Accenture Jumps Into Connected Vehicle Services Market, Touting Commerce Capabilities

Accenture has released a telematics platform for cars called the Accenture Connected Vehicle Integrated Solution out of its Southfield, Mich.-based automotive division.

The system allows equipped cars to, among other things, "process mobile payments for parking, insurance and tolls," Accenture says in a statement. It also features location-aware capabilities required for roadside assistance and usage-based insurance programs, as well as a delivery mechanism for entertainment.

“We see major but separate trends emerging for embedded and stand-alone in-vehicle solutions because there will be a seamless integration between on-board services and connected vehicle services,” Marcello Tamietti, managing director of Accenture’s Connected Vehicle group, says in a statement. “Most of the automotive manufacturers have capabilities in the area of info-mobility, such as navigation, but they are still developing commerce capabilities. The next generation of [in-vehicle infotainment] and telematics applications and services is evolving rapidly. We expect to see a significant increase in products and services for in-vehicle communications, entertainment and commerce, as well as safety capabilities.”

What other technologies does Accenture predict will upend the global insurance industry this year? Find out in managing director John Del Santo's exclusive contribution to I&T.

Recently, both Allstate and State Farm have formed partnerships with companies offering similar technology to Accenture's. State Farm's In-Drive device, developed in partnership with Hughes Telematics, is explicitly linked to the carrier's usage-based insurance program, Drive Save & Save.

Allstate, which announced that it was developing a connected vehicle services platform in partnership with Airbiquity, did not indicate whether it was specifically geared toward enrolling more policyholders in its Drive Wise usage-based insurance program.

Nathan Golia is senior editor of Insurance & Technology. He joined the publication in 2010 as associate editor and covers all aspects of the nexus between insurance and information technology, including mobility, distribution, core systems, customer interaction, and risk ... View Full Bio