Introduction
Disruption brings transformation that changes lives for ages. Automotive brands that harness the power of digital transformation are preparing themselves and the world for the future of mobility. “EASCY” – electrified, autonomous, shared, connected, and “yearly” updated, defines mobility in the future where high-precision, scalability, sustainability, flexibility, and innovation will be at the core. According to a research paper by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) International Limited, with the growing changes in our mobility habits by 2030, ‘autonomous’ and ‘shared’ driving will significantly increase annual vehicle mileage in the following key markets.
Image Source Credit: PwC research
The approach is clear; however, the new era of mobility needs automotive digital transformation partners to attain the transition and focus on their core expertise, i.e., automotive manufacturing. When I say digital partner, the intention is clear: to onboard a digital technology company that brings the expertise that aligns with your automotive needs.
Take Tesla Inc. for example; the company has a vivid vision for its automotive, so it joined hands with Kryha. Kryha, being the technology partner, empowered Tesla Inc. with blockchain technology to responsibly trace and produce cobalt for their EVs (electric vehicles).
We have another example with the BMW Group and their iFACTORY, the revolutionary production plant for the future. BMW moved into a strategic digital technology partnership with SAP. SAP SE, the German multinational software and ERP Company, agreed to help the BMW Group to achieve connected factory capabilities with SAP’s cloud-driven solution architecture for automotive industries. It works as a cloud-based manufacturing intelligence application, giving real-time insights and keeping each production line and plant in sync.
BMW iFACTORY is the vision for ‘the future of car production’ by the leading German multinational manufacturer of luxury vehicles and motorcycles. “The Oxford plant is the first plant that will follow a global rollout within the BMW Group,” said Alexander Buresch, chief information officer and senior vice president of BMW Group IT. “From now on, more plants from the worldwide production network will be added every year until they all speak the same language. As part of our digitization and harmonization strategy, this new solution allows us to link relevant product, process, quality, and cost data, which enables data consistency and transparency across the production chain.”
Source: SAP Newsroom
“By 2030, about 95 percent of new vehicles sold globally will be connected, up from around 50 percent today,” as found in a McKinsey & Company research. Automakers must keep their digital transformation game up to meet the growing demands of technological advancements.
I’m not surprised by the strategic technological advancement of these leading automotive brands to redefine the future orientation of automotive manufacturing. It boils down to efficient, flexible, sustainable, scalable, and digital manufacturing technologies that foster the co-creation of ground-breaking mobility solutions.
However, I’ve also seen firsthand that some automotive manufacturers and OEMs find it challenging to select the right digital partner. Automotive manufacturers are ready to increase their digital investment and adopt technologies but are a little hesitant to co-innovate. The best way to deliver an agile and future-proof production line comes by understanding the role of a digital partner and their expertise to accelerate your automotive manufacturing capabilities.
With new technologies like cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), big data analytics, connected navigation, IoT solutions, and more, your digital partner must be an expert in these technologies to ease the technology integration. Their business understanding, consultation, and implementation expertise ensure a seamless transition to the digital landscape.
The amount of significant improvements in automotive operations keeps increasing every day, thanks to the digital transformation partner. Everything that happens in the real world has digital twins that help to control production costs and improve quality; automakers can leverage this for operation excellence. It results in maintaining high manufacturing uptime, increasing resource efficiency, improving cycle time, and supporting the agility required for new models, HEVs, EVs, autonomous, etc.
Digitization of weld in the automotive world is a perfect example where automotive manufacturing units can harness advanced process sensing technologies, AI (artificial intelligence), and ML (machine learning) algorithms to get real-time monitoring directly from laser welders and predict weld quality with possible defects to minimize the cycle time of the welding process, enhance weld quality, and mitigate defects that improve build quality, performance, and safety.
Following this, you need to look for a digital technology partner who aligns with your digital strategic objectives and has the right digital expertise and infrastructure. We often consider growth and satisfaction alongside, so the right digital technology enabler will also add value to the customer buying journey to improve their satisfaction. One of the most exciting technology adoptions is Scaled Agile Framework® (SAFe®) to achieve the LEAN enterprise goal. This Scaled Agile Framework® (SAFe®) enables automakers to move from traditional “v-model” hardware manufacturing to more agile manufacturing and production.
Parallel to this, I also recommend considering the cultural fit and legal compliance readiness of your digital partner. A digital technology partner who shares similar values and corporate culture with similar client success stories would be a great fit. It also ensures a similar safety culture and privacy of your customers’ sensitive data. It strengthens the partnership, avoids legal complications by adhering to the applicable compliances, and saves hefty litigation expenses.
The automotive industry’s focus on sustainability is reflected in the GREEN approach. Automakers prefer renewable energy sources, so they prefer their digital partner to be energy efficient with minimal carbon footprint. This might include customers’ belief in sustainability in your transformation journey — in line with the sustainable driving force for the future of production.
In recent years, automotive manufacturing has been navigating through complex developments. To accelerate their digital transformation, automotive manufacturers need the expertise of a digital partner who can fill the gaps with their strategic expertise and digital technology. From a product-focused automaker to a technology-platform-oriented process-focused automotive manufacturer, they need to embrace the change. These advancements in automotive digital transformation bring quality production, higher revenue, better safety and build quality, scalability, and more to the automotive manufacturing world.
It is an exciting time for automakers, yet they need to focus on selecting the right digital partner for at least the next 20 years. Make sure you have evaluated your digital partner before moving in for a strategic digital collaboration. However, if you’re yet to decide, then connect with us; we at Krish, Our expert automotive digital transformation consultation services, can help automakers, OEMs, and dealers define their digitalization journeys. And I’m looking forward to talking more about queries and challenges for digitalizing the future of mobility.
Fuelled by a relentless drive for digital innovation, Naresh Sambhawani is at the forefront of crafting transformative experiences within the dynamic realm of digital agencies. With a knack for pushing boundaries and leveraging emerging technologies, he specializes in creating captivating brand narratives that resonate deeply with audiences.
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