OEM data platform direct access is not scalable

As we assessed the fleet services market globally in preparation for the big launch this week, we looked at how commercial vehicle manufacturers were using their data, partnering and/or providing direct services.

In the US, trucks manufacturers are using embedded TSP to give access to diagnostics data, even Volvo and Daimler. In Europe all trucks OEMs besides IVECO is using their own proprietary framework, making mix fleet management that much more difficult.

Cloud access to the vehicle data is therefore not new in trucks. In cars and LCV, it is just about starting. Cars have been connected for year, OnStar started in 1999 but it is really now that we need access to car data. Now that cars start becoming more autonomous.

BMW CarData as it was explained last month is an other example of the close loop model whereby the customer of the data has to connect to the OEM cloud. That might work for large leasing companies but it won’t for insurers, small fleet managers or multi brand repair networks.

Such “mixed-fleet” service providers would need to connect to many OEMs clouds in order to access their own book of business. It quickly makes more sense to install their own aftermarket device.

There are no standards as to the type, quality and frequency of the data published on those platforms. So after “Insurance A” manages to connect to all the OEMs clouds in its market, it will need to reformat all the dataset to insure they are comparable and aggregatable.

Also, through that model, OEMs can sell data, not (really) services. If we consider the manufacturer’s priority to be the driver/ customer relationship for repairs, parts and maintenance, then data is not enough.

For this cloud data to be truly valuable, they need to include all vehicles and allow for comparison and analysis. This suggest OEMs will have to accept to let aggregators connect to their clouds.

These “neutral servers” will have the power to access, store and analyse many brands of vehicle data and provide a dedicated service to their industry.

They will also be responsible for the security of the data and the privacy management – that suggest deleting driver information when the car changes hand.

Insurance companies have been working with cooperative databases for years, can truck and car manufacturers start sharing data now?

You can download the connected fleet services report’s new abstract here