Prasad Satyavolu, Head of Innovation for Manufacturing and Logistics, Cognizant

OREANDA-NEWS. “Automotive manufacturers are increasingly seeking to develop a more “Connected Car” to include not only Internet access, sensors and smartphone-like features, but also integrate capabilities around social, mobile, analytics and cloud (SMAC) into the telematics ecosystem,” says Prasad Satyavolu. “This marks a huge shift not just for automotive and allied industries, but also for associated industries such as insurance, technology, utilities and transportation and logistics.” Excerpts:

“What’s more, advertising companies are also showing interest in the data from Connected Cars, which they can use to target specific audiences. Since it is a relatively new area for these industries, they are seeking to partner with technology companies to help them establish a telematics roadmap and eventually support implementation of an IT solution.

The convergence of telecommunications and information processing now has the potential to transform the way the automotive industry operates. We are seeing much more advanced technology, such as telematics systems, that enable the car to transmit and receive information from its manufacturer, meaning that any potential service issues or malfunctions can be diagnosed and an alert sent to the driver. Telematics systems in the future—a system which is already being developed by SARTRE (Safe Road Trains for the Environment)—could even enable ‘road trains’ where one lead vehicle on a road is followed semi-autonomously by several others.

The idea of the Connected Car is not just a dream for the future anymore. According to GSMA, there will be an almost sevenfold increase in the number of new cars equipped with mobile connectivity designed to meet demand among regulators and consumers for safety and security features, as well as infotainment and navigation services.

Now is the time for car manufacturers to take advantage of what telematics technology can offer to lay the foundations for seamless urban mobility as well as driverless cars.”