CARIAD works on a single software architecture for the brands’ apps
CARIAD is developing the Generic Design System, a common software architecture for all apps of the individual brands, which can then be customised according to their respective needs.
Entertainment and digital functions within the car play an increasingly important role, as do the dedicated apps of each brand. Usually, anyone driving an Audi or Volkswagen also has the brand's official app on their smartphone, which offers functions such as localisation, or pre-climatisation or monitoring the charging process for electric vehicles. Until now, each brand has developed the operation of its app features from scratch, but this approach is set to change thanks to the Generic Design System designed by CARIAD's UX team. This is a common IT base on which each brand can customise its app and choose its functionalities. In this way, the work of CARIAD developers and individual brands becomes more efficient, but users also benefit from coordinated user experiences across the Group.
The user experience
CARIAD and brand developers work closely together to develop the user experience of the apps. In the first phase of development, brands outline their needs and choose the best ideas for users; based on this input, CARIAD's UX team develops the first version of the app, which is based on industry-wide standards and contains a corresponding set of functionalities. Subsequently, features and preferences requested by individual brands are integrated, creating a sustainable multi-brand concept that also enables a uniform technical basis for implementation. At this point, the app design is customised according to the stylistic features of the individual brands.
Architecture and customisation
This way, each brand’s app is based on the same architecture, but has customised look and user experience, as well as adapting to the interior and interface of each individual car. Customisable aspects include font and its size, map layout, and of course brand-specific elements. The common architecture allows efficient maintenance of the app and fast implementation of new features. Flexibility is also increased and makes it easy to meet the needs of individual brands and users.
Scalable and reusable
"The keywords are scaling and reusability: with the Generic Design System, we implement the front ends of our services for multiple brands while enabling a specific look and feel at the same time. Thus we reduce both costs and time-to-market” explains Michel Bensel, Vice President and Head of Digital Business & Mobility Services at CARIAD. The development of so-called 'UX platform products' is a decisive factor for CARIAD’s ability to deliver, especially as they are directly experienced by users. "From next year there will be further app functions based on this architecture available" adds Sönke Petersen, member of the UX-Production team. CARIAD is also developing the Generic Design System for vehicle infotainment and web applications.
Source: CARIAD
VGI | Responsible OU: VP | Creation date: article date | Class 9.1