The annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) held each year in Las Vegas, NV, has become the largest event of its kind in the world, so it is no wonder that people come from all over the globe in the hopes of seeing “the next big thing.”
Christian Schenk is president and founder of CLS LLC, a technology company that provides insight and guidance to businesses wanting to offer, or already offering, a product or service to the trucking industry. From the nation’s largest wireless providers to the most recognized device manufacturers, the mission of CLS is to help companies win in the transportation arena.
Before forming CLS, Schenk was senior vice president, product and market strategy and was a member of the executive team for XRS Corp. He helped pilot that company through its transformation from Xata to XRS, with its commitment to the BYOD (bring your own device) vision of mobile connectivity.
Schenk was one of the thousands to walk the show this year, but he brought with him his considerable experience and expertise when it comes to mobile technologies for the trucking industry. Fleet Owner had the opportunity to visit with him about the new and evolving technologies he saw being developed for retail consumers that also have the potential to impact commercial trucking.
FO: What was your general impression of the CES this year?
Schenk: The idea of being “connected” has become an everyday reality rather than just something in the future as it was in years past. At the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show, technology companies once again showcased a bright future ahead. The three main trends at CES were the connected car, the connected home and wearable devices.
FO: What offerings from the auto makers caught your attention? Did you see anything that might be significant for the trucking industry?
Schenk: The connected car is becoming more and more advanced. By 2015, it looks like most models from General Motors will include 4G LTE cellular connections, providing WiFi to people inside the vehicle. These WiFi hotspots will be standard in a few years, creating a huge competition among other manufacturers just as Bluetooth did in the past.
The connected car will allow passengers in vehicles to function almost as if they were in the comfort of their own homes when it comes to access to information and entertainment. That includes downloading and watching movies, iTunes, playing games or catching up on email and news. Building connectivity into the vehicle not only makes it more exciting, but also makes it a better experience. Road trips may even become more appealing. By building connectivity into the vehicle, the connection and user experience can be more reliable.
Audi took it to the next level, developing a tablet-sized computer that is capable of driving a car. This is a huge development. The small computer can fit into the existing vehicle dashboards without having to create a new design. Audi continues to develop partnerships with other intuitive, leading brand names such as Google and Qualcomm.
When it comes to trucking, we all know that the concept of keeping moving assets connected to the maintenance department is not new. What is new is the mainstream impact of connected vehicles. It’s about what the connected vehicle can do for the driver, not just for the company.
The connected truck will provide intelligence based on location to make other digital content more relevant to the driver, for example showing him or her which truck stops make the most sense to stop at given the current location and route. Think about having the ability to reserve a spot at the fuel pumps or the scale. It would offer a real opportunity to save time and money for today’s professional drivers.
Additionally, the ability to make purchases within an application (so-called “buying within the app”) will drive huge savings and further adoption of loyalty programs. This is the era of the consumer, and the driver is most definitely a consumer in the eyes of the companies that are marketing to gain a share of consumers’ wallets.
FO: What is meant by “the connected home”?
Schenk: The idea of a connected home has been around for years, but this year companies showed how easy-to-use and convenient many of these new gadgets are. In addition to being sexy and sleek, these connected home devices are making a consumer’s life simpler, more flexible and even more exciting. Just when you thought laundry wasn’t fun, LG created a washing machine and oven that take direction via voice or text.
Big companies such as Staples were huge supporters of the connected home. This year they promoted ‘Staples Connect,” a system that controls home automation. This system runs on the $99 “puck” and links to a consumer’s router, giving the consumer control of security systems, lighting, heating and air, and many other home appliances through the Staples application.
The big message around home automation is that if it becomes too complicated, it may not succeed. That being said, it is crucial that these smart home devices are able to sync up and communicate with different manufacturers so that consumers do not have to use separate systems. Users want to be able to use one app to control all of their devices and appliances. It all comes back to the experience and ease of use.
In trucking, perhaps more than you would believe, drivers are staying in touch with loved ones back home by leveraging their smart devices and social media networks. The connected home is another way for the driver to protect his/her assets and loved ones while moving goods across North America.
Now open your mind to the commercial implications—no different than the systems installed up and down the Interstate for tolling and weigh/vehicle inspection station bypass systems—of public buildings and workplaces being connected.
This connectivity will offer drivers the ability to do many things—from reserving a spot to park their rigs for the night and using a mobile app to confirm availability before pulling in, to knowing what the wait time is for the shower facilities. The reality of connected homes and buildings has been impacting the life of the trucker for some time. Now it will start to benefit them directly, as the focus shifts to consumer applications versus commercial.
FO: What makes you say that wearable devices are a major trend?
Schenk: The wearable devices market continues to become more and more popular. While some of the features may be limited, consumers enjoy the experience of wearable devices as well as their slick appeal. Many of the wearable devices today do admittedly have fewer features, and the smartphone still plays an important role. [But] in the years to come, expect to see more and more users with these devices and fewer people using their smartphones. CLS, my own company (http://www.christianliamschenk.com), is currently working on a project with some large players on leveraging wearable devices to predict fatigue. By monitoring heart rate and sleep, we can now predict opportunity for risk and potentially help drivers and fleets avoid major incidents caused by fatigue-related inattention.
With the distracted driving laws firmly in place, wearable devices will provide an alternative to looking away or reaching for devices such as smartphones or other handhelds.
