Mercedes PRO - digital command center
Digital communication with the car, telediagnostics, route planning to bypass traffic jams in real time? Now it's possible and moreover simply thanks to the connectivity services provided by Mercedes PRO - they make driving safer, more economical and more enjoyable.
Modern business requires that any important information be available as quickly as possible in real time - this is especially important where "employees" are cars that are constantly in motion. The effectiveness of the entire company often depends on this. Therefore, in today's world, a vehicle, even the best, cannot be just a vehicle - it is more about creating an integrated tool that will meet all the needs of customers using delivery vans in their work. This goal formed the basis of the promotion strategy that was initiated in 2016 by Mercedes-Benz Vans. Thus, the brand gradually began to transform from a car manufacturer into a provider of integrated mobility solutions based primarily on the constantly evolving capabilities of digital services.
As a result, when a new generation of the Sprinter, the flagship large van from Mercedes-Benz, hit the market in 2018, Mercedes PRO digital services also debuted, and a new era in driving began. How it works? Simply put: by digitally connecting the car to the owner's computer and the driver's smartphone. Factory-installed in the Sprinter and now also in the Vito, the LTE communication module, combined with the Mercedes PRO Portal and the Mercedes PRO connect smartphone app, form the three key elements of efficient logistics: vehicle - company - driver connected in real time. In addition, these tools are equally functional and effective for entrepreneurs with one or two machines, as well as for more than one.
Mercedes PRO services - what is it?
Thematically organized Mercedes PRO services cover key areas of everyday use of a Sprinter or Vito.
And so, for example, in the package Efficient vehicle management includes vehicle status, vehicle logistics and theft warning. Information about the vehicle's condition (fuel level, odometer reading, tire pressure, etc.) allows the owner or driver to more easily and almost in real time assess the readiness of the car for the next move. With the vehicle management tool on the Mercedes PRO portal, the owner has a complete overview of the online status of all his vehicles, thus avoiding unpleasant surprises.
The Vehicle Logistics feature, in turn, ensures that the owner always knows where all of his vehicles are. In this way, he can plan his routes better and more efficiently and react faster, for example, to unexpected bookings or canceled courses. Finally, Theft Alert, where time is of the essence and with instant information and location services, you can find your stolen vehicle faster. Naturally, fewer fleet thefts also means lower insurance rates and less hassle in your daily operations.
In another package Assistance services – the client receives an inspection management service, within the framework of which he is always informed about the current technical condition of the vehicles, and the necessary checks or repairs are signaled in the Vehicle Management Tool. At the same time, the preferred Mercedes-Benz Authorized Service Center can draw up a proposal for the necessary maintenance, which is sent directly to the owner. This tool not only significantly reduces the risk of unplanned downtime of any vehicle, but also the fact that all issues related to the operation of the car take much less time and attention, because all information is easily available in one place. In addition, the package includes immediate assistance in the event of an accident or breakdown, a Mercedes-Benz emergency call system and a software update. These functions are also perfectly complemented by remote vehicle diagnostics and telediagnostics. Thanks to the first of them, an authorized service can remotely monitor the condition of the car and establish contact with its owner if it is necessary to carry out service or repair work. This way, when, for example, an inspection is due, the workshop can check online what actions need to be taken on the car, prepare a price quote in advance, order spare parts and make an appointment. As a result, the time spent on the site is shorter, and expenses can be planned in advance. Telediagnosis support further reduces the risk of unexpected failure, as the system can, for example, signal the need for brake pad replacement early enough.
package navigation Above all, this means greater comfort and enjoyment of everyday work behind the wheel of the Sprinter. He is closely associated with the revolutionary MBUX infotainment system and includes both smart navigation itself with the ability to update online maps (which avoids situations in which navigation suddenly gets lost due to the fact that it “does not know” a newly opened road or current detours on the route), as well as many other useful features. One of them is Live Traffic Information, thanks to which the system chooses a route in such a way as to avoid traffic jams, congestion or other adverse events on the way to the destination. Thanks to this, even during peak hours, you can reach your destination more efficiently, despite the amount of traffic, and also predict exactly when this will happen. It's easy to imagine how much nerves this can save drivers and customers waiting for delivery, for example. On the central display of the MBUX system, the driver will see not only the route itself, but also information about the possibility of parking the vehicle, as well as weather conditions. This package includes access to all multimedia offered by MBUX, including an advanced voice control system with spoken language recognition, as well as an Internet search engine and Internet radio. Live Traffic is also available for the new Vito equipped with the Audio 40 radio navigation system.
Mercedes PRO digital services also offer Remote control for a vehicle that, as the name suggests, allows you to open and close your Sprinter or Vito without a key online. The driver assigned to the car can also remotely turn on the heating and check the condition of the car (for example, if all windows are closed). This function is also useful when there is a need to remove or load something into the car, and the driver has already finished his work - for example, you can supply the serviceman with the necessary parts and tools for the next job. day. This solution also helps to better protect the vehicle and its contents from theft.
Finally - with eSprinter and eVito in mind - it was created Digital electric vehicle controlwhich includes, among other things, functions such as charging management and temperature regulation.
What does it do?
All of these packages can be customized based on user needs and are available in the latest versions of Sprinter and Vito. Both of these vehicles are already in the hands of customers and, according to opinion polls conducted by the manufacturer, they have already experienced the many benefits associated with using Mercedes PRO services. First of all, they relate to the time that needs to be spent on the work of the car in the company. Tracking inspection dates, vehicle condition, route planning - all this takes a huge amount of time. According to respondents, the profit reaches even 5-8 hours per week, according to almost 70 percent. polled users. In turn, as much as 90 percent. One of them claims that Mercedes PRO also allows them to minimize costs, and therefore increase efficiency, according to an online survey conducted in December 2018, which included 160 Mercedes PRO users. For a company whose profits are based on the efficiency and agility of vehicles, these types of tools also mean being able to serve more customers at a lower cost. Better planned routes, the ability to get to the customer faster, avoiding traffic jams, avoiding unexpected downtime, planning inspections in advance - all this makes the company work more smoothly, customers are more satisfied with the quality of service, and the vehicle owner can focus on growing the business. Because, as every entrepreneur knows, cars are also employees, and in order for them to work well and efficiently, they must be carefully managed, and this requires versatile and well-designed tools: such as Mercedes PRO.
