Accenture and SEAT have agreed to collaborate to build a proof of concept for next generation cars with app that can connect appliances at home, provide car alerts and monitor driver behaviour.
Accenture and SEAT have developed a proof of concept that explores the opportunities for new services enabled by the Internet of Things (IoT) and the connected vehicle.
It will be showcased by Accenture at Mobile World Congress, 22-25 February in Barcelona, Spain.
The solution includes three elements: car-to-home connectivity, car status alerts, and a driver behaviour monitoring capability. SEAT is currently investigating the possible connectivity solutions with the car in order to define which is most suitable.
The car status capability allows users of the app to replicate elements of the dashboard on their mobile device from any location, allowing for a visualization of measurements such as fuel and oil levels during the trip or while the car is parked.
The app allows for warnings and alerts to be pushed to mobile devices, flagging up a potential engine or parts problems.
Relevant information from an electronic car manual will be displayed alongside each error message, and roadside assistance is also integrated into the app design. In case of breakdown, the details and nature of any parts failures, as well as the vehicle's current location, can be shared with the relevant company.
The app has been designed to allow dealer messages will be pushed to it, notifying users for example that a part replacement is needed or reminding them that a service is due.
The app will display costs and offers from individual dealers, and will also be capable of integrating with calendar applications to book the appointment.
The technology also allows a driver to choose to monitor their behaviour.
It applies an adaptive algorithm to collated historical driving patterns and fresh data gathered from each car journey to offer the user advice on improving driving techniques, showing tips and recommendations to increase car performance, how to drive in a more environmentally-friendly manner, and even how save money by reducing fuel consumption and unplanned car maintenance.
The car-to-home capability on the proof-of-concept uses mobile connectivity to allow SEAT drivers to remotely control their connected home appliances.
By integrating geolocation into the mobile app, this can allow, for example, for the temperature in the car to be automatically replicated at home once the car reaches a certain distance from the property.
The proof of concept also enables the remote programming of the thermostat that controls the home's central heating from the vehicle's dashboard. Other devices that could be controlled in a similar way includes wearables, house lights or security cameras.
SEAT, Digital Marketing and CRM Global Head, Pablo Barrios said: "The MY SEAT App represents the next step to position ourselves in the connected vehicle ecosystem."
"With this new app we will enable a permanent, customized and relevant dialog with customers while bringing many benefits for both SEAT and the customers themselves."
The proof of concept is built on Accenture Connected Platforms as a Service, Accenture's open and broadly deployed global IoT platform architecture, which for this project is extensively optimized for the Microsoft Azure IoT Suite.
This approach allowed SEAT and Accenture to rapidly move from ideation to building and rolling out an industry-specific IoT proof-of-concept.
Accenture automotive practice managing director, Joan Cavallé said: "Experimenting with IoT-enabled solutions in this way is vital to identifying where value might be generated for a business."
"In this project with SEAT, we've been able to quickly develop an industry-specific solution that proves the potential of the IoT in the connected vehicle ecosystem.
"The fact that it also interacts with the connected home ecosystem and mobile devices is an indication of the future, and of how the 'connected world' will really look like in a few years' time."
Accenture worked with SEAT earlier this year to help design a connected vehicle strategy for the car company.
