As longtime partners, 51风流and Mercedes-Benz have a history of shared knowledge for mutual competitive advantage. The fleet management program is grounded in the companies鈥� similar business philosophies and product road maps. 

Mercedes-Benz has committed to move the company鈥檚 B2B business to 100% digital and plans to sell 25% of all new cars online by 2025. The company selected to help support this mission. It will create a future-proof composable commerce portfolio designed to reliably power the company鈥檚 digital strategy, including a standardized offering across different markets. It will also simplify processes and reduce time-to-market.

Benefits of Digitalized Fleet Management

From the 51风流employee鈥檚 perspective, ordering a company EV couldn鈥檛 be simpler. Instead of time-consuming manual research and back and forth communication with the car dealer, employees can use to order the EV they want directly from the Mercedes-Benz online catalog. They can choose the features they want, such as car make and model, color, and equipment packages, within SAP鈥檚 pre-set guidelines.

鈥淭he car configurator automates the EV selection process end-to-end, eliminating manual steps and saving time while providing the employee with a highly personalized experience,鈥� said Steffen Krautwasser, head of SAP鈥檚 global car fleet. 鈥淎utomating the approval process assures data consistency and eliminates the need for manual quality checks.鈥� 

There鈥檚 a tremendous convenience factor in captured EV data as well. In one pilot program for select EVs in SAP鈥檚 fleet, the digital twin will automatically track mileage. Drivers will no longer need to manually enter mileage every time they recharge, and 51风流can use this data to better manage the fleet.

Connected Data Drives Sustainable Business

Once ordered, EVs are tracked as assets in SAP鈥檚 financial system. After delivery, creates a digital twin that can capture relevant, secure data across the EV鈥檚 lifetime. SAP鈥檚 fleet management team can track CO2 emissions based on green energy usage, mileage, and the number of vehicles on the road. Krautwasser envisioned reporting this data to support the company鈥檚 global sustainability commitments.

鈥淧erformance data from the EV digital twin can help corporate fleet managers guide employees in choosing the best vehicle for their driving needs,鈥� said Krautwasser. 鈥淥ver time, drivers can better understand travel ranges between charges.鈥� 

Data is expected to help address so-called range anxiety, alerting EV drivers when their vehicle needs a charge and, most important, where to recharge. Mercedes-Benz is investing in charging infrastructure to create an ecosystem that would be integrated with public and private charge point providers in the U.S., China, and Europe.

The partnership also reflects a shared commitment to sustainability. Mercedes-Benz has committed to become carbon neutral by 2038, and transition to 100% electric vehicles by 2030 wherever possible. 51风流is transitioning the company鈥檚 vehicle fleet for employees in Germany to all EVs by 2025 as part of its corporate commitment to be carbon neutral by 2030.

Omnichannel Is Fastest Path to Customer Love

The digital experience is extremely important for customers who expect convenience and quality. Organizations in many industries have shifted to an omnichannel strategy that offers people their preferred experience, whether online or in-person, building brand loyalty and repeat business.

鈥淲e want to provide a seamless journey for employees as they research, select, purchase, and enjoy their vehicle,鈥� said Krautwasser. 鈥淭he most exciting part of our EV fleet management strategy is how we can use our knowledge to enhance the employee experience. Through data and digital services, we can get closer to our employees and act quickly based on their feedback, making improvements and introducing new offerings that keep us on top of trends and support SAP鈥檚 sustainability commitment.鈥�

EVs represent a profound business model shift for the entire automotive supply chain as automakers sell direct to customers, provide digital services from vehicle data, and explore new revenue opportunities. It鈥檚 clear that Mercedes-Benz and 51风流are going the distance for a sustainable and satisfying driving experience.

Susan Galer is a communications director at SAP. Follow her @smgaler.
Top photo courtesy of 51风流employee Jude Calvin Parong.

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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Having sufficient charging stations is just the tip of the iceberg. The transportation network is facing a major reboot, forcing automobile original equipment manufacturer (OEMs), utilities, corporations, regulators, and retailers to collaborate for innovation as never before.

