The technology start-up 4screen is developing the first scalable platform that connects local shops with vehicles in real time, accelerating the digital transformation of the car industry.
- Drivers spend an average of 300 hours a year behind the wheel, increasingly using the car display and voice assistants to find businesses along their route. The 4screen platform connects these shops with vehicles while driving, creating an integrated ecosystem.
- 4screen, founded by experts from the automotive industry, is working in together with the largest German and international car manufacturers on a solution to stand up against Google.
- As part of the first seven-figure financing round, the team is receiving support from recognised managers of the automotive industry, such as Matthias Müller, ex-CEO of the VW Group.
Munich, December 2020. Drivers spend an average of over 51 minutes behind the wheel every day - that's over 300 hours a year. During this time, they search for petrol stations, charging points, parking spaces, restaurants, supermarkets and many other local businesses along the route.
Drivers make decisions on "where and when" to stop while they are behind the wheel. Since car manufacturers have also been relying on intelligent voice assistants and large displays, these shops are increasingly being searched for digitally while driving and are no longer approached by chance.
Analogous to searching the web on Google or searching for products on Amazon, in connected cars the search window of the navigation system is used to decide where to go next. Although this is working better and better, it is not yet optimal. Search results do not correspond to the expressed wish or suggestions and therefore do not suit the driver - in case of doubt, the smartphone is used again.
4screen wants to change this and is developing a scalable platform that connects digital vehicles in real time with the shops along the route.
The team around 4screen sees the car as an integral part of the digital mobility ecosystem. Only through the interactive integration of shops along the route, the navigation and driving experience is completed and thus significantly improved.
Drivers thus receive recommendations that are better tailored to their interests. The car manufacturer increases customer value with relevant suggestions and can reinvest the additional revenue generated via 4screen in better systems. For the first time, local businesses have the opportunity to target drivers and turn them into digitally addressable customers.
The feedback has already been overwhelming in the first few months - the cross-industry platform approach, the scalable technology and the use of artificial intelligence are particularly convincing for the partners. Analogous to Netflix or Spotify, drivers are shown more relevant content and given better recommendations. "Such platform approaches are the necessary building blocks to make the digitalisation of the automobile scalable. With its innovative B2B platform, 4screen offers car manufacturers the chance to build digital business models without losing the customer interface to Google & Co. “I am firmly convinced that this approach is the decisive building block for the digitalisation of the automotive industry" explains Matthias Müller, who himself has invested in 4screen.
The direct interaction between shops and drivers makes numerous new use cases possible. For example, real-time load management of locations to avoid overcrowded shops or a proactive coffee offer to make the next charging stop more pleasant.
In the current phase, the 4screen team is working with numerous car manufacturers and mobility service providers to integrate the platform, as well as fine-tuning the 4screen portal with the help of pilot customers. With a single integration step, 4screen can be rolled out directly to the entire fleet, i.e. to millions of vehicles of an automobile manufacturer, in a scalable manner.
About 4screen
4screen is a startup from Munich, Germany, developing a digital platform that enables completely new navigation and driving experience by directly integrating businesses and partners from the mobility ecosystem. The platform can be seamlessly integrated into existing systems, enabling car manufacturers to further develop their own solutions in individual designs. The team consists of experts in the field of automotive development. It has been able to attract prominent investors from the automotive industry such as Matthias Müller, ex-chairman of the VW Group, as well as renowned family offices and founders as investors. 4screen is already cooperating with German & international car manufacturers. The innovative technology is intended to achieve a successful transformation of the digital automotive industry.
www.4screen.com - We build technology to create truly connected cars
