SAP AG and BMW Group Research and Technology announced today they have co-developed a personalized technology infrastructure for in-vehicle mobility services as part of a joint innovation project. The prototype utilizes the SAP HANA® Cloud Platform and will provide personalized services to drivers based on their location and route.
The collaboration, which brings SAP one step closer to making its vision of the connected car a reality, was announced today at the 2014 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain.
The cloud-based platform from SAP serves as a link between BMW and external partners that provide services such as parking, fuel, beverages and food. Information from the various partners is aggregated in a virtual marketplace that, in the future, could allow BMW to give passengers and drivers contextualized and personalized offerings via mobile devices or the in-car dashboard. The SAP back end enables service providers to combine services and create new offerings tailored to particular driver and passenger preferences.
So far, BMW and SAP have developed prototypes for parking and retail “couponing” solutions. Based on the driver’s profile and vehicle location, the system provides an appropriate space close to the driver’s destination. Related information such as fees and suitability for particular vehicles are also displayed. Once the driver selects a parking space, the location is transmitted to the navigation system for routing guidance.
Drivers will also be able to receive information on retail and other local deals based on his or her current location, selected route and individual preferences. To help avoid distractions while driving, the driver can control the frequency with which the deals are displayed. Deals can be bookmarked and, as in the parking use case, the store location can be transmitted directly to the navigation system for routing guidance. The selected coupon is then sent to the driver’s smartphone and can be redeemed immediately at the point of purchase.
SAP's vision to consistently enrich drivers’ experiences and provide the convenience consumers expect from a connected and social world — in or out of the vehicle — fits perfectly with BMW's BMW i initiative, which aims to provide drivers with personal logistics and mobility solutions. SAP says the goal of their standardized "connected car" platform is for auto manufacturers to be able to leverage SAP’s network of service providers with little additional work.
To learn more, watch a video, “SAP Is Developing Innovative Mobility and Value-Added Services for the Car of the Future.”
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