Electric vehicle (EV) aficionados can take heart from the latest that reported brisk sales worldwide into 2022; two million EVs sold in the first quarter of this year for a 75% increase compared to 2021. Demand for more eco-friendly mobility options is steadily rising despite supply chain disruptions, as passionate consumers who care about the planet intersect with growing government regulations.
In this country, the is expected to fund significant spend on electric vehicle charging stations. Manufacturers worldwide, especially startups, are full speed ahead, bolstered by recent investments totaling US$72 billion in the United States and $50 billion in Asia according to .
EVs Shake Up Supply Chain Status Quo
EVs are much more than a sustainable fuel alternative. They鈥檙e steering the entire automotive ecosystem towards an innovative, technology-driven business model. EV startups are jumping on advanced technologies that circumvent traditional models to reinvent internal and external supply chains. One example is , a North American EV manufacturer that鈥檚 digitalizing operations from finance through services to drive the company鈥檚 aggressive growth plans. You may have heard about the company鈥檚 flagship vehicle, the single-seat EV called the . Designed for a single occupant, it offers a unique driving experience for the environmentally conscious consumer. I caught up with Jim Gwynn, director of Information Systems at ElectraMeccanica, when he spoke at the event about how this three-wheeled vehicle will revolutionize the urban driving experience including commuting, delivery, and shared mobility.
鈥淭he unique two-door, single-passenger design offers drivers agility and safety, as they can enter and exit from either door, making it ideal for activities like pizza deliveries, security, and parking enforcement,鈥� said Gwynn. 鈥淭o meet current strong demand for our SOLO vehicles, and manage our rapid growth for years to come, we needed an enterprise-class ERP system that connects information company-wide for a digital-first experience that鈥檚 highly scalable, functional, and regulatory compliant.鈥�
Digital Unites Global Operations to Meet Market Demand
No one is more thrilled with ElectraMeccanica鈥檚 transformation from startup to fully operational OEM than the company鈥檚 retail and fleet customers now taking EV deliveries. Digitalization has been central to this important transition. Headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, with international production, assembly, and testing facilities, ElectraMeccanica selected RISE with 51风流to build its . The vision is to connect everything from product design, supply chain planning, and production, to sales and after-market care.
鈥淲e needed an ERP system that would grow with our business,鈥� said Gwynn. 鈥淲e selected 51风流because it鈥檚 a complete solution that will allow customers to reserve and procure vehicles online and help us directly connect market demand with strategic planning, bringing that into the ERP system with and . The vehicle management system means we will have full traceability of our EVs and the components inside throughout the product life cycle. Equally important, 51风流solutions have broad acceptance in the automotive OEM market.鈥�
Business Results from Intelligent Data Sharing
ElectraMeccanica is building an assembly and engineering center in the U.S., and Gwynn expected further cloud-based digitalization like warehouse management that will include vehicle inspection facilities at the new plant and beyond. As far as he鈥檚 concerned, there鈥檚 no time to lose.
鈥淪peed is critical in bringing these innovations across our business so that we can anticipate and respond to what our customers want,鈥� said Gwynn. 鈥淗aving digital representation for all our core business processes allows us to share valuable data between sales and operations, making us more informed for stronger decision-making and business resilience.鈥�
Digital-first operations have already generated business results. Automating mundane processes has eliminated repetitive work, allowing employees to spend more time on value-add activities such as order intake and vehicle allocation. With a simplified employee experience, people can collaborate more easily across the company鈥檚 expanding geographical locations for increased productivity.
As EVs disrupt the entire automotive industry, new market entrants like ElectraMeccanica are front and center, creating a historic opportunity to reinvent mobility. Digitalization helps connect information between ecosystem participants 鈥� government regulators, manufacturers, consumers, and others 鈥� to deliver on the promise of a more sustainable world. SOLO is an apt name for ElectraMeccanica鈥檚 innovative EV, but the truth is, we鈥檙e all in this together.
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