Automakers Pursue Projected $5.5B Commercial Connected Services Market

Businesses with a fleet of any size can make the most of those vehicles and the drivers’ time by managing them based on data. Automakers and aftermarket suppliers have been rolling out and refining hardware and software that enable fleets to monitor in real time, record and better understand telematics from their vehicles, including vehicle location, driving behaviors and maintenance needs.

Ford Pro, a business within Ford Motor Company that focuses on products and services for business and government customers, reports that the network effect of its commercial solutions can potentially reduce the total cost of ownership by 10% to 20%.

On Jan. 26, Ford Pro launched a new Ford Pro Intelligence platform designed for commercial businesses of any size or vocation. This cloud-based fleet management platform collects data and provides insights about the operation of both fuel-powered and electric vehicles. It also incorporates Salesforce and digital tools to help businesses communicate with their customers.

Integrating an Intelligent Management System

Using telematics data, the platform tracks vehicles so managers can deliver real-time updates to customers waiting for products or services, provides vehicle health alerts so managers know when it requires service, monitors speed and harsh braking so managers can coach drivers, and records fuel consumption and idling time so managers can identify ways to improve efficiency.

A companion app includes a pre-trip checklist so drivers can spot problems before hitting the road. For customers with electric vehicles, Ford Pro Intelligence also provides data on each vehicle’s range and the optimal time to charge.

“We are integrating an intelligent management system with the trucks and vans our customers love,” Ford Motor Company CEO Jim Farley said in a press release. “More data, more uptime, more productivity, smart charging and much less hassle.”

Facilitating Interesting Payment Models

Ford Pro’s offerings as well as the rest of Ford Motor Co.’s eCommerce strategy will be facilitated by the company’s recently announced five-year partnership with Stripe.

James Dyett, head of global product sales and payments performance at Stripe, told PYMNTS that Stripe will be a payment service provider for Ford and its dealers in Europe and North America, making its cars ultimately function as tokenized wallets.

“We can facilitate all sorts of interesting payment models with Ford once they’ve moved onto the Stripe infrastructure,” Dyett told Karen Webster.

For one thing, under the Stripe-Ford venture, consumers can put in a reservation on a vehicle, put down a relatively small deposit online — processed by Stripe — and be connected to their nearest dealer. Stripe will also enable Ford Pro FinSimple solutions for commercial customers.

Beyond buying a car online, the payments engagement will extend to charging electric vehicles, underpinning Ford’s eCommerce offerings and other models.

Read more: Ford-Stripe Partnership Aims to Transform Cars Into Tokenized Wallets

Building an Always-On Relationship with Customers

Offering dedicated services to commercial customers and expanding its range of subscription-based connected services are two key strategies of Ford Pro. It reports that since the formation of Ford Pro in May 2021, the number of vehicles enrolled in revenue-generating subscriptions has increased 30%.

“Ford Pro is leading Ford’s transformation to an always-on relationship with our customers and it is one of our biggest bets to lead the connected, electric mobility future,” Farley said.

Ford Pro also reports that the total addressable market for the commercial connected services business in North America will grow to $5.5 billion in 2025.

Streamlining Fleet Management

Ford rival General Motors (GM) offers a fleet telematics solution called OnStar Vehicle Insights that features a vehicle locator, vehicle health, driver behavior, performance insights, daily trip summaries and remote commands. With remote commands, drivers can lock, unlock and remote start the vehicle from a website or app.

In July 2021, GM made available hardware that enables this service to be added to non-GM vehicles as well as GM vehicles not equipped with OnStar hardware.

“Our goal is to help make fleet management as easy and efficient as possible for our current and future customers,” Ed Peper, U.S. vice president, GM Fleet, said in a press release. “We know many customers have mixed fleets, and we believe there is a significant benefit in streamlining the process and monitoring a whole fleet using our singular platform.”