In a bid to support fleets to access telematics, software solutions, real-time vehicle data, and third-party applications directly from their vehicles, Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA), in collaboration with Platform Science, launched Virtual Vehicle, the first open OEM platform.
According to DTNA, the platform provides the tools to manage those applications, connectivity, and the mobile devices drivers need to use them. Virtual Vehicle represents a platform-first approach that offers customers greater value and a significantly expanded choice of software-enabled services.
Virtual Vehicle is another example of DTNA's expanding solutions that go beyond vehicle sales and service; with the platform's introduction, the company enhances the driver experience by offering nearly limitless software-enabled and ROI-enhancing applications.
DTNA is the first OEM to use the cloud, edge, and in-dash technology to provide native in-vehicle mobile technology, enabling customers to distribute, manage and facilitate driver applications and connected vehicle services.
The platform gives fleets the ultimate flexibility to choose third-party apps, mix or match telematics service provider (TSP) applications, or bring their own. This allows truck buyers to customise their experiences down to an app-by-app and driver-by-driver level for the first time and create in-cab technology experiences that best suit their specific business objectives, then evolve them whenever they choose to do so.
The Virtual Vehicle platform offers many benefits to fleets, including improved productivity, flexibility and accessibility, besides being cost-effective.
Sanjiv Khurana, Head of the connected services group, Daimler Truck, said, 'With Virtual Vehicle, we offer our customers an open digital solutions and services platform that allows them to choose fleet applications that best meet their needs. The system is seamlessly enabled in our trucks, without the need for installing any additional telematics hardware, or the associated costs and loss of uptime. Through our collaboration with Platform Science, we are building on the strong connectivity already integrated into our trucks, and offering unprecedented flexibility, efficiency and scalability.'
Jack Kennedy, Co-founder & CEO, Platform Science, said, 'Before Virtual Vehicle, OEMs, enterprise fleets, and developers were restricted in their ability to innovate because hardware and software were so interconnected. It was difficult to change one without impacting the other. Virtual Vehicle finally unlocks that. Fleets can now choose software anytime they want, without the inconvenience and wasted investment in hardware that customers have historically had to deal with just to get new apps. We are thrilled to partner with DTNA and support them on this journey to make customers' lives easier and easier as the world innovates faster and faster.'