart city of the future. The necessary roads, sensors and apps are continuing to evolve to support the connected car in its journey towards a more pleasurable, efficient, safe and economic driving experience.