Technologies That Power the Industry 4.0
Initiatives in the Auto Sector

Transportation is changing owing to the Industry 4.0 initiatives in the automotive industry. The development of connected cars that can communicate with one another and their surroundings is being made possible by the application of IoT in the automotive sector. Smarter systems and increased efficiency are the results of this connectedness.

Besides, the old car ownership model is being challenged by the rise of electric vehicles and ridesharing services, which are being developed with a mobility-focused perspective. As it stands, several technologies are powering the Industry 4.0 efforts. Let's discuss them in detail.

The Internet of Things allows seamless system and device communication (IoT). Every device with an on/off switch can be connected to the Internet (and other devices) to send and receive data. These "smart devices" can communicate with one another without requiring human intervention.

IoT technology has lately improved in the automotive sector to increase cars' effectiveness, efficiency, and speed. Here's a rundown of the same:

• Predictive maintenance is made possible by IoT, which enables automakers to gather real-time data from vehicle sensors and systems. This allows them to identify maintenance issues before they arise. This lowers costs and avoids downtime.
• Smart traffic management: IoT is used to improve traffic control systems by helping reduce congestion and improve safety. Networked automobiles, sophisticated traffic signals, and dynamic route planning are all involved.

Toyota's Guardian and Tesla's Autopilot are excellent examples of IoT transforming the market. The semi-autonomous driving functions of Tesla's Autopilot are facilitated via cameras, sensors, and GPS. The innovative safety system called Guardian from Toyota can take over control of the car in an emergency.

The idea of mobility is changing how transportation and commuting are perceived. This includes the development of electric and driverless vehicles and altering the established business paradigms in the sector. MaaS (mobility as a service) and ridesharing, for instance, are expanding the market for automakers and mobility service providers. Following are some ways mobility is changing the sector:

• Electric Vehicles: By reducing pollution and improving efficiency, electric vehicles are revolutionising the auto industry. New business models and creative solutions, including battery swapping and charging infrastructure, are being constructed owing to the same.
• Autonomous Vehicles: These vehicles can navigate independently using AI and sensors.
• MaaS and Ridesharing: With the growth of MaaS and ridesharing, automakers and mobility service providers now have the opportunity to create new services and business models that better cater to the consumers' commute needs.

Today, data is being generated across every touchpoint - thanks to IoT, connected vehicles, autonomous driving, and more. Vehicles are now producing exponentially more data. Understandably, the demand for improved analytics capabilities has also increased dramatically. That's because big data analytics can help create better products, improve the existing ones, provide holistic insights into the market's uncertainties, open opportunities to add new products and services to the mix, boost sales, reduce operational costs, and more. The potential applications are endless.

Gaining insights into consumer preferences and behaviour is one of the most popular uses of big data in the auto sector. For instance, General Motors (GM) analyses data from its OnStar telematics system using machine learning algorithms to forecast which vehicles will require maintenance before they break down. Because of this, GM's dealerships can plan maintenance visits before customers detect any issues with their cars, helping them avoid spending time and money on pointless repairs.

Plus, big data is frequently used in the automotive sector to enhance vehicle design. Many automakers now quickly prototype new models using 3D printing technology instead of spending time and money creating expensive models. This reduces costs and improves quality control throughout production runs.

Several automakers are enhancing driver safety by utilising big data. For instance, Mercedes-Benz has created a system that employs cameras and microphones to observe how drivers behave when operating a vehicle, such as using a cell phone or looking at maps, to ascertain whether they are distracted and want assistance remaining awake.

Due to the growing demand for self-driving cars, the auto industry is swiftly approaching a revolution in which robots will mostly replace people in labour-intensive tasks. This trend has already started with autonomous robots for assembly lines and quality monitoring tasks.

Autonomous robots' primary objective is to increase productivity by automating routine operations or procedures that otherwise slow down production lines and raise expenses. For instance, numerous automakers are beginning to test parts using autonomous robots as part of their quality control processes before putting pieces into automobiles.

Currently, the auto industry, led by companies like Tesla, is one of the most valuable industries in the world. Companies like General Motors and Toyota invest a hefty share of the budget in R&D to stay competitive - and this bodes well for the future of robotics in the sector.

Because cloud computing enables users to access data from any device with an Internet connection, such as their smartphone or tablet, auto businesses no longer need to download or manage large files locally. Instead of investing significantly in expensive physical equipment and software licenses, organisations can rent cloud resources as needed from cloud service providers.

By improving efficiencies and lowering costs, cloud computing can assist automakers in transforming their operations. BMW, for instance, has been employing Microsoft Azure for its ConnectedDrive services. This works to connect automobiles and smartphones so drivers can access information such as traffic conditions or parking availability while driving. Because these services need a lot of data processing capacity, cloud computing becomes immensely viable.

The automobile sector has rapidly transformed with the advent of Industry 4.0 technologies. By utilising these technologies, automakers can reduce costs, increase output, and improve product quality in terms of dependability, safety, and fuel efficiency.

Interested in learning more about how to implement these technologies within your business ecosystem? Get in touch with our experts today!