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Connected car app: a connected prototype for a luxury OEM

An iOS-based prototype of a luxury connected vehicle application

Challenge

Growing customer loyalty with connected technology

Growing customer loyalty with connected technology

Bamboo Apps were tasked with developing a connected car application prototype for a luxury vehicle manufacturer based in England. The goal was to create a secure connected car mobile app to increase consumer confidence and trust. The software had to closely follow the OEM’s brand image, carrying a luxurious feel, while being easy to use.

Initially, the solution was supposed to be specifically made for two vehicle programs. However, it needed to come with the ability to expand it to more product lines and add more functionality in the future. That way a customer would use the same app throughout and have a consistent user experience, regardless of their vehicle model.

Solution

A seamless and reach experience

Bamboo Apps developed a secure and scalable prototype of the connected vehicle application for iOS. In addition to possessing all the signature elements of the OEM’s luxurious design, it provided a smooth user experience to its brand customers.

The application tracked the vehicle’s condition, its location, provided remote control over the in-vehicle climate and functionality (headlights, horn, etc.), delivered service reminders, supported over-the-air updates, and much more.

A seamless and reach experience
Elaboration

Utilising connectivity capabilities to the maximum

The conceptual architecture of the app involved the usage of IT services (Cloud Data Warehouse, Enterprise API, and B2C – Azure AD – authentication) and three different connected car apps, which included the mobile application for iOS and Android, the OEM’s web portal, and a business intelligence solution.

The connected vehicle software prototype was developed only for the mobile app, but it already offered users an impressive number of features. The most standout ones were as follows.

Tyre pressure status

Tyre pressure status

The app displayed the pressure of each tyre on a graphic and gave the ability to plot the delta on a graph from a chosen journey. So the app got both the spec and the actual pressure at the point of shut down, and then generated the deltas.

Unlock and lock doors

Unlock and lock doors

The app displayed the status of the car doors: whether they are locked, unlocked, or open. This information was shown on the overhead graphic of the car.

Geo-fencing

Geo-fencing

Users could define a limited geographical area within which the car was supposed to operate using GPS data. So when the vehicle left a predefined geographical area, the app sent a push notification to the owner.

EV charge and fuel status

EV charge and fuel status

Drivers are allowed to remotely initiate and stop electric charging, as well as to set specific charging times (when it’s the cheapest, for example), and set custom alerts.

Find my car

Find my car

The app could point out the location of the vehicle on a map and automatically set walking directions to the car. That was done by receiving a GPS coordinate from the car, and then using a third-party map (Google) to generate directions.

Climate control

Climate control

The software could precondition the cabin to a predetermined temperature or begin conditioning in response to a certain input – departure, for example.

Headlight flash & horn

Headlight flash & horn

The app allowed the driver to remotely trigger a headlight flash and the car’s horn beep.

Vehicle tracking

Vehicle tracking

The app could receive GPS coordinates from the car and render in on a third-party map (Google).

Service reminders

The prototype tracked the mileage and time left until the next service was due. The driver received a notification when the vehicle was within either 500 miles or 3 months of the next service, showed the location of the nearest dealership, and gave the user the option to book a service in advance.

Warning notifications

The application could issue push notifications for a variety of events. A warning was issued when the vehicle exceeded the speed limit, had a low battery charge, or if one of its components required service.

Parking POI

The connected vehicle app provided up-to-date parking information by means of a dedicated parking service, which allowed drivers to quickly find parking spots close to their current location.

Charging POI

The app allowed users to search for charge points along a route based on start range and the remaining distance to the destination. It also had a smart filter that only showed applicable charge points.

Car battery status
Results

Successful delivery

The application prototype was delivered successfully, boasting high functionality, security, and scalable architecture. It served as the perfect representation of the OEM’s brand, providing a consistent user experience, complimented by a sophisticated and intuitive design.