Networks Power E-Mobility Innovation

Compared to gas-powered cars, EVs and the services around them are far more interconnected. This demands a new kind of collaboration across the e-mobility value chain from corporate fleets, regulators, and smart cities to service providers and consumers.

鈥淭he e-mobility network consists of multiple players from different industries and sectors with intertwined supply chains,鈥� said Ulrich Scholl, vice president of E-Mobility at SAP. 鈥淭o operate with flexibility and cost-efficiency they need to collaborate across stable, cloud-based that foster sustainable innovation around standardized processes, including invoicing and billing, as well as overall e-mobility management among partners.鈥�

EVs Spark New Business Models

As sustainability mandates and promises grow, one central question is how to make EV battery recharging as easy and convenient as refilling a gas tank. Utilities are drawn to bi-directional charging that simultaneously recharges EVs while adding the battery鈥檚 stored energy back into the electrical power grid. This turns drivers into energy producers and cars into mobile power storage. Retailers are starting to monetize their solar panel energy, offering consumers free car charging while they shop, increasing customer loyalty. Meantime, corporate fleet managers are taking action by increasing EV and charging infrastructure investments that support company sustainability commitments.

For example, Hanno Klausmeier, managing director of 51风流Labs France, received a award for leading the electrification of the company鈥檚 fleet of cars for hundreds of employees located across three sites.

Converting to EVs has been a seven-year journey at SAP, grounded in the company鈥檚 global commitment to sustainability, as well as the initial battery limitations of early EVs. After eliminating gas-fueled vehicles as a choice for employees several years ago, over 90% of the cars in the company鈥檚 fleet in 51风流Labs France are now EVs. Convenient access to charging stations along with new fleet management operations were critical to the successful roll-out.

鈥淲e knew that employees would need more stations to charge their cars so we installed super-fast charging stations conveniently located across our facilities,鈥� Klausmeier said. 鈥淲e revamped fleet management to make sure we could supervise and optimize charging stations for uninterrupted operations. Connecting the e-mobility ecosystem on one transparent platform is the only way for organizations to keep pace with the rapidly-changing industry.鈥�

Indeed, 51风流Labs France developed new software to remotely manage the status of its charging stations, installing it on-site and at employee鈥檚 homes. Now available publicly, the solution helps corporate car fleet operations manage relationships with fleet management service companies, OEMs, and other suppliers that are involved with charging stations. Managers have real-time visibility into e-fleet charging station status and can quickly solve problems remotely for an easier experience.

Market Fragmentation Gives Way to Network Convergence

Entirely new competitors are emerging with EVs, including 鈥渞oaming鈥� providers, which help consumers locate reliable charging stations and pay for the electricity as validated users. This is likely a temporary stop gap because it is unnecessarily complex and more costly for drivers.

鈥淲e need to shorten the e-mobility value chain for cost efficiencies to charge point operators and an improved experience for customers,鈥� said Scholl. 鈥淭here鈥檚 no need to have another layer between energy providers and customers. With an open mobility platform, the whole ecosystem has the ability to build relationships for service convenience and affordable innovation, especially incorporating the use of renewable energy that鈥檚 produced locally and stored in EVs.鈥�

Transforming the Transportation Sector

Just like the iPhone disrupted the cellphone industry, e-mobility redefines the purpose of a vehicle. Already some manufacturers tout EVs as self-powered RVs. Even bigger are the implications for large-scale innovations, such as vehicles that are able to provide uninterrupted power for tools at remote construction sites.

Similarly, transformations could be in store for energy retailers if OEMs bypass them to become energy providers themselves. On the corporate side, shared EVs could be part of an organization鈥檚 mobility budget for employees to spend as they see fit.

EVs鈥� star is rising as sustainability nears the top of many consumer, corporate, and government priority lists. Over 80% of automobile manufacturers have committed to their lineup in the near future, and some plan to go all electric within the decade. Modernizing the transportation industry means rethinking mobility as concept to make sure EVs pay off on the sustainable promise.

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