As wearable technology continues to take the world by storm, customer engagement stands to benefit greatly from the potential opportunities offered by the new advancements. In a move to incorporate wearables into the customer experience, Ford is adding wearable technology into existing driver-assist systems in order to create a more connected user experience for Ford drivers.
In one application of the technology, customer experience would be improved through the use of the MyFord Mobile application. Using the smart watch app, drivers would theoretically be able to lock, unlock, locate, and even start a vehicle through hands-free voice commands.
One of the more impressive uses of wearable technology is in its ability to sense and interpret biological signals. If a watch were to sense that a driver is sleep-deprived or stressed, the car’s driver-assist technologies would automatically adjust accordingly, increasing lane-keeping assist sensitivity or providing extra room between vehicles in the included Blind Spot Information System.
Beyond watches, Ford is exploring ways to incorporate augmented reality glasses into the stressful process of car shopping. Using the glasses, customers would be able to walk through a showroom and see additional information about any car they see on display. This kind of innovation would benefit customer engagement not only for Ford, but also for car dealerships across the nation.
“As our customers increasingly integrate devices such as smart watches and fitness trackers into their daily lives, we want to explore how wearables and in-vehicle software can work together to enable new and innovative driver-assist technology,” Gary Strumolo, Ford’s Global Manager for Vehicle Design and Infotronics told Loyalty360. “We opened our Automotive Wearables Experience laboratory at the Ford Research and Innovation Center in Dearborn, Michigan to help make people’s lives better by tailoring our vehicle technology based on biometric data available from wearables, resulting in a more personalized driving experience.”
The development of autonomous cars is no longer science fiction, and the future of automated vehicle operation is being tested in labs around the world. Ford is no different, and the company is looking to extend its wearable technology initiative to include semi-autonomous driving safety. If a situation arose in which the driver would need to take immediate control, a smart watch would instantly send an alert via sound, vibration, or dashboard lights.
Wearable technology will be fully integrated into our lives before we know it, and the future of customer experience and engagement may be coming soon to a wristwatch near you.