Achieving after-sales engagement can be a smooth journey with OEM telematics solutions. Thanks to the capabilities of vehicle telematics for delivering value to customers and staying relevant. However, being an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) you can find it challenging to choose the right connected-mobility solutions out of many available alternatives. Let’s explore what challenges integrated telematics in OEMs currently face.
Shortcomings of OEM Telematics Solutions In Ensuring After-Sales Engagements
As the automotive industry is growing perennially, it becomes extremely essential for OEMs to improve after-sales engagement. What’s the reason? Well, better end-user experiences hold a huge opportunity for generating higher revenue after selling a vehicle. However, due to the lack of some data-driven tools, these experiences continue to remain poor. Here are a few shortcomings of telematics solutions in OEMs:
Failure to generate customer interest and segregate their services
Nowadays, the biggest issue that OEMs have to encounter in gaining customer loyalty is the difficulty in the smooth execution of services. And the reason is complex onboarding and installation processes that fail to differentiate their services from the competitors. Moreover, poor connectivity is another issue that reduces customer engagement after selling a vehicle.
Hurdles to enable effective data monetization options during the vehicle life cycle period
When effective data monetization is essential throughout the vehicle’s lifecycle, some OEMs still can’t achieve it. These hurdles restrain OEMs from building their brand through end-user applications.
Problems in achieving a scalable ecosystem
The service requirements for a vehicle telematics solution might vary from user to user. And several OEMs still fail to achieve a scalable ecosystem where the users are only paying for the services which they are using.
Less secure TCUs (Telematics Control Units)
TCUs from OEMs are still prone to security attacks due to the lack of onboard Hardware Security Modules (HSMs). Consequently, it can negatively affect their market reputation while reducing the number of repeat customers, at the same time.
How Will Effective OEM Telematics Solutions Boost After-Sales Engagements?
There are ample instances when integrated telematics solutions in OEMs can ensure better customer engagement after selling a vehicle. Let’s dive in and explore each of them in detail.
A Strong Vehicle Management System
Having a strong vehicle management system is gradually becoming a necessity due to the AIS 140 certification parameters set by the government. According to this parameter, the device should necessarily include tracking ability via GPS navigation. Enlisted below are two essential solutions for boosting after-sales engagement in OEMs:
An Integrated Device Life Cycle Manager
The device life cycle manager offers an effective device login and registration portal for adding new devices. So, OEMs can upload and update vehicle data accordingly.
Being an OEM, all you need to do is fill up the entries, including Device manufacturer code, serial no., device model code, IMEI number, and Device model name. What next? The end-users can download the generated certificate.
An Effective SIM Card Management System
Similar to the device life cycle manager, the sim manager also includes a few pre-made templates. These templates allow the users to view and update the status of their vehicles’ KYC, such as:
Device model code
Device manufacturer code
SIM provider’s code
Activation type, and more.
2. Custom End User Applications
The biggest thing that custom end-user applications do is to establish their brand through ultimate end-user experiences. Here is where they need an effective OEM telematics solution to offer the best tools for standing out in a connected world.
Custom end-user app solutions let OEMs swiftly build and monetize a globally connected vehicle program with multi-regional variations. Furthermore, these solutions can help end-users perform operations like:
Asset Tracking
Fleet Management
Anti-theft Use Cases
Driver Behaviour Assessment
3. Regular Vehicle Health Analysis For Enhancing Vehicle’s Life Cycle
Another important aspect that OEM telematics solutions cover is the regular analysis of the vehicle’s health. Even the Government of India (GOI) is paying attention to regular vehicle checkups in its newly introduced road safety policy.
According to the National Road Safety Policy, the Government of India sets certain norms when it comes to introducing safer vehicles in the market. The purpose of these norms is to minimize the adverse safety and environmental impact of vehicle operation on road users.
Thus, it becomes essential for OEMs to regularly ensure the safety features of their manufactured vehicles.
Here are a few good things that regular health checkups in connect-vehicles will offer to promote after-sales engagements with end-users:
Ensures vehicle’s safety by enhancing its longevity
Prevents road accidents with timely vehicle service reminders
4. Integration of Firmware over the air (FOTA)
Since the introduction of Firmware over the air (FOTA) in connected vehicles, the sales of such vehicles is gradually increasing. Thanks to the FOTA updates that are creating reliable, robust, and affordable methods for securely managing the ECU. These changes in the configuration of connected vehicles undeniably result in endless customer delight.
For instance, Tesla integrated the dog mode into its connected cars for ensuring the well-being of pets inside the cabin. The dog mode is a climate control feature that allows drivers to keep their pets safe in a climate-controlled cabin. The driver can adjust the car’s temperature from warm to cool, depending on the climatic conditions.
Indeed, FOTA updates will benefit both OEMs and customers. It will help OEMs in reducing vehicle recall costs. Similarly, customers won't have to worry about the hassle of getting the vehicle back to the dealers.
5. Better Integrations With Existing Automotive Solutions
One more benefit of having an effective OEM telematics solution is improved connectivity with the existing automotive solutions. It will allow dealers to get insights into the data of vehicles that require maintenance.
Moreover, if the vehicle user relocates from one city to another, the dealer of the existing city will get a notification for the vehicle’s maintenance. It will reduce the workload of the dealer from whom the customer actually bought the vehicle. This existing Dealer Management System will ensure impeccable functionality with the help of a strong FOTA solution, including:
Device Group Manager for ensuring an organized way to manage device data of various vehicles
OTA Campaign Manager for helping OEMs schedule vehicle health checkup campaigns
Wrapping it up:
Indeed, platform-based OEM telematics solutions can transform the future of the automotive industry. Whether it’s about creating a strong vehicle management system, scheduling regular vehicle health analysis, or integrating custom end-user apps, the perks are endless.
Hopefully, this article post will give you ample reasons why embracing telematics solutions in OEMs is essential for ensuring after-sales engagement. Feel free to connect with vehicle telematics experts to know a few more good things about connected vehicles.