Bearingpoint : Revolutionizing Connected Car Ecosystem

Connected cars represent a new age in the automotive industry. It is rapidly becoming a key differentiator for consumers and OEMs are shifting focus from a car's hardware specifications to its connectivity and the services that on-boarding remote software and applications can provide. The primary factor propelling the growth of connected car technology is the rising number of road traffic accidents around the world. According to the WHO, road traffic crashes kill approximately 1.35 million people worldwide, and between 20 million to 50 million suffer non-fatal injuries. The accidents are commonly caused by driving under the influence, speeding, distracted driving, and unsafe vehicles. Connected cars have the potential to address these issues and reduce the probability of road accidents. To remain competitive, OEMs are developing innovative and easy-to-use connected car software and services but adopting new technology is not a simple task, especially in a sector that has remained stagnant for decades.

Based on the analysis, concepts, and comparisons within the automotive industry regarding new digital services, BearingPoint, an independent consulting firm, advises OEMs and helps increase sales, open new revenue streams, and improve customer relationships. The company delivers management and technology consulting directed at changing clients' businesses by creating customized solutions on a personal basis. Dedicated to clients' long-term development and success, BearingPoint delivers the highest levels of service through high performance, continuous improvement, and outstanding efficiency. “Digitalization and new ways of working have been dramatically accelerated, and 2020 reinforced our belief that we have the right platform for the future. Fundamentally, we succeed when we create value for our clients and society. In this context, the ability to innovate and create IP is one of our core strengths,” adds Kiumars Hamidian, Managing Partner, BearingPoint.

CONNECTED VEHICLES, DIGITAL ECOSYSTEMS, AND ELECTRIC MOBILITY

Connected vehicles have marked a remarkable structural and cultural shift in mobility as users, vehicles, and their environment is increasingly networked. This has an impact on the entire value chain of the automotive industry and its associated ecosystem. Currently, the networking of other vehicle components, as well as networking and integration of the vehicle into other industries, is an ongoing trend. An integral part of BearingPoint's portfolio is the rigorous integration of automotive products into the internet of things.

Along with connecting individual mobility segments to the smartphone, the next step is to connect the individual segments to each other.The concept of digital ecosystems enables the cooperation of car manufacturers, telecommunication companies, insurance companies, financial service providers,software and hardware providers, and public institutions on digital platforms. BearingPoint offers support through its Digital Ecosystem Management consulting approach.

The application focuses on the visualization, analysis, and optimization of the supply chain through digitalization and a more intuitive interface to provide all the information needed to get a holistic and detailed picture of a logistical network. Consequently, all relevant supply chain KPIs are available, inefficiencies are identified and a fast, transparent decision-making process is established.

TRANSFORMING INTO A SMART AUTONOMOUS FACTORY

BearingPoint is looking at solutions to address the current challenges in automotive production networks, from horizontal and vertical integration to the issue of how increasingly more existing data and data analyses can be used for process optimization. The ever-shorter go-to-market cycles, which require fast and error-free development processes, are a prominent challenge. Digitalization and increasing connectivity are enabling development and planning processes to optimize a virtual image of products, production facilities, and entire plants. This is referred to as the digital twin, and BearingPoint intends to utilize this technology to increase efficiency. The basis for the virtual images is intelligent 3D models, which are supplied in real-time with all the process parameters and functions of the real object. This allows for a realistic simulation in a computer-assisted environment with the aim of providing all the information that would be obtained during a physical inspection. Predictions about malfunctions can be made by feeding real-time data into the model and software can be used to optimize the process.

Efficient production and logistics have become a decisive success factor in addition to the interlinking of development and planning processes for rapid market readiness. BearingPoint helps clients achieve logistics excellence with the in-house software solution Factory Navigator. The Factory Navigator is an innovative software product for the simulation and optimization of production and logistics processes. The solution addresses and solves logistics problems from storage to distribution and enables clients to achieve challenging goals. Factory Navigator provides in-depth understanding through precise models and captures processes at the right detail level. These results are then used to optimize logistics processes, carry out risk assessments and reduce costs. In addition, Factory Navigator enables automated model generation from various data sources and tailor-made analytical models automatically created from company-specific data using various interfaces.

Moving forward, BearingPoint will aims to place a greater focus on digital to its portfolio focused on digitalization, regulation and analytics, by creating new IP and services, and expanding its partner ecosystem fueled by innovation. “We want to develop our services around IP and advanced technologies such as AI, Robotics, and Cyber Security, to push the advisory of our clients on new business models and quickly help put them into practice,” concludes Hamidian.