Automotive Industry
Technology is impacting all aspects of a business. There are countless industries that are being transformed because of the leaps and bounds of technology. One of those is the automotive industry. Your mind probably immediately thinks of things like autonomous driving and electric cars. But there are many other ways the industry is being changed – along with it people’s expectations of what automotive is.
These changes are not just down to the downright change in cars. The automotive industry isn’t just looking inwards when it comes to technology and its impact. A big driver of the industry is the people that consume it. Societies have changed as technology has found its way to every corner. For example, one of the earliest changes to the automotive sector was the introduction of the mall. Cities started to develop around these big structures and move away from small communal spaces. Urbanization created varying needs for cars and unique ways in how we used them. Of course, these didn’t just change the private automotive industry but the public sector as well. Things such as metro connections became much more important.
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The challenge of eco-friendly driving
Now the big challenge to the sector comes from eco-friendliness. The world is struggling to combat climate change and calls for radical actions are ringing everywhere. It’s undeniable that the automotive industry has played its role in the situation and so it must play a role in the solution.
The challenge is that eco-friendly solutions will also need to match the current demand for mobility. Society will not look kindly in having mobility reduced. Residents around the world want safe, efficient and environmentally friendly solutions to mobility issues. The automotive industry will have to work hard to find an answer to these challenges. The good news is that technology is a likely comrade in this fight.
Automation – the next big thing
Automation in the mobility sector can come into play in unique ways. First, you have the self-driving technologies that are already at play in public transport. Many different regions in the world utilize self-driving trains and metros. Think for example the Dubai Metro which has layers of autonomy. However, even these systems at the moment are often not completely autonomous. Similarly, many current self-driving vehicles for private use only utilize aspects of autonomy. For example, you might find cars that can park alone but will still require human attention to many other tasks. But technology will continue to develop and fully autonomous cars, trains and the like might not be so far in the future.
One of the areas of interest will be the development of not only autonomous cars but autonomous mobility systems. This means frameworks where cars are talking to each other. This can add to the safety of these vehicles but also help with things like eco-friendliness. For example, public transport can better adjust to times when need is higher and times when it slows down. Furthermore, cars can reduce congestion by being more aware of problematic areas. Not to mention the ability to change course in cases of traffic accidents and the like, for instance.
Electric vehicles – creating the automotive of the future
Electric cars are becoming a bigger thing. The demand for electric vehicles is increasing across the globe. It has led to the development of home energy systems that adapt to your changing needs. With your electric vehicle charger, you can convert its battery into a backup power source by using solar energy. Some automotive industries are even looking to be fully electric within less than a decade. However, electric vehicles are still far from being the standard option for many people.
If the industry wants to tackle issues like sustainability, there needs to be a lot more focus on electric vehicles. But more than that, the industry should also work beyond it. Electric vehicles might not be a permanent sustainable solution and so the industry should continue to look forward. There might be technologies that could be better suited for the environmental challenges that we are faced with.
A new society – responding to the challenges of the future
There is one more area where the automotive industry will need to play a role and utilize technology. That is the changing scenery of the way we communicate and work. It might seem odd to include this as something for the automotive industry but mobility is part of the way we work.
Look at many of the HR software companies in Dubai. They are introducing a lot of features that focus on the new norm of remote work. Not only did the coronavirus pandemic push people to work from home, but technological advances have meant that work can be done remotely even without the pandemic forcing your hand.
This is also something worth noting for the automotive industry. Not only can it result in their workforce being more remote, but also introduce new ways people use vehicles.
For example, people might be able to start their workdays in the car of the future. When self-driving vehicles become fully autonomous, we won’t use vehicles just as a feature to get from one place to another.
We’ll also use these spaces as work and leisure spaces. Car rides could be a moment to have a business negotiation. You could even attend a job interview on the train of tomorrow!
Looking forward
When it comes to any industry in the modern world, using and utilizing technology is essential. Companies need to make sure they are taking part in the technological revolution. This starts from the HR department to the sales sector. Automotive industries are no different. In fact, they are often the driving forces of innovation. Furthermore, technological innovation and the need for more sustainable solutions are transforming the industry and the way we view and use vehicles in the first place. It’s no wonder then that many of the big industry specialists are looking forward to unleashing new technologies. If you want to look to a sector that could lead the digitalization of tomorrow, then you could really benefit from paying close attention to the automotive sector.