Category

Telematics

Dec 22
Doctor and Boy Looking at Thermometer (Norman Rockwell, 1954)

Your Car Is Not your Wallet; And It Isn’t Your Health Monitor Either

By Automotive, Autonomous, Connected, Electric, Shared Vehicles, Telematics No Comments

From time to time I review technical papers on mobility topics that range from artificial intelligence in autonomous driving to future mobility models.

Earlier today, I reviewed a paper describing a driver health monitoring system. The concept has been proposed in the past in various forms of sensors built into the steering wheel, the seat cushion or the back rest to monitor the driver’s vital signs and detect signs of stress or an impending heart attack or a stroke.

Setting aside the technical challenges in implementing such a system—which are numerous—my view of a health monitoring system built into car is similar to my point of view expressed in a previous blog post, in which I discuss vehicle-based payment applications. Read More

Dec 19
Dollar Sign (Andy Warhol, 1982)

Automakers are Wrong: Your Car Is NOT Your Wallet

By Automotive, Autonomous, Connected, Electric, Shared Vehicles, Internet of Things (IoT), Telematics One Comment

A  Forbes article titled Your Car Is Your Wallet: Connected Cars And The Future Of Fintech describes a not-so-distant future in which you zip through toll booths, refuel—or recharge, as the case may be—your car, pick up an order at your favorite drive-through restaurant, or park your car, all without having to rummage through your wallet for cash or a credit card.

These and copious other conveniences offered by connected cars are quickly becoming a reality. Automakers incorporate a growing number of payment applications directly in the car’s infotainment system, offering simplicity, convenience, and added safety of mobile payments directly from the vehicle.

Automakers and fintech pundits alike use the phrase “your car is your wallet” to describe this idea. It is intriguing and convincing, for sure. But it’s also out of alignment with consumer habits and expectations. Read More

Oct 29
Steam Shovel in front of Hollywoodland Sign (C. 1925)

Caterpillar: Smart Iron Delivers Customer Value

By Automotive, Telematics 2 Comments

From Product Promise of the Past to the Promise of the Future

In the pre digital revolution economy, products were defined by technical features and detailed specifications that product marketers and designers believed were important to customers. Product companies enumerated technical specifications and delineated contract terms to which they promised to adhere.

In the digital era, the product promise of the past is quickly transforming into the product promise of the future, in which the competitive edge is achieved not by technical specifications but rather by the ability to help customers realize meaningful business outcomes.

The key to success in the era of the pervasive digitalization and ubiquitous connectivity of the Industrial Internet of Things is to shift the product strategy away from tightly controlling products and supply chains, and waging price wars aimlessly and in vain, to focusing on delivering and measuring customer value. Product thinking must shift from inside the company to customer value and a dynamic, interconnected, and collaborative ecosystem that continually realigns itself around worthy innovation. Read More

Jun 28
JCB JS290

Telematics Helps JCB Ride Market Growth

By Internet of Things (IoT), Telematics One Comment

Earthmoving and construction equipment company JCB has high aspirations. The world’s third-largest construction equipment manufacturer by volume, is banking on the strong Indian construction and agricultural sectors to drive market growth.

JCB India’s 2016 revenue and sales volume grew almost 40% over 2015. With the Union budget of India for 2017-2018 focus on additional investments in farming and infrastructure building, the company hopes to experience strong growth in 2018, albeit not at the same levels as a couple of years ago. Read More

Jul 14
Michelangelo's 'David'

Tesla: The Public as Crash Test Dummies

By Automotive, Telematics 3 Comments

The recent fatal collision involving a Tesla car while in Autopilot self-driving mode, followed by another major crash a week later, and multiple less dramatic rear-end collisions, are calling attention not only to the state of autonomous-driving technology itself but also to the public perception and trust in self-driving cars.

Developing autonomous driving capabilities that are safe under most conditions is proving to be as difficult and time consuming as some have predicted. Most manufacturers are taking a conventional path, adding driver-assistance features gradually and building toward full or near-full autonomy that they expect to mature by the end of this decade. But Tesla, famous for its willingness to challenge the status quo and take business and technology risks, has chosen a much faster, if riskier, route.
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