I have been connected to the automotive industry in one way or another for over 26 years, and remember the time when the term ‘high technology’ was not generally associated with cars. We built cars which raised the quality of life and provided mobility for the consumer. We got you there and back with limited fanfare.
Over time as the demands for improved quality, environmental and safety increased, the industry turned to technology to provide stronger, safer and longer lasting vehicles. As a result, the technology evolution caught up with the automotive manufacturing process. We learned how to make our products run more efficient, yielding volumes of data. This information helped us build better cars, improve quality and provide products that satisfied an increasing demand for ‘in car technology’. Things like better audio systems, vehicle electronics. We even started putting computers in cars to help them run!
As our customer’s insatiable desire (demand) for more technology, and the pace of consumer technology grew, we began seeing the benefit of the connected car. Yes, now we can pair our phones, have access to our email, and even work from our car!
The connected vehicle brings many benefits related to the volume of data that can be collected to provide insight on customer likes or dislikes, vehicle improvements, and maintenance needs. It also brings a measure of safety and security with ability to predict a malfunction or get help in the event of an unplanned event.
As the industry grows in the ability to collect, analyze and store data for a variety of purposes we become more exposed to security events that can put our personal data, even the operation of our vehicles at risk. We are hearing more and more of incidents like cars being hacked through their infotainment systems 1 or keyless systems becoming vulnerable to hacking. 2
Even though these concerns exist, these are still some of the most exciting times in the automotive industry as we accelerate “Business in the Digital Age”. What is the industry doing to bring awareness and minimize the impact of these challenges? What innovative solutions are available to help you harness technology and manage the information you need to safely and securely improve your Digital Experience?
We invite you to our Best Practices for Automotive event to hear speakers like Mark Weatherford, SVP & Chief Cybersecurity Strategist, First Deputy Under-Secretary for Cybersecurity, US Dept. of Homeland Security speak about the subject of “Cybersecurity in the Automotive Industry” and Chris Valasek, Security Chief, Advanced Technology Center, Uber discuss Automotive Security; “A Hacker’s Eye View”. You’ll remember Chris from his report, “Security experts hack into moving car and seize control” 3 in a report of how the internet can be used to gain control over a car, even shut the engine down!
This is our second year presenting the event, “Best Practices for Automotive”. We heard from our customers and created this event to provide information for our customers by our customers.
The event will be held Monday through Wednesday, October 17-19, 2016 at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino and will be even bigger and better than the first year.
Thirty two (32) breakout sessions across the span of the event will highlight customer stories and successes, as well as realities. Customer stories are aligned with the themes of Finance, Manufacturing and Engineering, Supply Chain, Information Technology, Sales, Service and Aftersales that impact Change and the People in the industry.
Exciting keynote presentations will be delivered by major industry participants such as Bosch, Center for Automotive Research (CAR), and Local Motors. Whil Concepts will discuss disruption and its impact on employees. Mark Weatherford from the Department of Homeland Security and Chris Valasek from Uber will discuss cyber security in automotive. And of course we will hear SAP talk about “Innovation Strategy, Digital Core and Vehicle Insights”!
Best Practices for Automotive, 2016 edition, promises to continue highlighting the rebirth of the automotive industry. Our theme this year is “Accelerating Business in the Digital Age”! If you believe that the industry will experience disruption or cause disruption in transportation you need to be in Detroit for our Best Practices for Automotive Conference. Join the companies and leaders who will shape the future of the automotive industry and deliver the transportation of tomorrow. Register today!
1 “FBI warns automakers, owners about vehicle hacking risks”, http://www.reuters.com/article/us-fbi-autos-cyber-idUSKCN0WK0BB
2“Keyless systems of many VW Group cars can be hacked: researchers”, http://www.reuters.com/article/us-autos-cyber-volkswagen-idUSKCN10M1JN
3 “Security experts hack into moving car and seize control”, http://www.reuters.com/article/us-autos-hacking-idUSKCN0PV29X20150721
