How to Develop Automotive Apps - Key Features and Categories
by Smitesh Singh, on Sep 2, 2021 5:06:03 PM
Connectivity has transitioned the world into an intricate network of components, people, and entities that communicate with one another to fulfill a number of vital use cases. This has been useful in industrial settings, particularly the automotive sector, and has empowered humans to perform tasks linked to the operation and maintenance of their vehicles through a mobile interface. Apps in the automotive field have typically served many different purposes. These include helping users navigate roads, finding affordable fuel, finding charging stations for EVs, and even tracking down their vehicles in crowded car parks. Moreover, with emerging technologies like AR/VR, IoT, Big Data, and Machine learning, a number of apps that directly foster vehicle maintenance have been creating a buzz amongst the customers.
In this blog, we will talk about how automotive mobile apps have been a fundamental investment for car manufacturers, dealers, and service providers in order to appeal to a modern consumer, seeking instant gratification with technology. Let’s begin by discussing the categories that these apps can fall under:
Car Diagnostic
Car diagnostics is made possible with the integration of an extra OBD2 system in a car. The OBD2 codes transmit and receive data from an automobile and can be used as a diagnostic tool by drivers and service centers. The OBD2 usage can help the users, as well as service providers, attain data on the status and condition of the car. This data includes statistics like oxygen sensor readings, pending trouble codes, fuel readings, emissions, along with other diagnostic features of a vehicle. These statistics when tapped into a mobile app can help drivers monitor service dates and avoid abrupt shutdowns.
Driver Safety
Apps can be a breakthrough in keeping drivers as well as pedestrians safe on the road, especially with self-driving cars. Being able to detect a minor gap in functioning, or an impending incident such as an accident due to say, steering wheel dysfunctioning can save drivers a lot of money while keeping them safe. Apps can also help raise an alert to the nearest service center, or hospital and offer navigation routes to it, in case of an accident, or urgency such as tire punctures.
Road condition monitoring
It is critical to know the conditions of the road to figure out the best route in terms of distance and fuel to reach a destination. All of that is possible with an application that gives users a way to monitor the road conditions anytime, anywhere, including remote areas. It can mark the risky parts of the road, quickest routes, gas charges, traffic jams, and the nearest police station via GPS, street cameras data, and other routing technologies.
Apps for Finding Charging Stations For EVs
With the rise of electric vehicles, there is going to be a booming demand for publicly accessible charging stations. An app can assist to find and navigate to the nearest public charging stations regardless of the network. It can also help filter the units that are compatible with a user’s vehicle. A driver can start and pay for charging with a tap and get real-time updates about his or her vehicle’s status right on his app. An app can also enable access to certain EV resources and let users share their feedback on charging stations for other EV owners.
Factors that need to be considered when developing automotive apps
The majority of developers can build a simple app for a car but facilitating hardware and software connectivity with third-party APIs need precision and skill. Developing apps that work alongside the car’s in-built systems and all the accompanying software is the real deal here. Here are the factors you need to consider:
Technological and market research
It is important to research and understand both the technical and market specifications of your product, and for this, it’s good to get your teams brainstorming right from the start. For example, any one of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or a traditional mobile network can be used to power the app connectivity. One needs to figure out the best options in terms of ROI and user’s ease of use.
The right developers
From IoT and design to voice services and technologies that are controlled by voice and gestures, the developers and designers should bring cross-functional talent and relevant experience to the table. AI experience can also help, in particular, in using this technological capability to inspect automotive components, parts and products, and identifying defects.
The right mobile technology stack
There are particular functions that the automotive industry requires, right from using the app to integrating with third-party APIs and leveraging IoT platforms to installing specific hardware and Bluetooth devices in the cars. You need to consider your target audience and also the kind of technology stack that you will need through the process.
Conclusion
A number of car companies are streamlining their manufacturing processes to provide seamless integration of mobility into their car designs. With leverage like that, neglecting app development for automotive can be a missed opportunity for customer retention and experience. Therefore car service providers, ISVs, and other associated professionals must consider allying up with a mobile application development services provider to begin their bit in the game.
