What is the most scarce commodity in an architect's life? Time! It affects all of us, but it's especially scarce when we manage a large studio and run several projects at once. If only it were possible to stop doing certain activities, such as standing in traffic jams! Or get off your mind such problems as remembering to service company cars... This is possible with Mercedes PRO services, which create a digital vehicle command center. So you can devote yourself to your profession, and the management of vehicles will be taken over by the system for you. Architecture and business with Mercedes PRO services is a successful combination.
The Mercedes brand has for some time now been developing its offerings toward digital services involving the management of data transmitted to a command center in real time. This is an innovative approach, as only data received in real time allows for remote fleet management and real-time route planning. Back in 2016, Mercedes Benz Vans introduced the adVANce strategy, which aimed to develop not a product, such as a car, but to build a platform for managing it within the company.
car like an employee
This approach stems from redefining the role of the car in the company. It assumes that the car, like employees, is a resource. Consequently, it is subject to management, just as human resources are subject to management. Admittedly, our cars will not need training, a social package or team-building trips, but there are other aspects that need to be coordinated. Mercedes PRO services address just that. The system is based on a combination of three elements: the car, its owner's computer and the driver's smartphone. They connect digitally, providing data flow. They enable comprehensive remote management of the vehicle in three key areas: monitoring the current state of the vehicle, watching over its maintenance and managing inspections, and navigating on the road. Each of these areas is covered by one of the packages.
Mercedes PRO portal the gateway to success
The Mercedes pro service covers Sprinter and Vito models. They have LTE communication modules built in at the factory, which continuously transmit information to the Mercedes PRO portal. This site is a mini management center from which the owner can manage online logistics. This applies to the first of the three proposed "Efficient Vehicle Management" packages. It includes such elements as vehicle status, vehicle logistics and theft warning. So from the portal we can check the level of refueling, the status of the odometer or even the tire pressure. In this way, we always know if a particular car is ready to continue its journey. The portal also shows the location of all vehicles thanks to the Logistics function. This allows us to plan routes and avoid, for example, empty trips or react quickly to unforeseen situations. And these happen often in the work of an architect, so it's good to be prepared for them. For unpredictable situations, such as theft, there is also a remedy. Theft warning will allow you to react instantly in a dangerous situation and help you find the stolen vehicle. It is also important for calculating insurance rates, which take into account the amount of theft in a fleet.
Inspections, telediagnostics and problem solved
In the next module you will find items that help take care of the technical condition of the vehicle. The "Assistance Services" package will certainly be a savior for those who have a lot on their task list. In the work of an architect, servicing company cars is not on the list of priorities. In this service, it is possible to automatically supervise vehicle inspections, as well as remotely diagnose in case of defects. The need for inspection is reported for each vehicle individually, depending on the degree of wear and tear and the time since the last inspection. At the same time, through communication with the system, the preferred authorized service center can prepare a quote and estimate for the necessary work in advance, which saves not only time, but also money. Remote diagnosis, as well as telediagnostics, also makes it possible to avoid unforeseen defects and react before they occur.
Mercedes PRO digital services in the service of comfort
The third "Navigation" package significantly increases driving comfort and allows you to steer the vehicle more efficiently. It is connected to the MBUX infotainment system, making it possible to intelligently navigate and update maps online. This avoids situations in which the navigation has trouble finding a newly commissioned route or fails to recognize a detour. These situations, while problematic, happen less frequently than traffic jams in the city. This is handled by the Live Traffic Information function. The program designs the route in such a way that it avoids all the places where we can get stuck for a longer period of time. This allows us to move efficiently around the city even during rush hour and in unfavorable weather conditions, which, by the way, the system also informs us about. Running an architectural office with Mercedes PRO helps minimize delays in meetings with clients or delays in the delivery of materials for construction.
Mercedes PRO and electric vehicles
With an eye toward the future and an eco-friendly approach, digital management of the electric vehicle is also possible. This includes features such as charging management and temperature control, among others. Electric vehicles are increasingly being chosen by businesses because of their ecological, but also economic, aspect.
Time savings with Mercedes PRO confirmed by studies
All the features described above boil down to one simple task: automate the management of the vehicle and save the owner time. Tasks that previously had to be carried out on one's own, noting maintenance dates in calendars and calling drivers where they are and when they will be - cease to be a topic at all. The Mercedes PRO portal is highly customizable and can be tailored to individual company needs.
In December 2018, Mercedes commissioned a study on the effectiveness of Mercedes pro digital services. The study included 160 people who used Mercedes eSprinter and Mercedes eVito models. The survey found that time savings reached as much as 5-8 hours per week. Almost 70 percent of the surveyed users answered that way. In turn, as many as 90 percent of them confirm that Mercedes PRO also allows them to minimize costs and increase efficiency. In the architectural profession, these are not insignificant tasks.
MercedesPRO saves architects time and gives them more moments to design.
Take advantage of a special leasing offer for vehicles with the described technology:
Material created in cooperation with Mercedes-Benz
Illustrations © Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz brand has been developing a special leasing offer for vehicles with described technology
