Bosch: Connectivity Extends Well Beyond Cloud

Connected mobility is no longer just about in-vehicle connection. Bernd Heinrichs, Bosch chief digital officer-Mobility Solutions business sector, and member of the executive management-Connected Mobility Solutions division, provides perspective on the evolving world of connectivity that will more closely link and inspire technology solutions to enhance people’s lives.

Connectivity is establishing itself as an integral part of daily life, from smart home applications to automotive and beyond. As it rapidly evolves, what is it about connected mobility you find intriguing?

Connected mobility goes far beyond the connection into vehicles. It’s about linking a person’s entire experience, from the moment they step outside to the moment they reach their destination – and beyond. People want to get from Point A to Point B in an efficient, stress-free way. The future will be multimodal, which makes that scenario more complex. The day might begin with someone riding a bicycle to a train station, taking the train, and then taking a scooter to their destination. This evolution is fascinating, and it introduces new possibilities for building connected solutions to enhance the whole experience.

What do you consider the “smartest” mobility advancement of the past five years?

While it’s difficult to pinpoint a single advancement, the outstanding thing is the way mobility is becoming more dynamic. The combination of connected, automated and electrified technologies is enabling significant change. Along with shared mobility, this combination is leading us to new, very smart connected mobility solutions.

What is most compelling about connected cars?

When we talk about connected cars, we’re not talking an individual connection only to the cloud. We’re talking about the vehicle being connected to other cars, to the environment, to the enterprise, to the home. That’s what’s most compelling to me. Connectivity is end-to-end, not a one-to-one relationship. Connected cars are built on hundreds of data sources, which can be translated into data used to generate valuable services and capabilities, like Perfectly keyless or community-based parking.

How do you think industry collaboration will change the way we think about the potential of connected mobility?

In my opinion, partnerships are essential and beneficial for the industry. Bosch has forged relationships with companies like Mojio and SPLT, which makes us faster, more comprehensive and more easily able to develop offerings for the market. This is a major factor for success in connected mobility.

What differentiates Bosch’s approach to connected mobility?

We already develop and provide technology and solutions across sectors – mobility, industry, energy, residential – so we can address connectivity in a unique way. For us, it’s essential to combine and connect what is happening in a household, for example, to what is happening in a vehicle and in mobility, at-large. Our broad expertise and experience in providing solutions to OEMs, cities, enterprises and consumers gives us a differentiated perspective and powerful position to build upon for the future.